After 20 Years Of Married Life, Robert De Niro Confirmed Some Very Sad News

Ever spot Robert De Niro on the red carpet? Then you’ve probably noticed his gorgeous wife Grace Hightower by his side. She’s been in the actor’s life since the moment they met at a London restaurant. But after 20 years, rumors about the couple swirled, and De Niro was ultimately forced to respond. Yes, the two-time Oscar winner confronted some of the whispers about his marriage — and the reality is sadder than the public knew.

Can count on his career

For De Niro fans, it had to be a blow. But whatever goes on in his personal life, his career will remain a constant. The veteran star has been honing his craft since he was just ten years old. Back then, he played the Cowardly Lion in his school’s version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! “Cowardly” is certainly not something you can call De Niro today. You could even call him brave for addressing those rumors.

Dropped out at 16

De Niro wouldn’t appear in many other school productions, though, as he dropped out at 16 to study acting. And after a handful of movie roles, he had his first-ever team-up with Martin Scorsese. De Niro fans know just how tight he is with Scorsese – both personally and professionally. The director may have been a source of good advice, then, when it came to De Niro’s relationship with Hightower.

His big break

De Niro’s big break actually came back in 1974, though. That’s when he starred as the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II. And De Niro went above and beyond for the role. He not only learned to speak a number of Sicilian dialects, but he also delivered the majority of his lines in the language. Did it all pay off? You betcha!

Snatching awards

De Niro was handsomely rewarded for his portrayal of Vito. Yup, he snatched the 1975 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. And after a string of Scorsese-led films, among other projects, the star’s performances proved he was worthy of that incredible honor. We definitely know what Hightower saw in him!