Taxi Driver (1976) De Niro took on the role of Travis Bickle, a mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran who works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City in 1976's Taxi Driver. The role earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Robert De Niro poses for a portrait in 1973, the year his breakthrough movie, "Mean Streets," was released.

De Niro has worked frequently with director Martin Scorsese, left. Here, Scorsese, De Niro and Jodie Foster present "Taxi Driver" at Cannes in 1976. The film won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the festival.

De Niro performs a scene in "The Godfather Part II" in 1974 in New York. The actor won his first Oscar, for best supporting actor, for his performance as the young Vito Corleone.

Robert De Niro -- now 70 years old! -- has been an indelible presence on the big screen for more than 40 years. In 1976's "Taxi Driver," De Niro plays troubled veteran Travis Bickle, who takes a job as a late-night cabbie and hates what he sees.

De Niro was married to Diahnne Abbott from 1976 to 1988. The couple have two children, Drena and Raphael.

De Niro plays a soldier in 1978's "The Deer Hunter." The film won the Oscar for best picture.

His performance in "Raging Bull" won De Niro best actor at the Academy Awards.

De Niro and model Toukie Smith were long-term romantic partners. The union produced two children.

In 1990's "Goodfellas," another collaboration with Scorsese, De Niro plays Jimmy Conway, a New York gangster. The film also stars Joe Pesci, left, and Ray Liotta, center.

De Niro and Scorsese remade the chilling "Cape Fear" in 1991. De Niro plays Max Cady, who stalks a family after being released from prison.

Scorsese, left, and De Niro have a laugh at a news conference to promote the 1995 movie "Casino." The film marked their eighth collaboration.

In "Casino," De Niro plays a Mafia-controlled executive who finds trouble while managing a Las Vegas gaming palace.

De Niro has showed his lighter side on occasion. In 2000 he appeared on "Saturday Night Live's" "Weekend Update" segment with Jimmy Fallon.

Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese in Goodfellas

President Bill Clinton and De Niro goof around at a fundraiser on Hillary Clinton's birthday at New York's Roseland Ballroom in 2000.

De Niro, a born-and-bred New Yorker, appears with Leonardo DiCaprio at "The Concert for New York City" after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Billy Crystal, left, dressed as a turkey, sits on a bench with De Niro, dressed as a pilgrim, during the filming of a Thanksgiving-themed "I Love New York" commercial in 2001.

De Niro played a depressed gangster in two comedies with Crystal, 1999's "Analyze This" and 2002's "Analyze That."

In 2003, De Niro received the American Film Institute's 31st lifetime achievement award.

De Niro plays a straight-arrow ex-CIA officer in the "Meet the Parents" films. Here, he has a scene with Dustin Hoffman in 2004's "Meet the Fockers."

De Niro received his latest Oscar nomination for his performance in 2012's "Silver Linings Playbook," in which he plays the obsessive-compulsive father of Bradley Cooper, right.

De Niro has been nominated for Oscars seven times and won twice. He earned a best supporting actor nod for "Silver Linings Playbook."

De Niro and wife Grace Hightower attend the 2013 Actors Fund's Annual Gala Honoring Robert De Niro at The New York Marriott Marquis on in April 2013.

The Deer Hunter (1978) In 1978's The Deer Hunter, De Niro plays a character scarred by his experiences during the Vietnam War: at a prison camp, Vronsky was forced to play Russian roulette against his two friends.

Raging Bull (1980) This Martin Scorsese classic highlighted the actor's intensity and versatility as LaMotta, a middleweight boxer with violent, self-destructive impulses.

Raging Bull (1980)

Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro on-set of Raging Bull

The Untouchables (1987) De Niro shaved his hairline and put on weight to play the legendary gangster Al Capone in 1987's The Untouchables.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984) This Sergio Leone classic tells the story of David 'Noodles' Aaronson, a 1930s Jewish gangster forced to confront demons from his past.

Casino (1995) In the eighth collaboration between Scorsese and De Niro, the actor depicts the rise and fall of real-life casino boss Same 'Ace' Rothstein.

Meet the Parents (2000), Meet the Fockers (2004), Little Fockers (2010) De Niro broke his mob role streak and surprised fans when he played an absurdly stern father-in-law in the Ben Stiller comedy Meet the Parents. He followed up with two sequels, Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers.

Robert De Niro on the Set of Raging Bull

Photographer Brian Hamill. The following photographs were taken in New York in 1979.

De Niro, as LaMotta, screams aggressively, accusing his brother of sleeping with his wife.

De Niro reacts to the way his steak is cooked, with Lori Anne Flax as La Motta’s first wife, Irma.

Slate photo, shot in the Bronx, with Joe Pesci, who plays LaMotta's bother Joey, in the background.

On set, with Martin Scorsese giving direction.

In the hallway, with Pesci coming down from Jake’s apartment on the Lower East Side.

In the sauna, a scene where LaMotta is trying to lose weight before a fight.

Cathy Moriarty, who plays La Motta’s second wife, Vickie.

Cathy Moriarty and De Niro in the bedroom of the apartment on Columbus Avenue, with Scorsese's religious motif in the background.

Dressing room after one of the fights he threw at the 14th Regiment Armory.

After a bout with Cathy Moriarty in Bronx.

With Cathy Moriarty in a booth at the Copa Cabana.

At the famous Gramercy, once owned by Cus D'Amato. Floyd Patterson and Mike Tyson are among the many champions to come out of the gym.

At the Copa Cabana nightclub in New York.

De Niro, as La Motta, wearing a Gingerella hat.

Mike Chapman, cinematographer, shoots a scene which would run in the movie as home footage — the only color segment in the black-and-white film.

De Niro with Pesci in a tunnel at the 14th Regiment Armory.

Frank Vincent, as Salvy, with Pesci on 49th Street in New York.

With Joe Pesci.

In an apartment on Columbus Avenue.

end

cast Happy 70th Birthday, Robert De Niro

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Music Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones - Hoochie Coochie Man            created o.e.

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