More than half a century after Mean Streets, Robert De Niro is still working at the highest level. In 2025 he led the Netflix thriller series Zero Day, played two rival mob bosses in The Alto Knights and received an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Here is our fan-to-fan look at the career of one of the greatest screen actors of all time: the Scorsese classics, the two Oscars and his work behind the camera. Browse more legends in our Hollywood icons collection.
Robert De Niro Fact File
| Full name | Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. |
| Born | 17 August 1943 (age 83) |
| Place of birth | Greenwich Village, New York City, USA |
| Nationality | American (also holds Italian citizenship) |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer |
| Years active | 1963-present |
| Known for | Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Godfather Part II |
| Companies | Tribeca Productions, Tribeca Festival (co-founder) |
| Current status | Active |
| Nickname | Bobby |
Key Films
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Mean Streets | Johnny Boy |
| 1974 | The Godfather Part II | Vito Corleone |
| 1976 | Taxi Driver | Travis Bickle |
| 1978 | The Deer Hunter | Michael Vronsky |
| 1980 | Raging Bull | Jake LaMotta |
| 1990 | Goodfellas | Jimmy Conway |
| 1995 | Heat | Neil McCauley |
| 2000 | Meet the Parents | Jack Byrnes |
| 2019 | The Irishman | Frank Sheeran |
| 2023 | Killers of the Flower Moon | William Hale |
The table lists a selection of De Niro's best-known films; he has more than 100 screen credits, including ten feature films with Martin Scorsese.
Early Years in New York
De Niro was born in Greenwich Village in 1943 to two artists, the painter Robert De Niro Sr. and the painter and poet Virginia Admiral. He grew up in Manhattan's Little Italy and studied acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory and the Actors Studio.
Early films with Brian De Palma, including Greetings and Hi, Mom!, gave him his first screen experience.
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Breakthrough With Scorsese and Coppola
His electric turn as Johnny Boy in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets (1973) launched one of cinema's great partnerships. A year later he played the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, speaking almost entirely in Sicilian, and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Taxi Driver (1976) and The Deer Hunter (1978) cemented his reputation, both earning him Best Actor nominations.
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Raging Bull and the Peak Years
For Raging Bull (1980) De Niro trained as a boxer and famously gained weight to play the older Jake LaMotta, winning the Oscar for Best Actor. He followed it with The King of Comedy, Once Upon a Time in America and The Untouchables.
The 1990s brought Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino and Heat, where his diner scene with Al Pacino became an instant classic. He also made his directing debut with A Bronx Tale (1993).
Comedy, Comebacks and Recent Work
Analyze This and Meet the Parents showed off his comic timing, and Silver Linings Playbook (2012) earned him another Oscar nomination. He reunited with Scorsese and Pacino for The Irishman (2019), then received his eighth acting nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
He continues to take on new challenges, from leading a TV series for the first time in Zero Day to playing two roles in The Alto Knights.
Awards
Academy Awards
- Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II (1975)
- Best Actor for Raging Bull (1981)
- Eight acting nominations in total
Lifetime Honours
- Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (2011)
- AFI Life Achievement Award (2003)
- Kennedy Center Honors (2009)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016)
- Honorary Palme d'Or, Cannes (2025)
Away From the Spotlight
After the September 11 attacks, De Niro co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival with Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2002 to help revitalise Lower Manhattan, and it has grown into the Tribeca Festival. He is also a co-founder of the Nobu restaurant group with chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
FAQs
How old is Robert De Niro?
Robert De Niro was born on 17 August 1943, so he is 83 years old.
Where was Robert De Niro born?
He was born in Greenwich Village, New York City, and grew up in Manhattan.
How many Oscars has Robert De Niro won?
De Niro has won two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II and Best Actor for Raging Bull.
How many films has De Niro made with Martin Scorsese?
De Niro and Scorsese have made ten feature films together, from Mean Streets (1973) to Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
What is Robert De Niro's most famous line?
His mirror scene as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976) is one of the most quoted moments in film history.
Did Robert De Niro direct any films?
Yes. He directed A Bronx Tale (1993) and The Good Shepherd (2006).
Shop the Robert De Niro Collection
Celebrate De Niro with our tribute and fan designs, made to order in the UK.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Al Pacino and Raging Bull.
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