Robert De Niro

Qne of America's most revered actors, Robert De Niro is renowned for immersing himself in his compelling film roles. A born-and-bred New Yorker, De Niro rose to fame in the mid-1970s by portraying troubled denizens of the city, particularly in Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, both directed by Martin Scorsese, who would become a longtime friend and collaborator. Trained in the Method approach to acting, De Niro famously packed on weight for his brooding turn as washed-up boxer Jake LaMotta in Scorsese's Raging Bull, a performance that led to his second Academy Award. (His first—a Best Supporting Oscar for The Godfather Part II.) Not content to be boxed in, De Niro began opting for quirkier, comedic parts (Brazil, Midnight Run), while also easing into more mild-mannered mentor roles during the '90s. He also branched out into directing—A Bronx Tale, and, much later, The Good Shepherd—and, most significantly, in 2002, he co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival, which quickly garnered a sterling international reputation. Though De Niro's latter-day acting run hasn't been terribly memorable (15 Minutes? Showtime?), he has enough iconic performances under his belt to ensure his prominent place in cinema history.