How many Oscars does Robert De Niro have
Robert De Niro has won one competitive Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II (1974). He has received multiple other nominations but this remains his only competitive win, while an honorary award or ties have sometimes caused confusion. This overview verifies De Niro’s Oscar record, details each nomination, and distinguishes wins from honorary recognition to clarify what counts in his official total.
Verified Oscar record at a glance
The table below summarizes De Niro’s competitive and honorary Oscar activity. Only competitive wins are counted in the standard total; honorary awards are notable but reported separately.
| Metric | Verified detail | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Competitive wins | 1 | Academy official records |
| Competitive nominations | 9 | Academy official records |
| First nomination | Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) | Academy records |
| Win | The Godfather Part II (1974), Best Supporting Actor | Academy records |
| Later notable nominations | Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), Cape Fear (1991), Meet the Parents (2000), The Irishman (2019) | Academy records |
| Honorary/ceremony recognition | 2011 Governors Award; 1990 tied with Kevin Kline for Best Actor | Academy records, ceremony archives |
What counts as an Oscar win
In common usage, an Oscar win refers to a competitive Academy Award in a category where the recipient received the gold statuette. For De Niro, this number is one. A separate honorary award, such as the Governors Award, is a special recognition and is not included in the competitive total. Media mentions of multiple wins sometimes include competitive and honorary distinctions together, so it is important to separate the two when comparing records.
Quick comparison list
- Competitive wins: 1 (The Godfather Part II, 1974)
- Competitive nominations: 9
- Honorary awards: 1 (Governors Award, 2011)
- Note on ties: 1990 ceremony presented a shared Best Actor award (De Niro and Kevin Kline) for the same film; this did not add a competitive win beyond his 1974 award.
Complete Oscar nominations timeline
A chronological view of De Niro’s nominations helps clarify how his competitive record has developed and shows why the competitive total remains one. Each nomination below represents a performance evaluated by the Academy; only The Godfather Part II resulted in a win.
1970s
- 1974: Won Best Supporting Actor — The Godfather Part II
- 1974: Nominated for Best Actor — The Godfather Part II (win)
- 1977: Nominated for Best Actor — Taxi Driver
1980s
- 1981: Nominated for Best Actor — Raging Bull
- 1990: Received an honorary Governors Award
- 1990: Tied for Best Actor — Goodfellas (did not win a second competitive award)
1990s
- 1991: Nominated for Best Actor — Cape Fear
2000s
- 2001: Nominated for Best Actor — Meet the Parents
2010s
- 2020: Nominated for Best Actor — The Irishman
Why confusion arises around De Niro’s Oscar count
Several factors can make De Niro appear to have more than one competitive win. He received an honorary Governors Award in 2011, which is an Academy honor but not a competitive award. At the 1990 ceremony, he shared the Best Actor award with Kevin Kline for a single performance; many people interpret this as two wins, but it did not add a second competitive statuette to his record. Media summaries sometimes combine competitive and honorary mentions, and the visibility of multiple nominations reinforces the perception of multiple wins. Clear definitions distinguish competitive awards from honorary recognition and shared honors. De Niro’s verified competitive total remains one, with an additional ceremonial honor.
Comparison with other actors
Placing De Niro’s record in context can reduce ambiguity. Many iconic actors have multiple competitive wins; De Niro’s single competitive win places him alongside performers who have achieved top honors without large competitive tallies. The Academy’s official archives list only one competitive award for De Niro. When comparing, it is useful to differentiate between total wins (including honorary) and competitive wins, as each serves different analytical purposes.
How to interpret Oscar stats reliably
To evaluate any actor’s Oscar record, focus on competitive category wins first. Check the Academy’s official database or credible entertainment reference sources to confirm both nominations and wins. Distinguish between competitive awards, honorary awards, and shared wins. Understand that ties may affect ceremony presentation but do not always equate to additional competitive victories. These practices ensure accurate comparisons and prevent misreporting.