Robert De Niro was spotted with his right arm in a sling this week, raising questions about whether the legendary actor faced an injury recently.
As reported by multiple outlets, the 82-year-old stepped out to attend a performance of the Broadway production Oedipus on Wednesday, December 3, at Studio 54 in New York City.
After the show, he was photographed backstage alongside the cast, including Mark Strong, his former Stardust co-star, and Lesley Manville.
A representative for De Niro confirmed PEOPLE who recently underwent a procedure, although no further details were shared.
Someone who was present backstage said the actor mentioned that he is only expected to wear the sling for a few more days.
Despite the arm support, De Niro appeared to be in good spirits as he supported the new adaptation directed by Robert Icke.
His departure comes shortly after Jodie Foster reflected on her first experience working with De Niro in Martin Scorsese. Taxi driver.
During a conversation at the Marrakech Film Festival, Foster admitted that she was not immediately impressed when a 12-year-old girl shared scenes with the future Oscar winner.
She recalled how he insisted that they repeatedly rehearse their lines during lunches, maintaining the depth of the character, something she didn’t fully understand at the time.
“One of our best American actors, very proud to have worked with him, is not the most interesting person in the world,” he said with a laugh, explaining how he ended up chatting with waiters during rehearsals because De Niro didn’t talk much as part of his preparation for The Method.
The turning point came when he finally involved her in his process.
Foster said he guided her to improvise during one of their lunch sessions, and that’s when she realized the power of building a character instead of simply reciting words.
“He finally walked me through improv when we had our third lunch together, and that opened my eyes to what acting could be,” she shared.
The moment left her energized and she told her mother that she had had “an epiphany.”
While fans wait for updates on his arm, De Niro continues to show his commitment to the arts, whether supporting the work of a friend or inspiring stories from those who have worked alongside him.
