Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. was born on August 17, 1943, in New York City, New York. Growing up in Manhattan, De Niro developed a passion for acting early on, enrolling in the Stella Adler Conservatory and later the Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio. His dedication to his craft paid off, and he made his film debut in “The Wedding Party” (1969), directed by Brian De Palma.