Upon being presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday night, the surprising thing wasn’t that Robert De Niro got political, but that he did it so calmly.
“Political leaders who support unions are more likely to support the Affordable Care Act, equitable taxes, humane immigration regulations, a safe environment, a diverse citizenry, reproductive rights, sensible gun control and fair wages and benefits,” the frequent critic of President Trump began.
“There’s right and there’s wrong and there’s common sense and there’s abuse of power,” he added. “And as a citizen I have as much right as anybody to voice my opinion. And if I have a bigger voice … I’m going to use it whenever I see a blatant abuse of power.”
De Niro, who has been a member of the union for over 50 years and a working actor since 1965, was presented the award by “Marvin’s Room” and “This Boy’s Life” costar Leonardo DiCaprio.
“The role of an actor is to make us feel,” said DiCaprio in his introduction. “They take us to new places using their skills to guide us towards a deeper understanding of humanity. And for almost 50 years, Robert De Niro’s performances have done exactly that.”
De Niro, a two-time Academy Award winning actor, is the 56th recipient of the performers union’s highest accolade and follows Alan Alda, who was presented with the award last year.
In addition to winning Oscars for “The Godfather: Part II” (1974) and “Raging Bull” (1980), De Niro was nominated as an actor in a leading role for “Taxi Driver” (1976), “The Deer Hunter” (1978), “Awakenings” (1990) and “Cape Fear” (1991), as well as earning a supporting nomination for “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012).
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Park So-Dam, Lee Sun-Kyun, Choi Woo-Shik, Lee Jeong-eun and Song Kang-ho lift their Actors onstage during the show at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Brad Pitt kisses the Actor statuette as he accepts the award for supporting actor for “Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood” at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/Associated Press)
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The show at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Reese Witherspoon, left, and Kathryn Newton during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Quentin Tarantino is captured at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Allison Janney, left, Adam Scott and Naomi Scott during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Butters chat during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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The cast of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” comes onstage after winning the comedy series ensemble at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Quentin Tarantino, right, interacts with another attendee during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Butters during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Tony Shalhoub of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” with the award for actor in a comedy series at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Phoebe Waller-Bridge with the award for actress in a comedy series at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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James Tupper during the show at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Jennifer Aniston gets a hug during the show at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Laura Dern embraces her father, Bruce Dern, at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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“Strangers Things” actor Joe Keery during the show at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Attendees chat with Al Pacino during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Laura Dern with the Actor for her role in “Marriage Story” during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Glenn Close presents the Actor to Joaquin Phoenix during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Tim Conway ‘s image is shown during the memorial section of the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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The cast of “Parasite” introduces its film during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Courtney B. Vance speaks onstage during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Director Bong Joon Ho, center, Lee Sun Kyun, right, and Choi Woo Shik, left, of “Parasite,” winner of film ensemble, make their way through the crowd during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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A shot of Renée Zellweger in the crowd during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Henry Winkler, left, and Darrell Britt-Gibson hug during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Helena Bonham Carter reacts to the announcement that “The Crown” has won the Actor for ensemble in a drama series at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Renée Zellweger accepts her Actor award for “Judy” at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Peter Mayhew of “Star Wars” is memorialized during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Comedian John Witherspoon is honored during the memorial section of the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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An image of Luke Perry is displayed during the memorial setion of the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Eugene Levy, left, and his son, Daniel Levy, of “Schitt’s Creek” take the stage during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Sam Rockwell accepts his Actor for “Fosse/Verdon” at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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“The Crown’s” Helena Bonham Carter, left, Josh O’Connor, Erin Doherty and Sam Phillips accept the Actor for best ensemble in a drama series during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Joaquin Phoenix speaks onstage after receiving the Actor for “Joker” at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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“Game of Thrones” star Peter Dinklage makes his way to the stage during the show at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Robert De Niro is presented a lifetime achievement award during the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
This year, however, the veteran actor was overlooked for his lead performance in Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” not only by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences but the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. As one of the film’s producers, he was recognized with a nomination for the best picture Oscar.
De Niro won a SAG award in 2014 as part of the cast of “American Hustle” and received SAG cast nominations for his work in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Marvin’s Room.”
“Thank you, Leo, thank you, for those generous, generous words,” De Niro said upon taking the stage. “As actors, we don’t take victory laps, we’re too worried about what our next job will be, so it makes me very happy to know that my next job is working with you and Marty [referring to the upcoming project ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’]. At least I know I’ve got another year of health insurance.”
