Robert De Niro is undeniably one of the most acclaimed actors in Hollywood, celebrated for his remarkable career that spans decades and includes two Academy Awards. While he has achieved immense success on the silver screen, his personal life, particularly his marriages, has been a subject of interest and, at times, controversy.
Born in New York City on August 17, 1943, De Niro was raised in an artistic family. His father was a painter and poet, while his mother was a talented artist. His early exposure to cinema and the performing arts fueled his passion for acting.
De Niro’s journey into acting began at a young age when he took acting lessons, thanks to his mother’s connection to a theatrical company. He made his stage debut at the age of 10 in “The Wizard of Oz.” Despite not initially feeling like a standout student, his talent was quickly recognized.
He continued his acting education at the Conservatory of Acting under the guidance of renowned performer Stella Adler. While he didn’t consider himself particularly talented at the time, De Niro learned valuable lessons from Adler and admired actors like Marlon Brando, James Montgomery Clift, and James Dean, who possessed an abstract emotion and soul that went beyond mere interpretation of characters.
De Niro’s official acting debut came in 1968 with the movie “Greetings.” His breakthrough came in 1973 with “Bang the Drum Slowly,” followed by iconic roles in Martin Scorsese’s films like “Mean Streets.” His portrayal of Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather: Part II” earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, catapulting him to stardom.
l
His career continued to flourish with roles in movies like “Taxi Driver” and “The Deer Hunter,” which earned him nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role. However, it was his performance in “Raging Bull” that secured him the Oscar for Best Actor in 1981.
Beyond his career, De Niro’s personal life has been marked by two marriages. His first marriage was to singer and actress Diahnne Abbott in 1976. They adopted Diahnne’s daughter, Drena, and had a son, Raphael De Niro. The couple divorced in 1988.
Before marrying Grace Hightower in 1997, De Niro dated model Toukie Smith, with whom he had twins via in vitro fertilization and a surrogate mother. The couple met in a London club in 1987 when Hightower worked at Mr. Chow restaurant.
Their marriage was celebrated in 1997 in a modest, private ceremony attended by friends like Harvey Keitel and Joe Pesci. They welcomed a son, Elliot, into the world a year later. The couple decided to keep their children’s lives private, but in 2016, De Niro publicly revealed Elliot’s autism diagnosis to raise awareness about the condition.
Despite their ups and downs, including a divorce filing in 1999, De Niro and Hightower reconciled before finalizing their divorce. They renewed their vows in 2004, and they were married for over 20 years before announcing their separation in November 2018.
Amid their divorce, De Niro’s lawyer, Caroline Krauss, claimed that Hightower’s lavish lifestyle was putting financial strain on the actor. De Niro’s restaurants suffered significant losses during the pandemic, adding to the complexity of their legal battle.
Krauss argued that De Niro, now 77, should not be forced to work at such a prodigious pace to support Hightower’s extravagant spending habits. She emphasized that he could face health risks working at this pace.
Hightower’s lawyer, Kevin McDonough, countered that De Niro’s claims of financial disarray were “nonsense” given his substantial wealth.
As the legal battle continues, the outcome remains uncertain. Robert De Niro’s life and career have been a captivating blend of cinematic excellence and personal challenges, making him a figure of enduring fascination in the world of entertainment.