Turning 72 today is American acting icon Robert De Niro, who’s famous now for playing grandfatherly roles in David O. Russell movies as well as for other people’s impressions of him. From the early ’70s through the mid-’90s, however, De Niro was recognized as one of the top talents in his field and all impressions aside — without him, acting, as an art, would be missing a major piece of its puzzle.
Through working with the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Mann, and his favorite collaborator, Martin Scorsese, De Niro redefined the archetypal “bad guy,” gangster, and, in many instances, offered audiences a different interpretation of a deeply flawed protagonist. Over one-hundred onscreen appearances spanning fifty years, two Academy Awards, and countless nominations later, De Niro has become one of the most internationally recognized household names to ever grace Hollywood. De Niro’s exuberant fame, however, has remained mutually exclusive from his personal life. An infamous recluse, De Niro has kept his multiple marriages and family life under wraps and out of the public eye. In addition to cementing himself as an onscreen staple, De Niro has also become a New York icon by starring in dozens of NYC-set movies, directing his beloved A Bronx Tale, and founding the annual Tribeca Film Festival with producer Jane Rosenthal in an effort to rebuild downtown Manhattan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Though De Niro has starred in every genre known to man, his celebrated career is typically in reference to his unforgettable, relentlessly dissected, often parodied dramatic roles. Below are ten of De Niro’s most iconic roles featured in what have been listed as some of history’s most celebrated films of all time, ranked by their sheer brilliance and utter timelessness.
Like what you see? Follow Decider on Facebook and Twitter to join the conversation, and sign up for our email newsletters to be the first to know about streaming movies and TV news!