Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro is one of the most versatile and well-known actors of his generation. He was born the son of two painters, Virginia Admiral and Robert De Niro Sr., in Massachusetts. When De Niro was only two years old, his parents separated. At the age of 13, De Niro dropped out of his performance high school in New York City and joined a gang.

In his later teenage years, he studied acting at such prestigious institutions as Lee Strasberg's Actors' Studio and the Stella Adler Conservatory. In 1963, he partnered with Brian De Palma in the movie The Wedding Party. Throughout the '60s, he garnered bit parts here and there. In the early 1970s, De Niro finally broke out on his own as a major acting talent.

He collaborated with director Martin Scorsese in a series of films including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Cape Fear. His most iconic role was Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, a role which to this day defines De Niro's persona. De Niro is known for his extremely tenacious work ethic and commitment to his onscreen personas. For the movie Raging Bull, for instance, he intentionally gained 60 pounds. For Cape Fear, he actually ground his teeth to make him look more sinister.

De Niro has also plied his trade as a versatile comedic actor, starring in films like Wag The Dog, Meet the Parents, and Analyze This. He is a committed New Yorker, and he has done a lot to revitalize the New York Tribeca area. De Niro has often been compared to another phenomenally successful Italian American actor, Al Pacino. They first played opposite each other in the movie Heat.