Robert De Niro

NAME Robert Anthony De Niro

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Robert De Niro is celebrated as one of the greatest actors of his generation, renowned for his intense performances, transformative preparation for roles, and collaborations with acclaimed directors like Martin Scorsese.

BIRTH Born on August 17, 1943, in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan, New York.

FAMILY BACKGROUND His father, Robert De Niro Sr., was a noted abstract expressionist artist, and his mother, Virginia Admiral, was a talented painter. De Niro’s father later came out as gay.

CHILDHOOD  His parents, Virginia Admiral and Robert De Niro Sr divorced when he was just two years old. While his father was gay and lived nearby, Robert De Niro spent his formative years primarily raised by his mother in the artistic Greenwich Village and Little Italy neighborhoods of Manhattan. Nicknamed "Bobby Milk" for his pale complexion, the young De Niro befriended many street kids in Little Italy, despite his artistic father's disapproval.

De Niro's love for film was nurtured by his father, who often took him to the movies. A particular fondness for Greta Garbo films left a lasting impression, and this childhood fascination with cinema, combined with his early acting experiences, laid the foundation for his incredible journey to becoming one of the greatest actors of all time.

EDUCATION De Niro's formal education was a bit scattered. He attended public elementary school PS 41 in Manhattan and went on to several different high schools including Elisabeth Irwin, High School of Music & Art, IS 71, McBurney School, and finally Rhodes Preparatory School. However, his passion for acting proved stronger than his commitment to traditional schooling, and De Niro dropped out at 16 to fully pursue his artistic calling.

De Niro's introduction to acting began early. At the tender age of 10, he took center stage as the Cowardly Lion in a school production of the Wizard of Oz. This experience sparked a fire within him, and he continued to hone his craft through free children's acting classes and enrolling at prestigious institutions like the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting. He even dabbled in studying with the legendary Lee Strasberg at the Actor's Studio. 

CAREER RECORD De Niro’s career is defined by iconic roles in films such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Godfather Part II, Goodfellas, and The Irishman. His dedication to roles included gaining 60 pounds to play Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull and obtaining a taxi license to prepare for Taxi Driver. His portrayal of mobsters and complex characters has left an indelible mark on cinematic history.

APPEARANCE Known for his expressive dark brown eyes and iconic mole, De Niro’s appearance has been integral to his ability to transform into a wide range of characters. De Niro is known for his distinctive features.  His salt and pepper hair has evolved over the years.

De Niro at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. By Georges Biard Wikipedia

FASHION Typically understated in public, De Niro’s style leans toward classic and practical, reflecting his no-nonsense personality. In his earlier years, he often sported a rugged, no-nonsense look. As he matured, he developed a penchant for sharp suits and tailored dress shirts.

CHARACTER De Niro is known for his intense focus, meticulous preparation, and reserved off-screen demeanor. He is also fiercely loyal to his collaborators. De Niro is reserved and private in his personal life.

SPEAKING VOICE His distinctive New York accent and deliberate, thoughtful delivery have made his voice instantly recognizable.

SENSE OF HUMOUR While often cast in serious roles, De Niro has shown a sharp, dry wit in films like Meet the Parents and in appearances on shows like Extras.

In the animated film The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, De Niro played the character of Fearless Leader. In a humorous nod to his famous role in Taxi Driver, De Niro's character actually performs an impression of his "You talkin' to me?" monologue from the 1976 film. This self-referential joke shows that De Niro doesn't take himself too seriously and is willing to poke fun at his own legendary status.

RELATIONSHIPS Robert De Niro has had a complex romantic life. He married actress and singer Diahnne Abbott in 1976. During their marriage, they welcomed a son, Raphael, and De Niro also adopted Abbott's daughter, Drena. However, their marriage ultimately ended in divorce in 1988.

De Niro later found love with actress Grace Hightower. They tied the knot in 1997 and welcomed a son, Elliot, in 1998. After a brief separation, they renewed their vows in 2004, but their marriage ultimately ended in divorce in 2018. In 2011, they welcomed daughter Helen Grace via surrogate.

Grace Hightower by David Shankbone

Beyond his two marriages, De Niro has fathered twins, Julian and Aaron, with former girlfriend Toukie Smith. More recently, his relationship with Tiffany Chen has blessed him with a daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, born in 2023.

In total, Robert De Niro is a father of seven children: Drena, Raphael, twins Julian and Aaron, Elliot, Helen Grace, and Gia.

MONEY AND FAME De Niro’s success has made him one of the wealthiest actors in Hollywood. 

de Niro's business ventures reflect his passions. He is involved in the hospitality industry through restaurants and hotels, fueled by his love of good food and creating welcoming environments. Additionally, he co-founded VDKA 6100 vodka

His ventures include co-founding the Nobu restaurant chain after five years of convincing chef Nobu Matsuhisa to partner with him.

FOOD AND DRINK Known for his love of fine dining, and is often spotted enjoying gourmet meals at high-end restaurants worldwide.

He co-founded the famous Nobu restaurant chain and co-owns Tribeca Grill in New York City

Often spotted enjoying gourmet meals at high-end restaurants worldwide

De Niro reportedly ate pancakes every morning and went on an eating tour of Italy to gain weight for The Untouchables.

For Raging Bull, he gained a staggering 60 pounds to portray the older Jake LaMotta. He first lost 30 pounds to play the younger boxer, then gained weight by traveling through Europe on an eating tour with director Martin Scorsese

Robert De Niro has been known to incorporate high-fiber fruits and vegetables into his meals to help control his appetite. Protein is also a key component of his diet, with sources like eggs and cottage cheese being regularly consumed. When focused on building muscle, De Niro aims for a protein intake of approximately one gram per pound of body weight. (1)

De Niro's relationship with alcohol is evident both on and off-screen. In his films, he often portrays characters who enjoy whiskey. For instance, in Jackie Brown, he drinks an unidentified whiskey over ice. In real life, he is also known for his appreciation of whiskey. He has been known to make "famous martinis," according to his "Nobu" business partner, and has even shared anecdotes about sipping whiskey from a flask while duck hunting with fellow filmmakers.

MUSIC AND ARTS De Niro learned to play the saxophone for his role in New York, New York.

A skilled drummer himself, he has showcased his dance moves and rhythmic talents in films like The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle and Joy.

He supports the arts through his own production company, Tribeca Productions.

As an avid art collector, De Niro demonstrates a keen eye for artistic expression that extends beyond the realm of acting. His collection reportedly features works by contemporary masters like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and even Pablo Picasso.

CINEMA Robert De Niro, by nearly any measure, is one of the most revered figures in cinematic history.  Over the years, De Niro has played everyone from a mob boss to a hapless retiree, with a detour into comedy that somehow convinces you he could wrangle a few laughs while still being the most intimidating presence in the room.

De Niro’s beginnings were, at first glance, unremarkable—small roles in quirky, low-budget films like Greetings (1968) and The Wedding Party (1969). These early performances hinted at a talent waiting to explode, much like a champagne cork under far too much pressure. 

The explosion finally came in 1973 with two roles that didn’t just put De Niro on the map—they practically redrew it. In Bang the Drum Slowly, he played a terminally ill baseball player with such raw, emotional precision that audiences were left wondering how anyone could make tragedy seem so oddly triumphant. Then came Mean Streets, the first of many collaborations with Martin Scorsese, where De Niro proved he could look terrifyingly cool while breaking every law of man and God.

By the mid-1970s, De Niro wasn’t just acting; he was constructing monuments to human complexity. His role as the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974) earned him his first Oscar and transformed speaking Italian into a kind of lethal art form. Two years later, he delivered one of cinema’s most iconic performances as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976). With his now-legendary line, “You talkin’ to me?” he managed to turn a simple rhetorical question into something so ominous that mirrors everywhere have been trembling ever since. Then, in The Deer Hunter (1978), De Niro added yet another Oscar nomination to his growing collection, giving a performance that turned raw emotion into an artful exploration of the human cost of war.

The 1980s and 1990s were a time for De Niro to prove that “typecasting” was something that happened to lesser actors. In Raging Bull (1980), he transformed himself into the volatile boxer Jake LaMotta, earning another Oscar while simultaneously redefining dedication to one’s craft. (He famously gained and lost weight for the role with a fervor that made Olympic athletes look lazy.) In The King of Comedy (1982), De Niro pivoted into dark comedy, playing a delusional wannabe stand-up comedian in a performance so unnervingly close to reality it left audiences questioning whether to laugh or cringe. By the time Goodfellas (1990) and Cape Fear (1991) came along, De Niro had practically trademarked the mobster persona, terrifying audiences so thoroughly in Cape Fear that many still refuse to watch it after dark.

By the late 1990s, De Niro decided to flex his comedic muscles, proving that even amidst punchlines, he could maintain his signature intensity. Analyze This (1999) and Meet the Parents (2000) showcased a version of De Niro that could balance deadpan humor with a hint of menace, a combination that left audiences both laughing and mildly terrified. In The Good Shepherd (2006), he took on the dual role of director and actor, because, frankly, why not? And just to remind everyone he wasn’t slowing down, he earned yet another Oscar nomination in Silver Linings Playbook (2012) for his portrayal of a father navigating familial chaos with warmth and quiet strength.

Even now, De Niro remains a cinematic force of nature, his talent undiminished by time. In The Irishman (2019), he reunited with Scorsese for an epic crime saga that somehow made three and a half hours feel like a brisk afternoon. By 2023, he was breaking records with Killers of the Flower Moon, earning his ninth Oscar nomination and setting a casual 48-year gap between his first and most recent nods—because De Niro, as it turns out, plays the long game.

With two Oscars, nine nominations, and enough accolades to fill a museum, De Niro is not just a living legend but a walking master class in acting. One can’t help but think that if aliens ever landed on Earth demanding proof of human excellence, we could simply hand them a box set of De Niro films and let his work speak for itself. And if they asked, “You talkin’ to me?” we’d know exactly where they learned it.

LITERATURE De Niro’s collaborations with literary-based screenplays, like The Last Tycoon and The Godfather, show his affinity for stories rooted in complex characters.

NATURE His daughter Drena's name is reportedly inspired by the Drina River, known for its natural beauty. This naming choice might reflect an appreciation for natural landscapes.

PETS Robert De Niro has a particular fondness for dogs. He reportedly has more than 10 dogs, though the exact number is unclear. In fact, De Niro has so many canine companions that he admits to not knowing all their names

HOBBIES AND SPORTS De Niro trained as a boxer for a year to play Jake LaMotta, reflecting his dedication to authenticity in his craft.

For Cape Fear, De Niro spent up to five hours a day in the gym to achieve a muscular, intimidating physique

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Robert De Niro embodies a pragmatic approach to life and work. He values hard work and professionalism, emphasizing the importance of a strong work ethic and dedication to craft. He advises aspiring actors to embrace every opportunity, even if it seems insignificant, as these experiences contribute to their overall growth. De Niro also believes in the importance of taking risks and seizing opportunities, recognizing that the fear of failure should not deter one from pursuing their goals.

While not overtly religious, De Niro displays spiritual inclinations. He has explored practices like Qigong and shared spiritual moments with fellow actors, suggesting an openness to spiritual experiences. His views on faith are nuanced, acknowledging the coexistence of deep faith and profound doubt.

De Niro possesses a strong ethical foundation. He champions decency, democracy, and social justice, using his platform to advocate for causes he believes in.

In essence, De Niro's worldview appears to be a blend of pragmatism, spiritual exploration, and a deeply ingrained moral compass. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, ethical behavior, and a willingness to embrace both the joys and uncertainties of life.

Famously picky about roles, De Niro turned down playing Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ. His choices reflect a deep understanding of personal and professional values.

POLITICS De Niro is an outspoken critic of political figures and has used his platform to express his views on social and political issues.

SCANDAL In 2004, De Niro’s Italian citizenship sparked controversy, as the Order Sons of Italy in America objected due to his portrayal of criminals in films. Despite the opposition, he was granted citizenship.

MILITARY RECORD De Niro has played characters with military backgrounds in several films.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS De Niro’s physical transformations for roles, including gaining and losing significant weight, showcase his commitment to his craft.

HOMES Robert De Niro possesses a substantial real estate portfolio. His primary residence is a sprawling estate in Gardiner, New York, which he purchased in 1997 for $1.5 million. This 98-acre property boasts a 2,222-square-foot main house with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Notably, it includes a converted 14,000-square-foot barn that serves as a recreation center, featuring a boxing room, a small film studio, a game room, a gym, a basketball court, a swimming pool, and a steam room and sauna.

In addition to his upstate New York estate, De Niro has owned and rented several luxurious properties in Manhattan. He previously owned a 11,000-square-foot penthouse in the West Village, which he acquired for $25.5 million in 2012. This opulent residence featured five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, and stunning views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline. He also rented a 6,000-square-foot full-floor apartment on Central Park West, offering breathtaking views of Central Park, downtown Manhattan, and the Hudson River.

Beyond his properties in the United States, De Niro previously owned a penthouse flat in London, located in Southwark. This unique residence, part of a converted Hartley jam factory, offered 360-degree views of the city, including iconic landmarks like the Shard and St. Paul's Cathedral. He sold it in 2018 for £1.5 million

TRAVEL De Niro is a passionate traveler. He enjoys exploring the world, experiencing different cultures and cuisines through his frequent journeys to various countries. These global adventures likely enrich his perspective as an actor, allowing him to draw from a wider well of life experiences when portraying characters.

His travels have often been tied to film projects or personal culinary interests, like his Italian eating tour for The Untouchables.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA De Niro has made memorable appearances on TV shows like BBC's Extras. 

He is the subject of Bananarama’s 1984 hit “Robert De Niro’s Waiting.”

ACHIEVEMENTS De Niro’s accolades include:  

Two Academy Awards, for The Godfather Part II and Raging Bull

Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards, and numerous other accolades.

Received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009.

Inducted into the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Film Stars.

Source (1) Mens Journal