Biography

In an interview on Pat Sajak Weekend (2003), he talked about when he first expressed an interest in acting while in his early twenties. Initially, he was reluctant to tell his father what he wanted to do with his life and, when he finally confessed, his father was less than happy with his son's career choice. But the man had blessed his son by simply telling Robert he had to go with how he felt and follow his passion.

His hair and eyebrows are more than often dyed a brown-like color in his movies, so often that his naturally white hair comes as a surprise when seen in real life and in films without that.

Italian-American.

Has made guest appearances on both Hawaii police d'état (1968) and Hawaii 5-0 (2010).

Served in the United States Army.

(2011) We rehearsed our Scarface (1983) to the nines. Long period of rehearsal, so that by the time we started to shoot, it was almost like doing a play. We all had a grand time doing it. It was a wonderful cast. We all got along well together, and that's it...The acting talent, the cinematography, we were propelled into a real class action film. Long after I kick the bucket it'll be played.

(2011, on L'honneur des Prizzi (1985)) What stands out for me in that shoot is John Huston's daughter [Anjelica]. I don't know what adjective to use. He wasn't uncomfortable with her, but he felt that it would be better if I worked with his daughter more than he did. That I would shield Anjelica from any problems. So I became her off-screen mentor at the behest of John Huston. He wanted me to work with his daughter. He felt, I guess, uncomfortable doing it himself.

(2011, on Big (1988)) Well, when we came to the set, which was... what's the store? F.A.O. Schwartz. We went up there, Tom [Hanks] and I, we see two guys dressed like we were, and they were going to shoot [the piano dance scene] with just the feet. We thought that was ridiculous. We told the guys who were dressed like we were to take a hike. So we were full-figure, which made it much more of a classic scene. Tom and I did all the dance. Full-figured view...It didn't take long at all, really. Just about one take.

(2011, on Une femme nommée Golda (1982)) I worked with Ingrid [Bergman]. Ingrid and I became very close during filming. She became Golda Meir. She had a problem with her circulation in her left arm. So the whole time it was swollen. She was in pain. Ingrid and I became very, very close in the film. I think it became a real classic.

(2011, on playing a lot of different ethnicities in your career) I'd have to thank Stella Adler for that. She didn't want her actors to be a one-trick pony. An actor is an impersonator; he plays many different roles. If you played the same role all the time, God that'd be a boring career. When you take on different roles and become a different person, that's called acting ... It's a challenge. When you read a script, you don't want to be the same guy all the time, you want to change, you're a different person. That's why acting is a wonderful career. You're not the same guy all the time.