Robert De Niro, his greatest film roles
Robert De Niro receives a well-deserved Palme d’honneur at Cannes 2025. Here’s a look back at his masterful career, marked by cult roles.
He is one of the few actors whose face alone embodies an entire section of American cinema. Robert De Niro, the 80-year-old guardian of the 7th art, will receive the Palme d’honneur at Cannes in May, celebrating a career spanning more than 50 years, marked by unforgettable performances, legendary collaborations and a rare ability to embody human complexity.
Travis Bickle – “Taxi Driver” (1976)
It’s impossible not to start with one of the most iconic roles in the history of cinema. Under the direction of Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro plays an unstable veteran in a decaying New York. The mirror scene – “You talkin’ to me?” – is the stuff of legend. This role won De Niro the Best Actor award at Cannes in 1976.
Jake LaMotta – “Raging Bull” (1980)
For this biopic of boxer Jake LaMotta, Robert De Niro transforms his body and plunges into the abyss of jealousy, violence and self-destruction. A performance of raw intensity, which won him the Oscar for Best Actor. It’s also one of the high points of his collaboration with Scorsese, marked by darkness and tragic beauty.
Vito Corleone – “The Godfather II” (1974)
Taking on the role of Marlon Brando in a prequel was no easy task. And yet, Robert De Niro delivers a sober, almost silent interpretation of the young Vito Corleone. The role earned him his first Oscar, as Best Supporting Actor, and sealed his legendary status.
Jimmy Conway – Goodfellas (1990)
Once again under Scorsese’s tutelage, Robert De Niro delivers a performance full of tension and cold authority, in this masterpiece of a Mafia film. His character embodies the quiet menace, the power that never says its name, and offers a perfect counterpoint to the frenetic energy of Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta.
Max Cady – “Les Nerfs à vif” (1991)
In this psychological thriller, Robert De Niro metamorphoses into a vengeful, tattooed, terrifying psychopath, ready to do anything to make his lawyer pay. A physical, chilling performance that shows the full extent of his range. One of the most disturbing roles in his filmography.
Frank Sheeran – “The Irishman” (2019)
At 76, De Niro proves that he has lost none of his dramatic power. In this crepuscular film, he plays a hitman consumed by self-doubt, confronted by the weight of years and choices. The final chapter in a Dantean trio with Scorsese and Al Pacino, in which introspection replaces violence.
Robert De Niro is also a man of many nuances: the comedy of My Father-in-Law and Me, the tenderness of Once Upon a Time in the Bronx, and the satire of The King of Comedy. But above all, total commitment, a magnetic presence and an infallible eye for the roles that make a difference.
Also read: Cannes Festival 2025: films in competition unveiled
