Robert De Niro

Bio:
Robert De Niro (born Robert De Niro in New York City, New York on August 17, 1943) is an American actor and producer who has starred in over 90 films. Robert got his first taste of acting at age 10 when he played the Cowardly Lion in his school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. He immediately became enamored with performing and dropped out of high school at 16-years-old to pursue acting. He studied acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory, as well as Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio. Robert’s first major film roles were in the sports drama Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) and Martin Scorsese’s crime film Mean Streets (1973). In 1974, after being turned down for the role of Sonny Corleone in the crime film The Godfather (1972), he was cast as the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Robert won a second Academy Award, this time for Best Actor, for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980). He also earned nominations for the thriller films Taxi Driver (1976) and Cape Fear (1991). His award nominations don’t stop there though. Robert received additional Academy Award nominations for Michael Cimino’s Vietnam war drama The Deer Hunter (1978), Penny Marshall’s drama Awakenings (1990), and David O. Russell’s romantic comedy-drama Silver Linings Playbook (2012). He earned a BAFTA nomination in 1990 for his portrayal of gangster Jimmy Conway in the crime film Goodfellas. He has also earned four nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his work in New, New York (1977), Midnight Run (1988), Analyze This (1999), and Meet the Parents (2000). He has also simultaneously directed and starred in films such as the crime drama A Bronx Tale (1993) and the spy film The Good Shepherd (2006). De Niro has also received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2003 and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2010. Robert is often praised for his commitment to roles, stemming from his background in method acting. He gained 60 lb and learned how to box for the film Raging Bull, ground his teeth for Cape Fear, lived in Sicily for The Godfather Part II,  and worked as a cab driver for a few weeks for Taxi Driver.

Best Known For:
Robert De Niro is best known for his pivotal role in the The Godfather Part II (1974), playing the young Vito Corleone. He earned an Oscar for the role. He is also well known for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, in which he also earned an Oscar.

Personal Life:
Robert De Niro married Diahnne Abbott in 1976 and they have one son together, Raphael. Robert also adopted Diahnne’s daughter from a previous relationship, Drena De Niro. However, the couple divorced in 1988. With former model, Toukie Smith, Robert had twin sons, Aaron Kendrick and Julian Henry De Niro. The twins were conceived by in vitro fertalization and delivered by a surrogate mother in 1995. In 1997 Robert married his second wife, actress Grace Hightower. They had a son together in 19998 named Elliot, but the couple split in 1999. Their divorce however was never finalized and in 2004 the couple got back together and renewed their vows. In 2011 they had a daughter named Helen Grace who was born via surrogate. Not only does Robert have six children, but he is currently a grandfather of four as well. In 2003 it was reported that Robert had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He underwent surgery later that year and since 2012 has been considered cancer free.