Robert Anthony De Niro Jr., nicknamed 'Bobby Milk' in his youth due to his pale complexion, is an acclaimed American actor, director, producer, voice actor, television producer, and restaurateur. One of the most influential actors of his generation, he is renowned for intense method performances in films such as Mean Streets (1973), Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), The Godfather Part II (1974, Oscar for Young Vito Corleone), Taxi Driver (1976, as Travis Bickle), Raging Bull (1980, Oscar for Jake LaMotta), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), and the Meet the Parents series. He directed A Bronx Tale (1993) and The Good Shepherd (2006), with recent roles in Joker (2019), The Irishman (2019), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), and Netflix's Zero Day (2025). Accolades include 2× Academy Awards, Golden Globe, AFI Life Achievement (2003), Kennedy Center Honors (2009), Cecil B. DeMille (2011), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016), SAG Life Achievement (2019), and Honorary Palme d'Or (2025). He co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival (2002) and owns restaurants including Nobu and Tribeca Grill.

Raised as an only child in Greenwich Village and Little Italy, Manhattan, after his artist parents—Robert De Niro Sr. (painter/sculptor of half-Italian, half-Irish descent who came out as gay) and Virginia Admiral (painter of Dutch, English, French, German ancestry)—separated when he was two. He lived primarily with his atheist mother (Presbyterian background) but remained close to his father, was secretly baptized Catholic by his grandparents, befriended street kids, and dropped out of high school at 16 (attended PS 41, Elisabeth Irwin High School, High School of Music & Art, Rhodes Preparatory School) to pursue acting. Trained at HB Studio, Stella Adler Conservatory, and Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio, with breakthroughs alongside director Martin Scorsese, with whom he developed a close personal and professional friendship.

A vocal critic of conservative movements and Donald Trump—calling him a 'clown,' 'punk,' 'bullshit artist,' and 'wannabe dictator,' and stating 'Fuck Trump!' at the 2018 Tony Awards—he supported Biden (2024) and Harris, warned of fascism risks, and engaged in anti-fracking activism. He also questioned vaccine safety (2016–2017, linked to his autistic son Elliot, promoting Vaxxed at Tribeca Festival before withdrawal).

Married Diahnne Abbott (1976–1988; son Raphael, adopted daughter Drena); had twins Julian and Aaron (later Aairyn, trans woman) with Toukie Smith (1988–1996); married Grace Hightower (1997–2018 separated; son Elliot [autistic], daughter Helen via surrogate); and has girlfriend Tiffany Chen (daughter Gia, 2023). Father of 7 children and 4+ grandchildren; grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez died of drug overdose (2023). Diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer (2003). Holds Italian citizenship (2006) and is a longtime New Yorker.

Controversies include being held for questioning in a 1998 French prostitution ring probe (denied involvement, filed counter-complaint); a 2019 lawsuit against ex-assistant Graham Chase Robinson for $6M fiduciary breach (she countersued for harassment/gender discrimination; 2023 jury awarded her $1.2M against his company, not personally liable); a property tax dispute with Gardiner, NY (2006–2014, settled); Tribeca Grill targeted by pipe bombs (2018); and criticism for his anti-vaccine stance.