Robert De Niro is one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood with films like The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, Cape Fear, and Silver Linings Playbook. His collaborations with director Martin Scorsese are considered some of the best films ever created. They played a pivotal role in pushing him to international success. Despite being one of the greatest actors ever, he is also afraid of rejection, but it’s not the rejection from films.
The rejection from films was never a concern for Robert De Niro. The actor has worked with some of the greatest directors in memorable films. However, the Travis Bickle starrer proved to be an adorable family man when he claimed that he can feel rejected by his children. He admitted that he would feel very rejected if his children humbled him.
What did Robert De Niro say about rejection?
Several renowned films like Gangs of New York and The Departed were turned down by Robert De Niro. According to The List, De Niro never felt rejected when he was desperate for roles early in his career. However, one thing can make him feel rejected, his children. He claimed that children can humble their parents.
The Silver Linings Playbook actor explained that numerous actors take part in an audition, so it does not affect him very much. But the same cannot be said when it comes to his children.
“When you go into an audition, you’re rejected already. There are hundreds of other actors. At this point in my career, I don’t have to deal with audition rejections, so I get my rejection from other things. My children can make me feel rejected. They can humble you pretty quick.”
Interestingly, Robert De Niro was once rejected early in his career when he auditioned for the role of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. But he was far from Francis Ford Coppola’s vision and the role later went to James Caan. The latter gave an impactful performance in the role of Don Vito Corleone and Carmela Corleone’s oldest son.
On the other hand, Robert De Niro went on to play a young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II and gave an Oscar-winning performance. As this year’s Oscar is knocking at the door, De Niro has also set a unique Oscar record by getting nominated for the role of Killers of the Flower Moon.
Robert De Niro sets a new Oscar record this year
Robert De Niro gave a memorable performance in Martin Scorsese’s latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon. He starred in the villainous role of real-life Oklahoma crime boss, William King Hale, who was responsible for the Osage murders.
By getting nominated for the role of Hale, the Awakenings actor set the record for the greatest time gap between his first and most recent Oscar nominations. Robert De Niro earned his first Oscar nomination in 1974 for The Godfather Part II. He also won the award and went on to earn 8 more nominations to date. After 48 years, he has won his latest nomination this year.
Earlier, this record was held by Katharine Hepburn who had a gap of 48 years between her first and last Oscar nominations. Killers of the Flower Moon, with 10 nominations is one of the prime contenders in the Oscar race this year.
