Al Pacino recalls first meeting with Robert De Niro about 50 years ago
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The gist
Al Pacino recalled first meeting Robert De Niro about 50 years ago, struck by his charisma.
The two actors' long partnership began with The Godfather: Part II in 1974.
Background
Robert De Niro is an 83-year-old actor known for films including Meet the Parents; Al Pacino is an actor and friend who co-starred with him in The Godfather: Part II. In a joint conversation, the two looked back on meeting in the late 1960s, when De Niro was in his mid-20s, and on their first film together in 1974, in which their scenes were filmed separately. The reminiscence is circulating alongside other De Niro items, including a report on why Tom Hanks replaced him in Big and praise from Pacino for his Raging Bull performance.
How it unfolded
- late 1960sDe Niro and Al Pacino first met; De Niro recalled being in his mid-20s and Pacino a couple years older, 'about 50 years ago.'
- 1974The two actors first appeared together in The Godfather: Part II, though their scenes were filmed separately.
- 1980Pacino called De Niro's portrayal of boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull 'beyond belief' and 'one of the greatest performances in film history.'
- Oct 15, 2026Men's Journal published a story on why Tom Hanks replaced De Niro in Big; actor Elizabeth Perkins suggested a scheduling conflict.
Who’s saying what
- Expert
- Al Pacino said De Niro's Raging Bull performance was 'beyond belief' and 'one of the greatest performances in film history.'
- Party
- Elizabeth Perkins suggested De Niro left Big because of a scheduling conflict.
Still unverified
Singer Helena Springs previously claimed she met De Niro in 1979 and began an affair with him that lasted until 1982. It also remains unclear whether De Niro originated a famous Goodfellas line or it appeared in the shooting script.