Robert De Niro honored in Rome with the Capitoline Wolf award

Robert De Niro was honored Thursday in Rome with the Capitoline Wolf, the city’s highest honor.

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said De Niro, who is of Italian heritage, was honored because of his outstanding career. The Oscar winner has often played Italian Americans in Hollywood, including in classic films such as “Goodfellas” and “The Godfather: Part II.”

The 81-year-old De Niro was born in New York, while his paternal great-grandparents left Ferrazzano, Italy for the U.S. in 1887.

De Niro was granted honorary citizenship of Ferrazzano in 2004 and was granted Italian citizenship in 2006. He retains his American citizenship.