Robert De Niro

In October 2004 he canceled an appearance in Rome, Italy after Italian officials claimed he had presented negative stereotypes of their ethnicity in his films. 1944 The Rats of Tobruk, & Red Sky at Morning. Contrary to popular belief De Niro is primarily Irish-American, not Italian. 1946 A Son Is Born. Interestingly, De Niro and Marlon Brando are the only pair of actors who have won Academy Awards for portraying the same person: De Niro won for playing young Vito Corleone in The Godfather, Part II, and Brando had won previously (although he declined the award) for playing the elderly Don Vito in The Godfather. 1949 Train of Events & Eureka Stockade. He has won two Academy Awards: as Best Actor for his role in Raging Bull; and as Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather, Part II. 1950 The Miniver Story & The Wooden Horse.

In the mid-1980s, De Niro began expanding into occasional comedic roles, and has had much success in that area as well with such films as Brazil (1985), Midnight Run (1988), Wag the Dog (1997), Analyze This (1999), and Meet the Parents (2000). 1952 The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men. In these films, De Niro has primarily played charming but emotionally unstable characters who have sociopathic tendencies. 1953 The Heart of the Matter & The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan. He began to work with Martin Scorsese in the same year when the two collaborated on Mean Streets. Later Scorsese films in which De Niro has participated are Taxi Driver (1976), New York, New York (1977), Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1983), Goodfellas (1990), Cape Fear (1991), and Casino (1995). 1954 Father Brown & Elephant Walk. After that, he played some major and minor roles in other films not widely seen, until he gained popularity with his role in Bang the Drum Slowly (1973). 1955 Josephine and Men, Make Me an Offer, Passage Home, Simon and Laura & The Dark Avenger.

A graduate of the Little Red School House, De Niro made his first film appearance in 1968 in Greetings (directed by Brian De Palma). 1956 The Battle of the River Plate & A Town Like Alice. Although not articulate, De Niro is generally considered a skilled observer of physical tics and details, and an intense perfectionist. 1957 Windom's Way, Robbery Under Arms & The Shiralee. Praised for his commitment to his roles, De Niro gained 60 pounds (27 kg) and learned how to box for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, ground his teeth for Cape Fear, and learned to play the saxophone for New York, New York (all Scorsese films). 1959 The Nun's Story & Operation Amsterdam. Robert De Niro (born August 17, 1943 in New York City) is an acclaimed American film actor who is noted for having starred in several of director Martin Scorsese's films. 1960 The Trials of Oscar Wilde & Kidnapped.

Hide and Seek (2005). 1961 No Love for Johnnie & The Sins of Rachel Cade. Shark Tale (2004). 1962 I Thank a Fool. Meet The Fockers (2004). 1963 In the Cool of the Day. The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004). 1964 First Men in the Moon, Girl with Green Eyes & The Pumpkin Eater.

Godsend (2004). 1965 The Flight of the Phoenix. Analyze That (2002). 1966 10:30 P.M. Summer & Judith. The Score (2001). 1967 Far from the Madding Crowd. Men of Honor (2000). 1968 The Legend of Lylah Clare.

Ronin (1998). 1971 Sunday, Bloody Sunday & Krasnaya palatka. Jackie Brown (1997). 1972 Something to Hide. Cop Land (1997). 1973 England Made Me, A Bequest to the Nation & Lost Horizon. Heat (1995). 1974 The Abdication.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994). 1976 Network. A Bronx Tale (1993) (also directed). 1977 Raid On Entebbe (TV movie). This Boy's Life (1993). When his real identity was later revealed, some commentators made the incorrect assumption that William Mitchell must have been his legal name. Backdraft (1991). He was once arrested for drunkenness in Rome and, when asked for his name, he gave a fictitious one in order to protect his professional reputation.

Awakenings (1990). This is not correct. The Untouchables (1987). Some references say his original name was William Mitchell. Angel Heart (1987). He is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California. The Mission (1986). He had four children from his three marriages.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984). His third wife was Eletha Finch. True Confessions (1981). Both marriages ended in divorce. The Deer Hunter (1978). His fist wife was Tamara Tchinarova and his second wife Yolande Turner. The Last Tycoon (1976). Peter Finch was married three times.

1900 (1976). Finch also won five Awards of the British Film Academy. It was accepted by his widow. He died of a stroke during a promotional tour for the film. He nevertheless won the Oscar, the first time the Best Actor award had been made posthumously, and he was the first Australian actor to win the award. He also won an Oscar nomination for his over-the-top portrayal of a crazed television anchor man in the 1976 film Network.

In 1972, his role of the homosexual Jewish doctor in Sunday Bloody Sunday earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Finch's Hollywood debut was in The Miniver Story in 1950, but his first major role was 1956 in A Town Like Alice. His first role in a British-made film was in Eureka Stockade 1949 (set in Australia). Despite his stage experience, Finch suffered from stage fright and turned to films.

Finch returned the favor by having an affair with Olivier's wife, Vivien Leigh. Thereafter he played again on stage, where he was noticed by Laurence Olivier and encouraged to return to London. He began in 1935 playing theater roles, and also working in radio. In 1938, he appeared in his first movie, Dad and Dave Come to Town. After finishing school, he worked in several badly-paid jobs until he tried acting.

There he grew up in Sydney. Born Frederick George Peter Ingle-Finch in London, England, he lived as a child in France and India, and finally in Australia, his parent's native country. Peter Finch (September 28, 1916 - January 14, 1977) was an English-born actor with strong Australian connections.