Spotlight on
Robert De Niro
A Study in Method Acting
Robert De Niro has been praised for his commitment to roles, which can be attributed to his background in Method acting. De Niro gained 60 pounds and learned how to properly box for his role in Raging Bull; learned to play the saxophone for New York, New York; lived in Sicily to prepare him for his work in The Godfather, Part II; he worked as a cab driver for Taxi Driver; shaved his hair and put on weight for The Untouchables; and ground his teeth for Cape Fear.
De Niro's brand of Method acting includes adopting strategies and techniques that he feels will create the best portrayal of any and all characters he takes on. This approach has been highly successful. His first Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor was for young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974), followed by a Best Actor Academy Award win for playing boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980). Among his many roles: cabbie Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, soldier Michael Vronsky in The Deer Hunter, mobster David “Noodles” Aaronson in Once Upon a Time in America, mobster Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas, Al Capone in The Untouchables, retired CIA Officer Jack Byrnes in Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, thief Neil McCauley in Heat and gambler Sam Rothstein in Casino.
Robert De Niro
A Study in Method Acting
Robert De Niro has been praised for his commitment to roles, which can be attributed to his background in Method acting. De Niro gained 60 pounds and learned how to properly box for his role in Raging Bull; learned to play the saxophone for New York, New York; lived in Sicily to prepare him for his work in The Godfather, Part II; he worked as a cab driver for Taxi Driver; shaved his hair and put on weight for The Untouchables; and ground his teeth for Cape Fear.
De Niro's brand of Method acting includes adopting strategies and techniques that he feels will create the best portrayal of any and all characters he takes on. This approach has been highly successful. His first Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor was for young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974), followed by a Best Actor Academy Award win for playing boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980). Among his many roles: cabbie Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, soldier Michael Vronsky in The Deer Hunter, mobster David “Noodles” Aaronson in Once Upon a Time in America, mobster Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas, Al Capone in The Untouchables, retired CIA Officer Jack Byrnes in Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, thief Neil McCauley in Heat and gambler Sam Rothstein in Casino.
