A busy awards season gets even busier for Robert De Niro as the Screen Actors Guild announced the legendary actor will receive the union’s 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. De Niro will be honored during the SAG Awards telecast on January 19.
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In a release from SAG, De Niro remarked, “I have been a member of this union for over 50 years. It’s an honor to receive this award from SAG-AFTRA.”
Gabrielle Carteris, President of SAG-AFTRA added, “Robert De Niro is an actor of extraordinary depth and ability. The characters he creates captivate our imaginations. From the smoldering inferno of young Vito Corleone to the raging bull Jake Lamotta and everybody’s grandpa Ben Whittaker, he continues to touch our hearts and open our minds to new and exciting worlds of understanding and emotion. It is my great privilege to announce that SAG-AFTRA’s highest honor will be presented to one of the most singular talents of our generation, Robert De Niro.”
De Niro, who could find himself a SAG Award nominee for his role in Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” won an SAG Award in the ensemble category for “American Hustle” in 2014. He was also nominated in the cast category for “Silver Linings Playbook” and earned individual nominations for “Marvin’s Room” and HBO’s “The Wizard of Lies.”
One of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, De Niro has seven Academy Award nominations including Oscar wins for “The Godfater, Part II” and “Raging Bull.” His other acclaimed performances include “Taxi Driver,” “Awakenings,” “Cape Fear,” “The King of Comedy,” “The Mission,” “Jackie Brown,” “Wag the Dog,” “Midnight Run,” “Goodfellas,” “Heat,” “Casino,” “The Untouchables,” “The Deer Hunter,” “Ronin” and “Mean Streets.” He’s also starred in a number of hit comedies including “Analyze This,” “Meet the Parents” and “The Intern.”
The 76-year-old icon, who co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival, has previously been honored with the Cecile B. DeMille Award, the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The SAG Awards will take place on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 8 PM ET, 5 PM PT and air live on TNT and TBS.