You could split Robert De Niro's career into two halves, and how you perceive him will depend on your age. In the earlier part of his career, he was the Alpha-male tough guy star of 'Taxi Driver,' 'Raging Bull' and 'Goodfellas,' as well as the second 'Godfather' movie. To a younger audience, he's more recognizable as the cranky dad from 'Meet the Fockers.'
Between all the macho-man parts and the comedy though, he's found time to give a convincing and sensitive depiction of a gay man in 2007's 'Stardust' in which he played Captain Shakespeare. De Niro has been married to Grace Hightower since the 1990s, but in 'Stardust' he managed to see off the more obvious choice of British actor Stephen Fry for the part. Jack Nicholson was also under consideration at one point, but de Niro seemed right at home in the fantasy adventure.