When you’re in The Wolfpack, there are two important rules that any would be wise-guy would definitely respect: know your New York City movies, and do a killer Robert De Niro impression.

There’s little debate that Robert De Niro is one of the greatest screen actors of his generation, perhaps of all time. Most actors are lucky to get one iconic part - De Niro has had several. His work, particularly in extraordinary roles that adorned the first 20 years of his career, is unparalleled. Movies like Mean Streets, The Godfather Part II, The Deer Hunter and Raging Bull all dazzled moviegoers and critics alike, displaying a talent the likes of which had rarely been seen. It was through these early roles that he became known for his deep, immersive involvement in his characters and extraordinary, chameleonic performances.

In conjunction with this month’s release of stranger than fiction doc The Wolfpack (in which a group of young brothers locked away inside their New York apartment spend a large part of their childhood elaborately restaging their favorite scenes from the movies they grew up on) we take a look back over some of De Niro’s standout screen performances and celebrate one of American cinema’s most quotable and mesmeric actors.

---