Biography
Youth
Robert Anthony De Niro was born on August 17, 1943, in Manhattan, New York. He is the only child of Irish and Italian father Robert De Niro Sr. and Dutch, English, German, and French mother Virginia Admiral, who were both painters, though he was raised by his mother after his parents split when he was two. Robert De Niro Sr. was the focus of a 2014 documentary Remembering The Artist - covering his life, art, and experience coming out as a gay man - which saw Robert De Niro recount his memories with his father, and pay tribute to his career. De Niro was nicknamed "Bobby Milk" due to his complexion and his grandparents had him baptized against his parents' wishes.
Education
As a child, Robert De Niro attended PS 41, a public school in Manhattan. He made his acting debut in a stage play of The Wizard of Oz when he was 10 as he portrayed the Cowardly Lion. De Niro went on to attend Elisabeth Irwin High School, IS 71, McBurney School, and Rhodes Prepaptory School.
Career
After landing a few uncredited roles to start his career, De Niro made his big screen debut in Greetings (1968). It wasn't long before he became a major player in Hollywood thanks to memorable performances in Mean Streets (1973), The Godfather Part II (1974), Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and The King of Comedy (1982), among others.
De Niro kept delivering stellar performances into the '90s with Goodfellas (1990), Cape Fear (1991), Casino (1995), and Heat (1995). Though most known for his dramatic roles, he's also shined in comedies like Analyze This (1999), Meet the Parents (2000), and Silver Linings Playbook (2012). He's won two Oscars, two Golden Globes, an honorary Palme d'Or, and been nominated for many other accolades in his career.
Personal Life
Robert De Niro is a lifelong New Yorker and still resides there today. In 1976, he married Diahnne Abbott. Together they have a son named Raphael and he adopted her daughter Drena. They divorced in 1988 before De Niro began dating model Toukie Smith until 1996. They have twins, son Julian and daughter Airyn, delivered by a surrogate mother. Airyn came out as a trans woman in 2025 and De Niro supports her identity.
In 1997, De Niro married Grace Hightower. They had a son, Elliot, in 1998 and a daughter, Helen, in 2011. The couple split after 20 years of marriage. In April 2023, De Niro became one of the oldest fathers in history, having a daughter, Gia, with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen at 79. He also has four grandchildren.
