Robert De Niro - ©Theda Bara

The name I want to highlight in this post is that of today's birthday boy, the American actor and producer Robert De Niro, who turns 82.

 

De Niro became known for his partnership with American filmmaker Martin Charles Scorsese (1942-), which began in the classic 1976 film, “Taxi Driver”, where plays the somewhat neurotic taxi driver “Travis Bickle”. 

 

The actor has received numerous awards, including two Oscars: one for Best Actor in 1981, for “Raging Bull” (1980), in the role of “Jake LaMotta”, an Italian-American middleweight boxer whose self-destructive and obsessive rage destroyed his personal relationships and career; and, previously, in 1975, for Best Supporting Actor in “The Godfather Part II” (1974), in the role of “young, Vito Corleone”.

Robert De Niro also won two Golden Globes: one for Best Actor in a Dramatic Film (1981); and the Cecil B. DeMille special in 2011, for his contributions to the film industry. He also won a Golden Lion: Honor Award in 1993 and an MTV Movie Award: Best Special Appearance in a Television Series in 2001.

Robert De Niro does not yet have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, although he was announced on the 2019 list of honorees. But even though he was selected, the star has not yet had his star placed on the Walk of Fame, as the actor did not want to bear the costs of maintaining the award.

Robert Anthony De Niro was born on August 17, 1943, in Manhattan, New York, United States.

Robert De Niro maintained a romantic relationship for approximately 8 years, between 1988 and 1996, with the American actress and model Toukie Smith (1952-), sister of actor Willi Smith (1968-). De Niro and Toukie have American twin children, actor Julian De Niro (1995-) and actress Airyn De Niro (1995-). The actor was married twice: the first to the American actress Diahnne Abbott (1945-) from 1976 to 1988. With whom he had a son, the American real estate agent Raphael Eugene De Niro (1976-) and 9 years earlier they adopted the now American actress and filmmaker Drena De Niro (1967-); his second marriage was to American socialite, philanthropist and actress Grace Hightower (1955-) from 1997 to 2018. The couple has one son, American tennis player Elliot De Niro (1998-); His current relationship is with Hippo-American Tai Chi instructor and martial arts champion Tiffany Chen (1980-), with whom he has been together since 2021 without getting married. The couple has a daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro (2023-).

Haiku: Funny Face - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

Eyes where the mouth should be, mouth where the ears should be...
Ears where the nose should be...
What a funny face, my God!

Samuel L. Jackson - ©Theda Bara

 

The name I am highlighting in this post is that of American actor Samuel L. Jackson, who works across various media beyond film, including television series and voice acting.

The actor has built an iconic career; although he is one of the most popular and highest-grossing actors in film history, his focus tends to be more on entertainment than on traditional awards. For this reason, Jackson has won few international awards and received only one honor from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: an Honorary Oscar in 2022. Other notable awards include a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor (1995) and an MTV Movie Award (2013).

Samuel L. Jackson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7020 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Motion Pictures category.

Samuel Leroy Jackson was born on December 21, 1948, in Washington, D.C., United States, and is 77 years old.

Samuel L. Jackson is married to actress and director LaTanya Richardson (1949-). They met in college in 1974 and married in 1980. Their relationship, spanning over 45 years, is considered one of the longest-lasting in Hollywood. They attribute the success of their union to mutual commitment and a pact to overcome adversities together; the actor has stated that he and his wife have done “crazy things” throughout their more than four decades of marriage. LaTanya also helped the star overcome alcohol and illicit drug abuse early in his career. They have a daughter, producer and assistant director Zoe Jackson (1982-).

Haiku: Wrinkles - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

 Enjoy your youth
Because everything passes so quickly
And when old age arrives, respect your wrinkles!

Willem Dafoe - ©Theda Bara

The name I want to highlight in this post is that of the excellent American actor Willem Dafoe. Known for his prolific career, the actor became famous for the variety of characters he plays, possessing the ideal appearance to portray everything from hero antagonists to demented individuals, corrupt police officers, and traumatized or troubled people.

Despite being very talented, awards are not Willem Dafoe’s strong suit. He received four Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, but never won.

Dafoe has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6271 Hollywood Boulevard, in the film category.

William James “Willem” Dafoe was born on July 22, 1955, in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States, and is 70 years old.

Willem Dafoe had a long 27-year relationship with the American director of experimental theater, dance, and media, Elizabeth LeCompte (1944-), a founding member of The Wooster Group, but they never married. The couple has one son, actor Jack Frank Dafoe (1982-). Dafoe is currently married to Italian director and actress Giada Colagrande (1975-), a relationship that began in 2005. A curious detail: Dafoe and Giada were having lunch together when he suddenly asked, “Do you want to get married tomorrow?”. The next day, they held a small ceremony with only two friends as witnesses and were married in the presence of a notary and a priest.