Inside The Touching Close Friendship Between Robert De Niro And Meryl Streep

Sep 08, 2022

When it comes to Hollywood legends, actor Robert De Niro and actress Meryl Streep are two of the top names. They each have had a very long-lasting and successful career, starring in many films over the years. They also have each shown how eclectic they are as performers, taking a variety of roles in various pop culture phenomenons.

De Niro’s first memorable role came in the 1973 film "Bang the Drum Slowly," in which he played a terminally ill catcher on a baseball team, and "Mean Streets," his first of many future collaborations with director Martin Scorsese. His next movie with Scorsese, "The Godfather II," would cement his reputation.

A couple of years later the release of "Taxi Driver" and De Niro’s chilling portrayal of vengeful cabbie Travis Bickle gave him a permanent place in the Hollywood fraternity. His particular catchphrases during the movie, specifically the "You talkin' to me?" speech, continue to remain a pop culture reference in television shows and movies even today.

As for Streep, the actress is best recognized for her work on stage and in films. Some of her most popular productions include “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Julie & Julia,” “Into the Woods,” “Little Women” and “Mamma Mia!”

While both De Niro and Streep have made great names for themselves in Hollywood, they have also made great friendships, including a beautiful friendship with each other! The established stars have shared their adoration for each other publicly, showing just how dedicated they are to keeping their friendship as strong as possible.

De Niro and Streep are truly legends in their own right. While De Niro has made a name for himself in countless films, he spoke with Parade in 2011 about how he learned never to take fame for granted. He explained:

“You have to be very careful with all that because it is fleeting. I think if you have the opportunity to work and do things such as I have, you have to be grateful that you had the chance and take advantage of the opportunity because you might not ever get another one.”

Streep also has a great deal of success and fame under her belt, so much so that “Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep” author Michael Schulman called her the “'Iron Lady' of acting.” And while both De Niro and Streep have found success individually, they have also found it together.

The pair have known each other for quite some time. They have co-starred in a handful of films together, including “The Deer Hunter” in 1974, “Falling in Love” in 1984, “Marvin’s Room” in 1996 and “First Man” in 2004. These two have somehow teamed up almost every decade, it seems! So it’s not surprising that they have shown their appreciation for one another over the years as well.

In 2017 fans and fellow peers of Streep showed their appreciation for the actress following her win at the Golden Globe Awards. She received the Cecil B. DeMille Award, according to PEOPLE. De Niro had been honored with the same award back in 2011 and was very moved by Streep’s speech, where she talked about how hurt she was seeing another public figure mocking someone with a disability. 

De Niro wrote Streep a letter that said:

“What you said was great. It needed to be said, and you said it beautifully. I have so much respect for you that you did it while the world was celebrating your achievements. I share your sentiments about punks and bullies. Enough is enough. You, with your elegance and intelligence, have a powerful voice — one that inspires others to speak up as they should so their voices will be heard too. It is so important that we ALL speak up. We love you.”

Streep was sure to return the sentiment in 2018 when De Niro once again shared more reasons why he appreciated the actress. According to Entertainment Tonight, De Niro delivered a touching speech to his friend as she was given the award for Best Actress at the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala.

“Meryl is the most generous and giving actor,” he said. “She not only inhabits her own character, she helps bring out the character of everyone else on the screen.” The actor continued: “Meryl, thank you for speaking out on matters of conscience that affect us all. Thank you for being an actress who plays the most interesting characters with full commitment and without judgment.”

De Niro concluded his speech with: “Meryl doesn’t seem to have any imperfections. And I say that with the most love for you, Meryl. I love you so much.” Streep seemed to feel the same as she gave her kind friend a big hug and a surprising kiss on the lips, too!

Although the kiss was nothing romantic, it was clear that Streep and De Niro shared — and still share — a great deal of love for one another, and their friendship is as strong as ever.

Did you know that Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep were longtime friends? What is your favorite movie that they’ve starred in together? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to any movie lover you know!