Once upon a time, in a “shabby neighborhood” of New York, there were two boys born one year apart. They weren’t from poor families, but they were far from wealthy. One was fully Italian, and the other had an Italian father and an Irish mother. Growing up, they were known as “Wise Guys” on the streets.
I grew up seeing men and gangs called “the gang.” I even had friends who joined them. They were “close friends” in my childhood.
One of my friends was the son of a woman who had transitioned from actress to tailor. Another was the son of a painter whose father had separated from his wife because he was gay. Unsurprisingly, both children inherited the “artist’s gene” from their parents, and, given their parents’ humble immigrant background, they had a strong desire to succeed on the world stage.
The two boys grew up and went their separate ways. They reunited in their twenties. The tall, handsome boy, half Irish, had gone to acting school and was now the actor known as Robert De Niro. His friend was Martin Scorsese, a creative partner but too short to be a successful actor. Scorsese wanted to recreate the world they grew up in and breathe life into a world that most young audiences would never know. Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, And my favorite Goodfellas (close friends) Their art has enriched film and the world.
Scorsese is a director. De Niro acts in his films. Scorsese was also an excellent director and screenwriter. De Niro was a fantastic actor. They redefined cinema in many ways, leaving an unparalleled and irreplaceable mark on the genre of mafia films and organized crime dramas.
The two have grown older. Their fortunes have increased, and they have expanded their careers in ways they could never have imagined in their youth. De Niro is 77, Scorsese is 78. They have become fathers and grandfathers. They are best friends who share special secrets and work together from time to time. It is one of Hollywood’s most iconic friendships and one of the relationships that has produced some of the greatest films of all time. They are truly living legends.
Scorsese and De Niro were there before them. 70 years after they first met, and 50 years after they started working together, they remain best friends and continue to make amazing films together.