Since I did Pacino yesterday, De Niro seems the perfect transition
Funny, the more I write about actors and stars the more I realize I have come in contact with or have at least been in the same proximity. The first time I took Gary to Manhattan he literally almost knocked down Stephen King..they just sort of ran into each other. Gary had no idea who he hit...but I did.
Many years ago..when Gary and I were actually working together and had only been dating about a year, I decided to take Gary to Manhattan (he had never been and you all know it is my favorite place on the planet). Our very, very, very wealthy employer decided to treat us. She made reservations at the hottest restaurant in town (a Cuban place..I forget the name..it has now closed). She told us that she had given them her Amex number and that it was a no holds barred evening. We were to order the best of the best from champagne (Dom) to the most expensive things on the menu. Everything was taken care of. When we got to the restaurant it was packed, but the hostess was almost bowing...she told us the next table was ours (remember..this employer was SUPER rich). As we waited, Robert De Niro and his beautiful lover walked in. I'm not sure if they had a reservation...but let's face it...this was Robert De Niro. He checked in with the hostess...and then suddenly before we knew it...we were sat first. De Niro glared at us, obviously displeased that his star power had not outdone us. His booth ended up right behind us (yes..I overheard his entire conversation)...but by the end..as we got up to leave, De Niro shook my hand and said, "You must be somebody to get a table before me". Of course I was not, but he was gracious and I have never forgotten that.
Robert Mario De Niro Jr. was born on August 17, 1943 in California to two artist parents. His first acting gig was as The Cowardly Lion in a high school production of The Wizard of Oz. The acting bug set in and he dropped out of high school at 16 and hurried to New York.
He studied with The Stella Adler Conservatory and The American Workshop (Pacino trained there also). Both emphasized the METHOD form of acting...a style where you immerse yourself in character and relate pain and emotions from various points in your own life.
As an actor his first break came from Martin Scorsese, who saw something in the rookie method actor. He was cast in MEAN STREETS (1973) and gained instant acclaim.
He auditioned for almost every part in Godfather II, but was cast by Coppola as the young Vito Corleone. In 1974 he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role. As a side note, Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro are the only two actors in history to win an Academy Award for playing the same character.
In 1976, De Niro played Travis Bickle in the controversial film, Taxi Driver. His role was disturbing and almost difficult to watch...and yet he was so into character that he was able to improvise. The line, "You talkin' to me" was a De Niro improvisation.
Before 1980 he was nominated for three other Academy Awards for various roles.
In 1980 De Niro won the Academy Award for BEST ACTOR in the brutal but elegant film, Raging Bull.
De Niro is known for such great films as: The Deer Hunter, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, Awakenings (a personal favorite)and Cape Fear.
In 1995 De Niro paired up with Al Pacino for their first movie "together". Although they were both HIGHLY featured in Godfather II, they never filmed a scene together as they were playing characters from different eras.
De Niro heads Tribeca Films and has directed A Bronx Tale and The recent film, The Good Shepard (starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie).
His personal life is relatively private, but he has had two wives and numerous girlfriends. He has a total of four children.
In the early 2000's he donated a great deal of his memorabilia, props, scrips and costumes to the University of Austin in Texas which is now available for research.
In his later career he has lightened up a bit...ending the string of thugs and mobsters he was famous for playing roles in lighter comedies such as: Analyze This, Meet The Parents and Meet the Fockers (with of course my divine B.Streisand as his wife).
His awards are too numerous to mention, but in addition to his two Academy Awards, De Niro has won a Golden Globe.
There is argument about his career. Some critics have found him a rather one note actor, but...for the most part he is considered one of the greatest screen actors of his time.
Excellent choice. Probably the best actor of our generation.
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