20 Most Influential Actors Of All Time

Although Robert De Niro's recent movie output hasn't been anywhere near the calibre of his early pictures, can he really be blamed for wanting to have some fun? De Niro has has one of cinema's most diverse, intense and compelling acting careers, and he has proven time and time again to be a true master of method acting and throwing every ounce of himself into a role.

His performances in such classic masterpieces as The Godfather Part 2 (for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), Heat, The Untouchables and The Deer Hunter are some of the best Hollywood has ever produced, and his constant presence in films since the late '70s has yet to slow down.

However, the true extent of his influence can be seen from his creative partnership with director Martin Scorsese, with whom he has made nine films. Many of these collaborations often rank as some of the best films ever made, including Goodfellas, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. Thanks to these roles, De Niro helped usher in a new wave of crime-dramas and gangster movies, and his influence on the New Hollywood era is almost unrivalled.

The last few years have seen De Niro venture into more comedic territory, with films such as Dirty Grandpa, Meet the Fockers and Last Vegas, and it's fun to see that he's still out there and enjoying himself. After all he's done, he deserves it.