After Dinner Speakers: Robert De Niro, Gloria Hunniford, Nigel Barlow

One of the most gifted actors of the postwar generation and often regarded as Marlon Brando's heir, Robert De Niro combines the qualities of exceptional movie actors--danger, unpredictability, magnetism--with a distinctive touch of nihilism. Robert DeNiro leapt to stardom after winning an Oscar for The Godfather, Part II in 1974. His commitment as an actor became legendary when he gained 50 pounds for the part of boxer Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980). Known for his intense portrayals of tough guys, DeNiro is closely identified with Scorsese films, including Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995). He has also done comedy, including Midnight Run (1988), Wag The Dog (1997, with Dustin Hoffman), Analyze This (1999) and Meet The Parents (2000, with Ben Stiller). One of the busiest actors in the movies, DeNiro has made nearly three dozen movies since 1990.