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Robert De Niro Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthAugust 17, 1943

Age79 Years

BirthplaceManhattan, New York, U.S.

ProfessionActor, Director, Producer, Voice Actor

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusMarried

SpouseGrace Hightower

FamilyFather - Robert De Niro Sr.; Mother - Virginia Admiral; Children - 7

Net worth$200 million

Robert De Niro Biography

Robert Anthony De Niro is an American actor, director and producer whose career spans decades and more than a hundred films. Born and raised in Manhattan's

Early life and background

Robert Anthony De Niro was born on August 17, 1943, in Manhattan, New York. He grew up in Greenwich Village and spent his early years immersed in an artistic household: his father, Robert De Niro Sr., was an abstract expressionist painter and sculptor, and his mother, Virginia Admiral, worked as a painter and poet. He attended several New York schools during his youth, including PS41, Elisabeth Irwin High School, Little Red School House, the High School of Music and Art, McBurney School, and Rhodes Preparatory School. For formal acting training he studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory and later with Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio.

Career

De Niro made his film debut in Three Rooms in Manhattan and went on to build a prolific career as an actor, director, producer and voice actor. He developed a reputation for intense preparation and method acting, famously gaining significant weight for the role of Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull and learning boxing for the part. Across his career he has appeared in more than 100 films and is known for a string of high-profile roles, including work in Once Upon a Time in America, Brazil, The Untouchables, Backdraft, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Heat, Casino, Jackie Brown and Machete.

His early breakout came with roles that demanded linguistic and cultural specificity; one notable achievement was winning an Academy Award for playing the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, a performance that involved speaking in Sicilian dialects. He later won a second Academy Award for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. De Niro has maintained a long creative partnership with filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and has been praised for his meticulous approach to character and scene work. Memorable choices include insisting on unrehearsed interaction in the on-screen meeting with Al Pacino in Heat to preserve a natural unfamiliarity between the characters.

Beyond acting, De Niro has taken on roles behind the camera and has co-founded and invested in restaurant and hospitality ventures, including co-ownership of Nobu and Tribeca Grill. He also helped establish the Tribeca Film Festival after the September 11 attacks, with the stated purpose of contributing to the revitalization of lower Manhattan.

Public profile

De Niro's public life has combined artistic recognition with moments of controversy. He has received major honors for his body of work, including the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. He served as a member of the jury at the 15th Moscow International Film Festival in 1987 and was honored at the 20th Moscow International Film Festival in 1997.

His personal life has frequently been the subject of public attention. De Niro has been married twice, first to Diahnne Abbott and later to Grace Hightower. He is a father to seven children; several of his children, including Drena and Helena, are publicly referenced, as are his sons and their circumstances. He has at times been outspoken on political issues and has identified as a supporter of the Democratic Party.

De Niro has faced legal and tax disputes related to property holdings in Gardiner, New York, and has been involved in public disagreements and investigations reported over the years. He has also been open about health challenges in the past, undergoing surgery for prostate cancer in December 2003.

Latest updates

De Niro remained active in film well into the 2020s. In 2023 he starred in Killers of the Flower Moon, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in January 2024. His long career continues to attract awards recognition and new audiences.

Personal details and habits

Physically, De Niro is reported to stand about 1.75 meters (5 feet 9 inches) and has been described with dark brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair in later years. He has been associated with a number of well-known actors as influences and favorites, including Montgomery Clift, Robert Mitchum and Marlon Brando. His approach to acting is rooted in method technique, and he is known for immersive preparation for demanding roles.

Despite the many public stories about his life, De Niro remains primarily known for his craft, a body of work that has made him one of the most recognizable and influential figures in American cinema.
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Recent Work

Killers of the Flower Moon

Performance that earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II
  2. Won Academy Award for Best Actor for Raging Bull
  3. Co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival
  4. Received AFI Life Achievement Award and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award
  5. Appeared in over 100 films
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Net Worth

$200 million

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Robert De Niro born?

August 17, 1943

What is Robert De Niro known for?

Actor, Director, Producer, Voice Actor

What is Robert De Niro’s marital status?

Married

Who is Robert De Niro married to?

Grace Hightower

What is Robert De Niro’s net worth?

$200 million