Wiseguy Facts About Robert De Niro, Hollywood Legend
Robert De Niro is widely considered among the greatest actors of all time.
Lauded by critics and casual movie-goers alike for his broad range of memorable roles, his tireless work ethic has resulted in some masterpieces of cinema—but also some dark moments for the actor himself.
1. He Grew Up On Art
Robert Anthony De Niro was born on August 17, 1943, in Manhattan. De Niro had exposure to art from a young age: his parents were both artists and had met at painting classes led by renowned painter Hans Hoffman. His father, Robert Sr, had serious talent himself—but terrible timing.
His classical style failed to stand out in art world increasingly captivated by modern art. This left his father bitter, and his parents split up when he was just two years old, leaving a massive void in his upbringing.
2. His Grandparents Indoctrinated Him
Robert De Niro grew up without religion. His mother, raised Presbyterian, had become an atheist by the time her she gave birth to her son. De Niro’s father was a lapsed Catholic with no real soft spot for the church. However, his paternal grandparents were devout Catholics and, against the wishes of his parents, had the young De Niro secretly baptized while looking after him during his parents’ divorce.
He never found community in the church, instead embracing his neighborhood.
3. He Had A Funny Nickname
Robert De Niro grew up near Little Italy in Manhattan, leading him to identify much more with his Italian-American side. However, his father was also half-Irish, leaving Robert with a relatively pale complexion.
The darker-skinned Italian neighborhood kids nicknamed him “Bobby Milk”.
He seemed unphased, but his father felt otherwise.
4. His Father Disapproved Of His Friends
De Niro met many of his childhood friends on the streets of Little Italy.
It was a relatively disadvantaged area at the time, and Robert De Niro Sr, himself enmeshed in the pretentious art community, did not approve of his son’s association with the neighborhood kids.
Some of them remain De Niro’s friends to this day, however, and they can say they were present for the superstar’s humble beginnings.
