Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Robert De Niro
How Robert De Niro built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Robert De Niro is a highly acclaimed American actor, director, and producer, often considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. He's received numerous awards including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and multiple nominations for BAFTA and Emmy Awards. De Niro's contributions to film have been recognized with prestigious honors such as the AFI Life Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors, Cecil B. DeMille Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, solidifying his iconic status in the entertainment industry.
1973: Release of Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets
In 1973, Robert De Niro starred in "Bang the Drum Slowly" and "Mean Streets", both critically acclaimed films.
1974: Release of The Godfather Part II
In 1974, Robert De Niro starred in "The Godfather Part II", a critically acclaimed film.
1976: Release of Taxi Driver
In 1976, Robert De Niro starred in "Taxi Driver", a critically acclaimed film.
1978: Release of The Deer Hunter
In 1978, Robert De Niro starred in "The Deer Hunter", a critically acclaimed film.
1980: Release of Raging Bull
In 1980, Robert De Niro starred in "Raging Bull", a critically acclaimed film.
1980: Raging Bull Release
In 1980, Robert De Niro starred in the biographical drama Raging Bull, directed by Martin Scorsese. He played Jake LaMotta, an Italian-American middleweight boxer, and gained 60 pounds for the role. The film received critical acclaim, though some found it exceedingly violent, and De Niro's performance was praised, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
1981: True Confessions Release
In 1981, Robert De Niro starred in True Confessions, playing a priest who clashes with his detective brother. The film received praise for the actors' performances.
1982: The King of Comedy Release
In 1982, Robert De Niro starred in The King of Comedy as Rupert Pupkin, a struggling stand-up comedian. De Niro brought the script to Martin Scorsese, who directed the film. While it was a box office disappointment, De Niro's performance was praised by critics.
1983: Release of The King of Comedy
In 1983, Robert De Niro starred in "The King of Comedy", a critically acclaimed film.
1984: Release of Once Upon a Time in America
In 1984, Robert De Niro starred in "Once Upon a Time in America", a critically acclaimed film.
1984: Once Upon a Time in America Release
In 1984, Robert De Niro starred in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America, playing David "Noodles" Aaronson, a New York City Jewish gangster. The theatrical cut of the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received a 15-minute standing ovation.
1984: Falling in Love Release
In 1984, Robert De Niro starred opposite Meryl Streep in the romantic comedy Falling in Love.
1986: Release of The Mission
In 1986, Robert De Niro starred in "The Mission", a critically acclaimed film.
July 1987: President of the Jury at the 15th Moscow International Film Festival
In July 1987, Robert De Niro traveled to Russia to serve as president of the jury at the 15th Moscow International Film Festival.
1988: Release of Midnight Run
In 1988, Robert De Niro starred in "Midnight Run", a critically acclaimed film.
1988: Midnight Run Release
In 1988, Robert De Niro starred in the buddy cop film Midnight Run opposite Charles Grodin. He played bounty hunter Jack Walsh. The film was a commercial success.
1988: Turned Down Role in The Last Temptation of Christ
In 1988, Robert De Niro turned down an opportunity to play Jesus Christ in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ.
1989: Co-founded TriBeCa Productions
In 1989, Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal co-founded the film production company TriBeCa Productions.
1989: Starred in Jacknife and We're No Angels
In 1989, Robert De Niro starred in the drama Jacknife alongside Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. He also starred in the crime comedy We're No Angels with Sean Penn and Demi Moore, a remake of the 1955 film of the same name.
1990: Starred in Goodfellas and Awakenings
In 1990, Robert De Niro reunited with Martin Scorsese for Goodfellas, playing James Conway. Also in 1990, he starred in Awakenings.
1990: Release of Goodfellas
In 1990, Robert De Niro starred in "Goodfellas", a critically acclaimed film.
1991: Starred in Guilty by Suspicion, Backdraft, and Cape Fear
In 1991, Robert De Niro starred in Guilty by Suspicion, Backdraft, and Cape Fear, his seventh collaboration with Martin Scorsese. His performance in Cape Fear was widely lauded, earning him a Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards.
1992: Appeared in Mistress and Night and the City
In 1992, Robert De Niro appeared in two films: Mistress, where he played Evan Wright, and Night and the City, a crime drama remake.
1993: Directed A Bronx Tale and Starred in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
In 1993, Robert De Niro made his directorial debut with A Bronx Tale. A year later, he starred in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Although Frankenstein was commercially successful, it received largely negative reviews.
1993: Starred in Mad Dog and Glory and This Boy's Life
In 1993, Robert De Niro starred in the comedy drama Mad Dog and Glory and in This Boy's Life, based on the memoir by Tobias Wolff.
1995: Minor roles in French comedy and drama
In 1995, Robert De Niro had minor roles in the French comedy One Hundred and One Nights and in the drama Panther.
1996: Starring roles in 'The Fan', 'Sleepers' and 'Marvin's Room'
In 1996, Robert De Niro starred in the sports thriller The Fan as Gil Renard, a baseball fanatic. He also starred in the crime drama Sleepers as priest Bobby Carillo, and appeared in Marvin's Room as Dr. Wallace Carter. Additionally, in 1996 De Niro co-produced the crime-comedy Faithful.
1996: Release of the video game '9: The Last Resort'
In 1996, the video game 9: The Last Resort, produced by Robert De Niro, was released. It is a surreal point and click puzzle game about a hotel filled with strange characters. The game had a quiet landing after launch.
1997: Roles in 'Cop Land', 'Wag the Dog', and 'Jackie Brown'
In 1997, Robert De Niro appeared in Cop Land as Internal Affairs investigator Lt. Moe Tilden. He co-starred and co-produced Wag the Dog, a political satire. He also had a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown in 1997.
1997: Starred in Cop Land
In 1997, Robert De Niro starred in the film Cop Land alongside Sylvester Stallone.
1998: Roles in 'Great Expectations' and 'Ronin'
In 1998, Robert De Niro appeared in Great Expectations as Arthur Lustig. Later that year, he starred in Ronin as Sam, an American mercenary, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
1999: Roles in 'Analyze This' and 'Flawless'
In 1999, Robert De Niro starred in Analyze This as an insecure mob boss and he was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes. He also appeared in Flawless as a homophobic police officer.
2000: Roles in 'The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle', 'Men of Honor', and 'Meet the Parents'
In 2000, Robert De Niro produced and starred in The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, voicing the character Fearless Leader. He played Master Chief 'Billy' Sunday in Men of Honor, and starred in Meet the Parents as Jack Byrnes. Film critics welcomed De Niro's transition as a comic actor.
2000: Release of Meet the Parents
In 2000, Robert De Niro starred in "Meet the Parents", a critically acclaimed film.
2001: Roles in '15 Minutes' and 'The Score'
In 2001, Robert De Niro starred in the crime thriller 15 Minutes as a homicide detective. He also starred in Frank Oz's The Score as a retiring thief.
2002: Roles in 'City by the Sea', 'Analyze That', 'About a Boy' and '9/11'
In 2002, Robert De Niro appeared in City by the Sea as a police detective. He also appeared in Analyze That, a sequel to 1999's Analyze This. De Niro served as a producer for About a Boy and appeared in 9/11, a CBS documentary about the September 11 attacks.
2004: Roles in 'Godsend', 'Shark Tale', 'Meet the Fockers', and 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey'
In 2004, Robert De Niro played a doctor in the fantasy drama Godsend. He voiced a character in DreamWorks' animation of Shark Tale. After co-producing Stage Beauty, De Niro reprised his role of Jack Byrnes in Meet the Fockers. The Bridge of San Luis Rey was also released in 2004.
2005: Stars in the horror Hide and Seek
In 2005, Robert De Niro starred in the horror Hide and Seek opposite Dakota Fanning, playing Dr. David Callaway.
2006: Directs The Good Shepherd and voices character in Arthur and the Invisibles
In 2006, Robert De Niro directed his second film, the spy thriller The Good Shepherd. He also voiced the character Emperor Sifrat XVI in Arthur and the Invisibles.
2006: Donated film-related materials to the Harry Ransom Center
In 2006, Robert De Niro donated his collection of film-related materials to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
2007: Plays Captain Shakespeare in 'Stardust'
In 2007, Robert De Niro's sole project was Matthew Vaughn's Stardust, where he played Captain Shakespeare.
2008: Roles in 'Righteous Kill' and 'What Just Happened'
In 2008, Robert De Niro starred in Righteous Kill opposite Al Pacino. Next, he starred in What Just Happened, a satirical comedy based on Art Linson's experiences as a producer in Hollywood, and was screened at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
2009: Cast as Frank Goode in 'Everybody's Fine'
In 2009, Robert De Niro was cast as Frank Goode in the drama Everybody's Fine, a remake of Giuseppe Tornatore's Italian film of the same name.
2010: Roles in 'Machete', 'Stone', and 'Little Fockers'
In 2010, Robert De Niro had a minor part as Senator John McLaughlin in the action film Machete. That same year, he starred in Stone and Little Fockers. Also in 2010, De Niro was cast in Edge of Darkness, but he left the project citing creative differences.
2011: Starring roles and presidency of Cannes Film Festival jury
In 2011, Robert De Niro starred in the Italian comedy Manuale d'amore 3. He also appeared in Killer Elite, Limitless, and New Year's Eve. De Niro was also appointed president of the jury for the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
2011: Attendance at Cannes Film Festival
In 2011, Robert De Niro traveled to France to attend the Cannes Film Festival.
2012: Appearance in Silver Linings Playbook and Executive Producer of NYC 22
In 2012, Robert De Niro appeared in the David O. Russell film, Silver Linings Playbook, as the father of Pat Solatano, and also served as an executive producer for the television series NYC 22.
2012: Joined Artists Against Fracking
In 2012, Robert De Niro joined the anti-fracking campaign Artists Against Fracking.
2012: Release of Silver Linings Playbook
In 2012, Robert De Niro starred in "Silver Linings Playbook", a critically acclaimed film.
2012: Roles in 'Being Flynn', 'Red Lights', and 'Freelancers'
In 2012, Robert De Niro starred in the drama Being Flynn, based on Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, a memoir by Nick Flynn. De Niro also appeared in the thrillers Red Lights and Freelancers.
2013: Cast in The Big Wedding, Killing Season, The Family, Last Vegas, and Grudge Match
In 2013, Robert De Niro was cast in The Big Wedding, Killing Season, and The Family which were negatively received. He also starred in Last Vegas, which received respectable reviews, and Grudge Match, acting opposite Sylvester Stallone.
2014: Appeared in Documentary About His Father
In 2014, Robert De Niro appeared in a documentary about his father titled Remembering the Artist Robert De Niro Sr., which aired on HBO.
2015: Appeared in Two Short Films, Heist, and Joy
In 2015, Robert De Niro appeared in two short films, Scorsese's The Audition and JR's Ellis. He also starred in Heist and the biographical drama Joy.
2015: Starred in The Intern
In 2015, Robert De Niro starred in Nancy Meyers' comedy The Intern alongside Anne Hathaway.
2016: Co-starred in Dirty Grandpa and Hands of Stone; Release of The Comedian
In 2016, Robert De Niro co-starred in Dirty Grandpa and Hands of Stone. His last release of the year was The Comedian, which premiered at the AFI Fest.
2016: Defense and Withdrawal of Vaxxed from Tribeca Film Festival
In 2016, Robert De Niro initially defended the inclusion of the controversial documentary "Vaxxed" at the Tribeca Film Festival due to his personal experience with his autistic son. However, after consulting with festival organizers and the scientific community, the film was withdrawn from the schedule. De Niro later expressed regret for excluding the film.
2017: Starred in The Wizard of Lies
In 2017, Robert De Niro starred as Bernie Madoff in Barry Levinson's HBO film The Wizard of Lies, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
2019: Starred in Joker and The Irishman
In 2019, Robert De Niro played Murray Franklin in Joker and reunited with Martin Scorsese for The Irishman.
2019: Portrayed Robert Mueller on Saturday Night Live
In 2019, Robert De Niro portrayed Robert Mueller on Saturday Night Live and received an Emmy nomination. He also received an Emmy Award nomination for his work as a producer on When They See Us for Netflix.
2019: Release of The Irishman
In 2019, Robert De Niro starred in "The Irishman", a critically acclaimed film.
May 2020: Apple TV+ to Co-finance and Co-distribute Killers of the Flower Moon
In May 2020, it was announced that Apple TV+ would co-finance and co-distribute the film Killers of the Flower Moon with Paramount.
September 2020: Appeared in Father of the Bride Part 3(ish)
In September 2020, Robert De Niro appeared in Nancy Meyers' comedy short film Father of the Bride Part 3(ish).
2020: 'Godsend' is De Niro's poorest-performing work
As of 2020, the film Godsend is Robert De Niro's poorest-performing work; Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 4% based on 139 critic reviews.
January 2021: Signed on for Amsterdam
In January 2021, Robert De Niro signed on for the historical comedy Amsterdam.
August 2022: Signed on to Star in The Alto Knights
In August 2022, Robert De Niro signed on to star in the Warner Bros. mob drama The Alto Knights.
October 2022: Release of Amsterdam
In October 2022, the movie Amsterdam, in which Robert De Niro played an army veteran, was released.
December 2, 2022: Release of Savage Salvation
On December 2, 2022, Savage Salvation, in which Robert De Niro appeared as Sheriff Church, was released.
March 1, 2023: Announcement of De Niro Producing and Starring in Zero Day
On March 1, 2023, it was announced that Robert De Niro would produce and star in the six-episode limited series Zero Day for Netflix.
2023: Starred in Killers of the Flower Moon
In 2023, Robert De Niro played William King Hale in Killers of the Flower Moon, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
2024: Theatrical Release of Ezra
In 2024, the film Ezra, starring Robert De Niro, was released theatrically after being acquired by Bleecker Street.
May 13, 2025: Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival
On May 13, 2025, Robert De Niro received the Honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, celebrating his five-decade career in cinema.
2025: Premiere of Zero Day
In 2025, Robert De Niro's series Zero Day premiered on Netflix.
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