De Niro's wake-up call

Film

09:30 20 January 2005

Robert De Niro has revealed how being diagnosed with prostate cancer was a wake-up call to make as many movies as he can.

The 61-year-old actor discovered he had cancer in 2003 and immediately underwent surgery to treat the illness, eventually being given the all-clear later that year.

De Niro - who has starred in a host of critically acclaimed films, including 'Goodfellas', 'Casino' and 'Raging Bull' - claims the diagnosis made him determined to live life to the full, and make the most of his amazing talent in his remaining years.

He told Britain's Radio Times magazine: "You realise that life is moving on. If you're going to do something, go start. Life's simpler than we sometimes admit."

Meanwhile, De Niro has revealed he wants to make a sequel to 'Taxi Driver'.

The Oscar-winner has been in talks about making a follow-up to the cult movie - in which he played a crazed Vietnam veteran.

He said: "I was talking with Marty (Martin Scorsese) about doing, I guess you'd call it a sequel, to 'Taxi Driver', where Travis Bickle is older."

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