ROBERT DE NIRO

Summary of Key Facts

• Full Name: Robert Anthony De Niro Jr.

• Born: August 17, 1943 (age 81) in Manhattan, New York City, USA 

• Citizenship: United States and Italy

• Parents: Virginia Admiral (mother) and Robert De Niro Sr. (father), both painters 

• Ancestry: Italian roots on father's side (Molise region), and mixed European ancestry on mother's 

Education & Early Life

De Niro grew up in Greenwich Village and Little Italy. He left high school at 16 to study acting—training at HB Studio, Stella Adler Conservatory, and Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio. His first credited film roles appeared in the mid-1960s .

Career Highlights

• Early breakthrough: Gained recognition in Bang the Drum Slowly (1973); first big collaboration with Martin Scorsese in Mean Streets (1973) .

• Oscar-winning roles:

  • Young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974) – Best Supporting Actor 

  • Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980) – Best Actor; famously gained over 50 pounds for the role .

• Other iconic performances: Taxi Driver (1976), The Deer Hunter (1978), Cape Fear (1991), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) .

• Long-term collaborations: Worked with Scorsese on ten films, including GoodFellas and Casino . Also directed A Bronx Tale (1993), The Good Shepherd (2006) .

Personal Life & Advocacy

• Family: Seven children—Drena and Raphael (with Diahnne Abbott), twins Julian and Aaron (with Toukie Smith), Elliot and Helen Grace (with Grace Hightower), and youngest daughter Gia (with Tiffany Chen) born in 2023 .

• Parenting philosophy: Emphasizes unconditional support, even when kids make mistakes; finds fatherhood “pure joy” .

• Personal values: Maintains privacy and dedication to craft. Co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival post-9/11 to help revitalize lower Manhattan .

• Political stance: Vocal critic of Donald Trump; received honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes 2025 and used his speech to defend democratic values .

Awards & Legacy

• Academy Awards: 2 wins (Godfather II · Raging Bull), 8 additional nominations .

• Other honors: Golden Globe, AFI Life Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors (2009), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016), SAG Life Achievement (2019) .

• Business & Influence: Beyond acting, he’s a producer, director, restaurateur, and hotel co-owner (Nobu, etc.) with 57 restaurants and 42 hotels globally