Robert De Niro's Life in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Robert De Niro.Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Robert De Niroturns 81 on Aug. 17, 2024, but it seems he’s lived many lives in his decades on Earth.A celebrated actor who is credited with creating the Tribeca Film Festival in N.Y.C., De Niro has two Oscars to his name in addition to the endless accolades he’s received for his work. Additionally,he’s a father ofseven and a grandfather, as well.As he commemorates his 81st birthday, take a look at his life and career in photos.

Robert De Niroturns 81 on Aug. 17, 2024, but it seems he’s lived many lives in his decades on Earth.

A celebrated actor who is credited with creating the Tribeca Film Festival in N.Y.C., De Niro has two Oscars to his name in addition to the endless accolades he’s received for his work. Additionally,he’s a father ofseven and a grandfather, as well.

As he commemorates his 81st birthday, take a look at his life and career in photos.

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Robert De Niro’s Early Life

A New York City native,Robert De Nirowas born on Aug. 17 to two Greenwich Village artists in 1943. In pursuit of acting at a young age, De Niro dropped out of school at 16 years old to study at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting.

02of 16Robert De Niro’s Breakout RoleParamount/Kobal/ShutterstockDe Niro was cast in several minor films and theater productions in the late 1960s into the early 1970s, but his first substantial role was in Brian De Palma’sGreetingsin 1968.Soon after, De Niro gained further recognition with his baseball player role in John D. Hancock’sBang the Drum Slowly, a sports drama film based on the Mark Harris novel of the same name.

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Robert De Niro’s Breakout Role

Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

De Niro was cast in several minor films and theater productions in the late 1960s into the early 1970s, but his first substantial role was in Brian De Palma’sGreetingsin 1968.

Soon after, De Niro gained further recognition with his baseball player role in John D. Hancock’sBang the Drum Slowly, a sports drama film based on the Mark Harris novel of the same name.

03of 16Robert De Niro’s First Collaboration with Martin ScorseseTaplin-Perry-Scorsese/Kobal/ShutterstockDe Niro’slongtime relationshipwithMartin Scorsesedates back to 1973 when he was cast as “Johnny Boy” inMean Streets.Marking thefirst of his nine notable collaborationswith the esteemed director, the American crime film set the tone for the four decades-worth of award-winning work that followed.

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Robert De Niro’s First Collaboration with Martin Scorsese

Taplin-Perry-Scorsese/Kobal/Shutterstock

De Niro’slongtime relationshipwithMartin Scorsesedates back to 1973 when he was cast as “Johnny Boy” inMean Streets.

Marking thefirst of his nine notable collaborationswith the esteemed director, the American crime film set the tone for the four decades-worth of award-winning work that followed.

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Robert De Niro’s Role in ‘The Godfather Part II’

It wasn’t until De Niro was cast inFrancis Ford Coppola’sThe Godfather Part IIthat he attained mega stardom. He played the infamous role of young Vito Corleone in the film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name.

05of 16Robert De Niro’s Academy Award WinsSnap/ShutterstockDe Niro’s portrayal of Vito Corleone inThe Godfather Part IIearned him his firstAcademy Awardwin for Best Supporting Actor in 1975. This marked the first of two Oscar wins for the actor, and also the first of many award victories over the course of his acclaimed career.As for the film itself,The Godfather Part IIearned 11 Academy Award nominations that year, winning six including Best Picture and Best Director.

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Robert De Niro’s Academy Award Wins

Snap/Shutterstock

De Niro’s portrayal of Vito Corleone inThe Godfather Part IIearned him his firstAcademy Awardwin for Best Supporting Actor in 1975. This marked the first of two Oscar wins for the actor, and also the first of many award victories over the course of his acclaimed career.

As for the film itself,The Godfather Part IIearned 11 Academy Award nominations that year, winning six including Best Picture and Best Director.

06of 16Robert De Niro’s Role in ‘Taxi Driver’Silver Screen Collection/GettyDe Niro reunited with Scorsese forTaxi Driverin 1976, playing war veteran Travis Bickle oppositeJodie FosterandCybill Shepherd. Regarded as one the most transformative roles in his career, De Niro’s portrayal earned him his first Best Actor nomination at the 49th Academy Awards.

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Robert De Niro’s Role in ‘Taxi Driver’

Silver Screen Collection/Getty

De Niro reunited with Scorsese forTaxi Driverin 1976, playing war veteran Travis Bickle oppositeJodie FosterandCybill Shepherd. Regarded as one the most transformative roles in his career, De Niro’s portrayal earned him his first Best Actor nomination at the 49th Academy Awards.

07of 16Robert De Niro’s Role in ‘Raging Bull’Bettmann ArchiveDe Niro saw much success at the end of the 1970s, wrapping up the decade withThe Deer Hunter— a Vietnam War drama in which he played a soldier, earning him his second Best Actor Oscar nod in 1978.In 1980, he turned heads once again when he teamed up with Scorsese inRaging Bull. De Niro’s portrayal of middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta in the biographical drama earned him his first Oscar win in the Best Actor category.He also nabbed aGolden Globeaward in the best actor category, his first and only Golden Globe win of his eight nominations. In 2011, he was honored with theHollywood Foreign Press’ Cecil B. DeMille Award for his work over the course of his illustrious career.

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Robert De Niro’s Role in ‘Raging Bull’

Bettmann Archive

De Niro saw much success at the end of the 1970s, wrapping up the decade withThe Deer Hunter— a Vietnam War drama in which he played a soldier, earning him his second Best Actor Oscar nod in 1978.

In 1980, he turned heads once again when he teamed up with Scorsese inRaging Bull. De Niro’s portrayal of middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta in the biographical drama earned him his first Oscar win in the Best Actor category.

He also nabbed aGolden Globeaward in the best actor category, his first and only Golden Globe win of his eight nominations. In 2011, he was honored with theHollywood Foreign Press’ Cecil B. DeMille Award for his work over the course of his illustrious career.

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Robert De Niro’s Role in ‘Goodfellas’

Regarded as an all-time great,Goodfellasmarked thesixth collaborationbetween De Niro and Scorsese in 1990. The actor played Irish carjacker Jimmy Conway in the gangster film, an adaptation based on Nicholas Pileggi’s nonfiction bookWiseguypublished in 1985.

In the wake ofMean Street,Taxi Driver,Raging Bulland more, Scorsese created a template for theportrayal of modern gangster in cinema, with De Niro as his muse.

Goodfellasis “the single most influential gangster film ever made afterThe Godfather,“Rolling Stoneproclaimed on the film’s 30th anniversary.

09of 16Robert De Niro’s Directorial DebutPrice Entertainment/GettyDe Niro made his directorial debut with 1993’sA Bronx Tale, a Mafia-centered film starring Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato and Francis Capra. De Niro also starred in the feature, an adaptation of Palminteri’s 1989 play of the same name.Doubling as an actor and director once again, De Niro helmedThe Good Shepherdin 2006. Chronicling the origins of the CIA, the fictional film — loosely based on real events — starred Matt Damon,Angelina Jolie, William Hurt and Joe Pesci.

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Robert De Niro’s Directorial Debut

Price Entertainment/Getty

De Niro made his directorial debut with 1993’sA Bronx Tale, a Mafia-centered film starring Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato and Francis Capra. De Niro also starred in the feature, an adaptation of Palminteri’s 1989 play of the same name.

Doubling as an actor and director once again, De Niro helmedThe Good Shepherdin 2006. Chronicling the origins of the CIA, the fictional film — loosely based on real events — starred Matt Damon,Angelina Jolie, William Hurt and Joe Pesci.

10of 16Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival BeginningsRobert De Niro.Nicholas Hunt/Getty for Tribeca Film FestivalDe Niro — alongside Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff — co-founded theTribeca Film Festivalin 2001, post attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual festival was spawned in an effort to bring together creatives and visionaries across industries with audiences to celebrate the power of storytelling.“Tribeca has evolved from an annual event to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan to a gathering place for filmmakers, artists, innovators, and the global creative community,” theTFF websitereads.

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Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival Beginnings

Robert De Niro.Nicholas Hunt/Getty for Tribeca Film Festival

De Niro — alongside Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff — co-founded theTribeca Film Festivalin 2001, post attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual festival was spawned in an effort to bring together creatives and visionaries across industries with audiences to celebrate the power of storytelling.

“Tribeca has evolved from an annual event to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan to a gathering place for filmmakers, artists, innovators, and the global creative community,” theTFF websitereads.

11of 16Robert De Niro’s Role in ‘Silver Linings Playbook’Mirage Enterprises/Kobal/ShutterstockBased on Matthew Quick’s 2008 novel of the same name, 2012’sSilver Linings Playbookstarred De Niro alongsideBradley CooperandJennifer Lawrence.The dark romantic comedyachieved critical and commercial success, earning eight Academy Award nominations in 2013. Among them was De Niro’s nod for Best Supporting Actor.

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Robert De Niro’s Role in ‘Silver Linings Playbook’

Mirage Enterprises/Kobal/Shutterstock

Based on Matthew Quick’s 2008 novel of the same name, 2012’sSilver Linings Playbookstarred De Niro alongsideBradley CooperandJennifer Lawrence.The dark romantic comedyachieved critical and commercial success, earning eight Academy Award nominations in 2013. Among them was De Niro’s nod for Best Supporting Actor.

12of 16Robert De Niro’s Presidential Medal of FreedomAlex Wong/GettyPresident Barack Obamapresented De Niro with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, considered “the nation’s highest civilian honor.” ComedianEllen DeGeneres, NBA All-StarKareem Abdul-Jabbarand polymath physicist Richard Garwin were also recipients that year.The medal is “presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” theofficial sitereads.

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Robert De Niro’s Presidential Medal of Freedom

Alex Wong/Getty

President Barack Obamapresented De Niro with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, considered “the nation’s highest civilian honor.” ComedianEllen DeGeneres, NBA All-StarKareem Abdul-Jabbarand polymath physicist Richard Garwin were also recipients that year.

The medal is “presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” theofficial sitereads.

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Robert De Niro’s Emmy Nominations

Kobal/Shutterstock

14of 16Robert De Niro’s Recent Work20th Century StudiosIn 2022, De Niro starred alongside an A-list cast in David O. Russell’s highly-anticipated filmAmsterdam. Joining him in the original crime epic wereMargot RobbieandChristian Bale.

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Robert De Niro’s Recent Work

20th Century Studios

In 2022, De Niro starred alongside an A-list cast in David O. Russell’s highly-anticipated filmAmsterdam. Joining him in the original crime epic wereMargot RobbieandChristian Bale.

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Robert De Niro’s Personal Life

Tiffany Chen; Robert De Niro.BACKGRID, Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

De Niro wed Diahnne Abbott in 1976 and together they share son Raphael. The actor adopted her daughter, Drena, from a previous marriage. In 1988, the couple divorced.

That same year, De Niro began dating model Toukie Smith. The couple welcomed twin sons, Julian and Aaron, via in vitro fertilization and a surrogate in 1995. The model and actor split in 1996.

De Niro then began his longtime relationship with actressGrace Hightower, marrying her in 1997. Though the couplesplit in 1999, theyrenewed their vowsin 2004 since their divorce was never finalized. After 20 years together, the couplesplit for goodin 2018.

They share two kids: son Elliott anddaughter Helen Grace.

De Niro announced moredetails of his new arrivalwith Gayle King onCBS Morningson May 11, sharing the first photo of his daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro.

16of 16Robert De Niro Is Looking AheadRobert De Niro attends the screening of “Analyze This” in June 2024.Rob Kim/GettyAfter garnering his ninth Oscar forKillers of the Flower Moon,De Niro revealed he plans on continuing to work simply because “I enjoy it,” he said in aFebruary issue of PEOPLE.Earlier in the interview the legendary actor also said he is still very much looking forward to what life has to offer. “As things come, you don’t expect them,” he said. “You got to be ready. I’m ready to take whatever life gives me.”

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Robert De Niro Is Looking Ahead

Robert De Niro attends the screening of “Analyze This” in June 2024.Rob Kim/Getty

Rob Kim/Getty

After garnering his ninth Oscar forKillers of the Flower Moon,De Niro revealed he plans on continuing to work simply because “I enjoy it,” he said in aFebruary issue of PEOPLE.

Earlier in the interview the legendary actor also said he is still very much looking forward to what life has to offer. “As things come, you don’t expect them,” he said. “You got to be ready. I’m ready to take whatever life gives me.”

source: people.com