Robert De Niro is an American actor and producer born and raised in Manhattan. De Niro was raised by artists; his mother was a painter and poet and his father a sculptor and painter. He delved into acting at age 10 when he appeared in a production of The Wizard of Oz. Acting would later be his reason for dropping out of high school. He made his first film appearance in 1963 in The Wedding Party. He later rose to prominence with his role in The Godfather Part II in 1974, and is known for his numerous collaborations with director Martin Scorsese, which include Mean Streets, Taxi Diver and Raging Bull. Awards he has won include 2 Academy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, and 4 New York Film Critics Circle Awards.