Robert De Niro Breaks Down in Tears Live on Air

Robert De Niro struggled to hold back his emotions during a conversation with Amy Poehler. The 83-year-old actor broke down in tears when the Good Hang podcast host unexpectedly interrupted their lighthearted conversation to thank him for using his influence to speak out about issues that matter to him and support people who do not have the same platform, People reports.

“I just want to say thank you,” 54-year-old Poehler told him. She said she especially appreciated his stance given the actor’s age, status and influence.

According to Poehler, when someone with that kind of authority publicly steps in when another person is behaving inappropriately, it can help others feel safe.

“Thank you for speaking up for people who don’t have power,” Poehler said. At that moment, she noticed that De Niro had become visibly emotional.

“Oh no, you’re crying!” she exclaimed, jokingly offering him tissues from the Good Hang kit. The actor himself seemed just as surprised by his reaction.

When Poehler asked him what he would say to people who had lost hope, De Niro replied that they should never give up.

“You have to fight. If you don’t fight, you’re not going to get anything,” the actor said. He added that one person’s courage can inspire others: “Courage is contagious.”

At the beginning of the episode, Poehler joked that De Niro does not like doing interviews at all. The actor admitted that he had actually checked his schedule before agreeing to the conversation, but eventually decided that it would be fine.

De Niro also opened up about his shyness and admitted that in some situations he considers himself an introvert. During the conversation, they discussed his childhood in New York, his work with Martin Scorsese and one of his earliest acting roles — the Cowardly Lion in a school production of The Wizard of Oz when De Niro was in fourth grade.

The actor also talked about his first New York apartment, which cost him just $75 a month, and recalled playing the saxophone for the film New York, New York.