Robert Anthony De Niro is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. Born August 17, 1943, in Manhattan, New York City, he’s now 82 years old. His method acting style and partnerships with Martin Scorsese changed American cinema forever.
The actor stands at 5’9″ at his peak (currently 5’6¾”). He’s won two Academy Awards and built a business empire through TriBeCa Productions. His net worth reflects five decades of commanding performances and smart real estate investments in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood.
Robert De Niro Bio/Wiki
| Facts | Details |
| Full Name | Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. |
| Date of Birth | August 17, 1943 |
| Age | 82 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Manhattan, New York City |
| Height | 5’9″ (peak), currently 5’6¾” |
| Parents | Virginia Admiral, Robert De Niro Sr. |
| Spouses | Diahnne Abbott (1976-1988), Grace Hightower (1997-2018) |
| Partner | Tiffany Chen (2023-present) |
| Children | 7 (Drena, Raphael, Julian, Airyn, Elliot, Helen, Gia) |
| Occupation | Actor, Director, Producer |
| Years Active | 1963-present |
| Notable Films | The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, The Irishman |
| Awards | 2 Academy Awards, 1 Golden Globe, AFI Life Achievement Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom |
| Production Company | TriBeCa Productions (founded 1989) |
| Festival | Tribeca Film Festival (co-founder, 2002) |
| Training | HB Studio, Actors Studio, Stella Adler Conservatory |
| Acting Method | Stanislavski system, Method acting |
| Residence | Gardiner, New York (primary); Manhattan properties |
Robert De Niro Origins & Early Life (1943-1960)
Robert Anthony De Niro was born to two accomplished painters. His parents, Virginia Admiral and Robert De Niro Sr., met at Hans Hofmann’s painting classes in Provincetown, Massachusetts. They separated when Bobby was two after his father revealed he was gay.
He grew up in Greenwich Village and Little Italy with his mother. Kids called him “Bobby Milk” because of his pale complexion. His grandparents secretly baptized him Catholic during his parents’ divorce, against their wishes.
The artistic environment shaped young Bobby’s understanding of observation and discipline. His mother became an atheist while his father had been a lapsed Catholic since age 12. This bohemian upbringing planted seeds for his future career in performance.
The Making Of An Actor (1960-1973)
Robert started acting at age 10, playing the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. He bounced between schools—PS 41, Elisabeth Irwin High School, High School of Music & Art, and Rhodes Preparatory School. At 16, he dropped out to pursue acting full-time.
Performing helped with his shyness. De Niro studied at HB Studio, Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio, and Stella Adler Conservatory. The Stanislavski system became his foundation for character work.
Young Bobby drew inspiration from Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and James Dean. He later recalled his thinking at 18: “If these actors are making a living at it, and they’re not really that good, I can’t do any worse than them.” His first film, The Wedding Party, was shot in 1963 but didn’t release until 1969—he earned just $50.
Robert De Niro Breakthrough & Mastery (1973-1980)
Robert De Niro gained recognition in Bang the Drum Slowly (1973). But Mean Streets (1973) established him as a volatile talent and began his legendary partnership with Martin Scorsese. The two were raised blocks apart in Greenwich Village but never formally met until a 1972 party.
He won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor playing Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974). De Niro spent four months learning Sicilian dialect for the role. He became the first male actor to win an Oscar for an Italian-language performance.
Francis Ford Coppola remembered De Niro’s original auditions for the first Godfather film. That memory inspired his casting in the sequel. De Niro and Marlon Brando became the first two actors to win Oscars for playing the same character.
His commitment to Taxi Driver (1976) became legendary. He underwent firearm training, lost 30 pounds, and spent time at a US Army base learning Midwestern dialects. He earned only $35,000 for the iconic role despite its cultural impact.
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Defining Decades (1980-2000)
He won his second Academy Award for Best Actor as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980). His physical transformation for the role set new standards for dedication. He gained 60 pounds to portray the older, retired boxer convincingly.
The 1980s and 1990s saw him in landmark films. Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Untouchables (1987), Goodfellas (1990), and Casino (1995) showcased his range. His salary grew from $3 million to $5 million per film during this period (IMDb).
He expanded into comedy with Midnight Run (1988), earning $5 million. De Niro reflected on the genre shift: “With a comedy, you yell at Billy Crystal for an hour, and you go home.” His comedy work earned four Golden Globe nominations in the Musical or Comedy category.
He also stepped behind the camera. A Bronx Tale (1993) marked his directorial debut. The Good Shepherd (2006) followed, showing his understanding of storytelling from multiple angles.
Robert De Niro Personal Life & Relationships
De Niro married actress Diahnne Abbott in 1976. They had son Raphael and he adopted her daughter Drena from a previous relationship. The couple divorced in 1988 after 12 years together.
Between 1988 and 1996, he dated model Toukie Smith. The couple had twins Julian and Airyn in 1995 through in vitro fertilization with a surrogate. Their relationship ended before the millennium.
He married actress Grace Hightower in 1997. They had son Elliot (born 1998) and daughter Helen (born 2011 via surrogate). The couple separated in 2018 after 20 years, stating they were “entering a period of transition” in their partnership.
At 79, De Niro welcomed his seventh child, daughter Gia, with girlfriend Tiffany Chen in April 2023. Gayle King clarified on CBS Mornings that “this baby was planned” and “brought here by love.” He told AARP in January 2024: “Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her.”
Family Dynamics & Tragedy
Drena De Niro, now 57, works as an actor and producer. She described her father as “a non-judgmental, open-minded person, always accepting of what people feel their paths are.” Raphael leads The De Niro Team at Douglas Elliman in Manhattan and co-owns the Greenwich Hotel.
Julian De Niro, 28, appeared on Broadway and played young Barack Obama in Showtime’s “The First Lady.” Twin Airyn came out as transgender in April 2025. De Niro publicly stated he supported her identity.
Helen made a rare red carpet appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival with her father. Tragedy struck in July 2023 when grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez died at 19. De Niro reflected People magazine: “I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him.”
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Robert De Niro Business & Tribeca Empire
De Niro and producer Jane Rosenthal founded TriBeCa Productions in 1989. The company housed itself in the Tribeca Grill, which became a Manhattan landmark. In October 2018, the FBI found an explosive device there, similar to ones sent to political figures.
He’s been investing in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood since 1989. His properties span both east and west sides of Manhattan. His primary residence is a 78-acre estate in Gardiner, New York.
The Tribeca Film Festival launched in 2002 to revitalize lower Manhattan after 9/11. The annual event attracts filmmakers and audiences from around the world. De Niro criticized the Hollywood studio system in a 1998 Chicago Sun Times interview, saying: “I’ve seen the suits run the asylum. I think I can do it as good or even better.”
Legacy & Honors
He has won two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and received eight BAFTA Award nominations. He’s earned four Emmy Award nominations for television work. The AFI Life Achievement Award came in 2003, followed by Kennedy Center Honors in 2009.
He received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2011 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, reports SAG. The Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award honored him in 2019. In 2025, he received the Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes.
According to the Library of Congress reports, Six of his films entered the United States National Film Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Five films appear on the AFI’s 100 Greatest American Films list. His collaborations with Joe Pesci, Bradley Cooper, David O. Russell, and Jennifer Lawrence span decades.
Notable films include The Deer Hunter, Heat, Cape Fear, Jackie Brown, and The Irishman. He reunited with Al Pacino four times—The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill, and The Irishman. The 2019 film adapted Charles Brandt’s book “I Heard You Paint Houses” with screenplay by Steven Zaillian.
The Craft & Philosophy
De Niro’s method acting approach centers on one principle: “Don’t talk it [shooting a scene] away, do it!” He believes in action over discussion. His intense physical and mental preparation for roles became his trademark.
He modestly admits: “I don’t like to watch my own movies–I fall asleep in my own movies” (IMDb Quotes). On acting technique, he emphasizes: “It’s important not to indicate. People don’t try to show their feelings, they try to hide them.” This philosophy guided his most memorable performances.
For The Irishman, he wore platform shoes to portray 6’4″ Frank Sheeran. He explained they were necessary to show accurate height relationships with other actors. His attention to physical detail extends to accents, weight changes, and mannerisms.
Present Day (2024-2025)
De Niro remains active in film at 82. His son Julian appeared alongside him in Netflix series Zero Day, playing a former president investigating a cyberattack. This father-son collaboration marked a rare family project.
He’s vocal about political issues, supporting Joe Biden for re-election in 2024 and backing Kamala Harris after Biden withdrew. De Niro criticized Donald Trump, calling him a “buffoon” who could become a “vicious dictator.” He attended the annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces gala in 2016.
In June 2025, he took 2-year-old Gia to meet The Wiggles. E! Online noted he “looked ecstatic in every photo” despite rarely smiling for cameras. Award show hosts joked about his late fatherhood—Jimmy Kimmel at the 2024 Oscars and Jo Koy at the Golden Globes—and both De Niro and Tiffany Chen laughed.
On parenting, he states: “The main thing is to support your kids. As long as they’re not hurting themselves, doing anything destructive or anything like that, you have to support them—period.” He plans to put on his gravestone: “I tried my best” and “Please forgive me for everything that I’ve done.”
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Conclusion
Robert De Niro transformed American acting through dedication, risk-taking, and artistic integrity. From earning $50 for his first film to commanding $20 million per project, his journey reflects talent meeting opportunity. His partnership with Martin Scorsese produced some of cinema’s most influential work.
Beyond acting, his Tribeca ventures revitalized lower Manhattan and created platforms for emerging filmmakers. As a father of seven spanning multiple generations, he balances legendary career demands with family responsibilities. His legacy extends through his children, his businesses, and the National Film Registry selections that will educate future generations about the power of committed performance.
FAQ’s About Robert De Niro
How tall is Robert De Niro?
Robert De Niro’s peak height was 5’9″ (175.3 cm), currently 5’6¾” (169.5 cm).
What is Robert De Niro’s net worth in 2025?
His net worth reflects decades of high-paying roles and substantial real estate holdings in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood.
How many times has Robert De Niro been married?
Twice—Diahnne Abbott (1976-1988) and Grace Hightower (1997-2018).
How many children does Robert De Niro have?
Seven children: Drena, Raphael, Julian, Airyn, Elliot, Helen, and Gia.
What acting method does Robert De Niro use?
Method acting based on the Stanislavski system, involving intense physical and mental preparation.
How many Oscars has Robert De Niro won?
Two Academy Awards—Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II and Best Actor for Raging Bull.
What is Robert De Niro’s relationship with Martin Scorsese?
They’ve collaborated on ten films starting with Mean Streets (1973), creating cinema’s most celebrated director-actor partnership.
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