Cancer Type – Prostate
Short Bio – Robert De Niro a six-time Oscar nominee, two-time winner overcame prostate cancer and encourages others that time goes on, go out and do what you are going to do. Read his story here…
Story – The actor who has starred in over 60 films including Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Meet the Fockers’s and The Godfather Part II, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003. His father passed from his own bout with cancer in 1993, and possibly a large contribution to his statement, “Time goes on. So whatever you’re going to do, do it. Do it now. Don’ wait.”
The disease is common among older men. In men, the prostate is responsible for the production of a fluid, called semen. Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor in the prostate. At the age of 60, Dinero’s doctors discovered his cancer at an early age. Detected early, this disease has higher odds of recovery.
Dinero is a very private person and did not disclose if he had surgery or other treatment for his prostate cancer. The good news, the actor is cancer-free and continues his Hollywood career to this day. He has been nominated six times for an Oscar, winning ‘Best Actor’ in 1980 in for his role in Raging Bull.
He has not been known to speak out about cancer but does speak out about living life.
We are glad Dinero is cancer-free and will forever cherish his acting, some of the best for his generation.
Robert De Niro Prostate Cancer Update
As of today, Robert De Niro is still cancer-free. He is a very private person, so there is very little information about the treatment he had. It was confirmed that he was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. It has been said that Robert had a prostatectomy, removal of the prostate gland, but he has never said that he had that procedure.
Other than speaking about his diagnosis and saying at the time, “it is important that men get regular screenings,” he keeps it private.
Robert, however, has several charities and causes he gives to, some of which are
- Adoption
- Fostering
- Orphans
- AIDS & HIV
- Animals
- Education
- Family/Parent Support
- Homelessness
- Cancer
- At-Risk/Disadvantaged Youths
- Diabetes
- Creative Arts
- Disaster Relief
- Environment
- Health
The charities include
- Stand Up To Cancer
- AIDS Research (two different foundations he donates too)
- Artists for Peace and Justice
- Childhood Diabetes
- Parkinson disease research
- Red Cross
- Film Foundation
- Friars Foundation
There are many other charities that De Niro donates and supports.
Robert De Niro also has a scholarship in his name that offers a £500 fund to study in the UK, in order to pursue a Masters Degree Program in the social or economic area.

Born | Robert Anthony De Niro, August 17, 1943 (age 77), Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor, film producer, director |
Years active | 1963–present |
Spouse(s) | Diahnne Abbott (m. 1976; div. 1988), Grace Hightower (m. 1997; separated 2018) |
Children | 6, including Drena and Raphael |
Parent(s) | Robert De Niro Sr. (father), Virginia Admiral (mother) |
Awards | Full list |
Image Credits – Georges Biard / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)