Robert De Niro leaves handprint at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Posted February 5, 2013 9:12 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Robert De Niro has literally left his mark on Hollywood, with an honorary imprint of his hands and feet at TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman’s Chinese Theatre).
The Raging Bull actor placed his hands in clay on Monday as wife Grace Hightower and industry friends like David O. Russell and Billy Crystal watched.
“Even in his darkest performances, he could make you laugh,” said Crystal, De Niro’s co-star in Analyze This.
“And being his partner, I didn’t, I’m not used to playing straight for anybody, but it was a thrill of a lifetime to be on the opposite side of that genius, and see how it worked, and just by being with him made me such a better actor, and for that I will always be grateful to him.”
De Niro had his first major film role in 1973 and won an Academy Award the next year for his role in The Godfather Part II. He also won for Raging Bull, and was nominated for his work in Taxi Driver and Cape Fear.
“You know, Joe Pesci always said I’d end up with my feet in cement, I don’t think this is what he had in mind,” De Niro joked at the ceremony.
“Thank you Dave Karger, Billy Crystal, David O. Russell, thanks everybody, thanks guys. I’m honored to be invited to join the impressive group of artists who left their imprint on Hollywood Boulevard at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. I’m a New Yorker, it’s where I was born, it’s where I live, it’s where I raise my kids, it’s where I started a film festival, it’s home.
“But Hollywood is home too. They say everyone in the film industry has three homes: the home where they live, the home where their first wife lives, and Hollywood. I love New York, and I’m proud to be a citizen of Hollywood. Thank you for this honor and thank you for making me feel at home here. Thank you.”
De Niro is up for a third Academy Award for his work in Silver Linings Playbook, which Russell directed.
