Harvey Keitel

Harvey Johannes Keitel ( ; born May 13, 1939) is an American actor and producer. Known for his portrayal of morally ambiguous and "tough guy" characters, he rose to prominence during the New Hollywood movement.

Keitel has long been associated with Martin Scorsese, starring in six Scorsese films: Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967), Mean Streets (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Taxi Driver (1976), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and The Irishman (2019). He is also known for his roles in the Quentin Tarantino films Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994) and the Wes Anderson films Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and Isle of Dogs (2018).

Keitel's role as Mickey Cohen in Bugsy (1991) earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, while The Piano (1993) won him the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Other notable films include Blue Collar (1978), Thelma & Louise (1991), Bad Lieutenant (1992), Sister Act (1992), Imaginary Crimes (1994), From Dusk till Dawn (1996), Cop Land (1997), Holy Smoke! (1998), U-571 (2000), Red Dragon (2002), National Treasure (2004), National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007), and Youth (2015).

Keitel, Al Pacino, and Ellen Burstyn were co-presidents of the Actors Studio from 1995 to 2017.

Early life Harvey Johannes Keitel was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on May 13, 1939, the son of Jewish immigrants Miriam (née Klein; 1911–1987) and Harry Keitel (1904–2000). His mother was Romanian and his father was Polish. His parents owned and ran a luncheonette, and his father also worked as a hat maker. He grew up with his older sister Renee and older brother Jerry in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach neighborhood. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School and enlisted in the Marines at the age of 16. eventually landing roles in some Off-Broadway productions. After viewing the first week's footage, Coppola replaced Keitel with a casting session favorite, Martin Sheen.

Keitel continued to do work on both stage and screen in the 1980s, often in the stereotypical role of a thug. Keitel played a corrupt police officer in the 1983 thriller Copkiller (co-starring musician John Lydon), before taking a supporting role in the romantic drama Falling in Love (1984), starring Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. Between 1985 and 1988, he was one of the busiest character actors around, appearing in 16 films and telefilms, including Brian De Palma's mobster comedy Wise Guys (1986), starring Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo, and as Judas in Martin Scorsese's controversial The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).

Keitel co-starred with Jack Nicholson in the Chinatown sequel The Two Jakes (1990), directed by Nicholson. Ridley Scott cast Keitel as the sympathetic policeman in Thelma & Louise in 1991; that same year, Keitel landed a role in Barry Levinson's Bugsy, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The following year, Keitel played another mobster in the Whoopi Goldberg-starring comedy Sister Act which was a commercial success at the box office.

Keitel starred in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (which he co-produced) in 1992, and appeared in Tony Bui's award-winning directorial debut, Three Seasons (which Keitel also executive produced). Keitel also re-teamed with Jane Campion for Holy Smoke! (co-starring Kate Winslet).

In 2001 Keitel played opposite roles: as a U.S. Army denazification investigator in the film Taking Sides and as SS-Oberscharführer Erich Muhsfeldt in the film The Grey Zone. In 2002, at the 24th Moscow International Film Festival, Keitel was honored with the Stanislavsky Award for his outstanding achievement in the career of acting and devotion to the principles of Stanislavsky's school. He also appeared in the Steinlager Pure commercials in New Zealand in 2007.

In 2008, Keitel played Jerry Springer in the New York City premiere of Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall. In 2009, he made a cameo appearance in the Jay-Z video for "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)", a nod to his Brooklyn origins. In 2013, he appeared in a music video for "Pretty Hurts" by Beyoncé. In 2013, he starred in the independent film A Farewell to Fools.

Between 2014 and early 2020, he reprised his role of Winston Wolf from Pulp Fiction as part of a £40 million television advertising campaign for British insurance company Direct Line. In 2021, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Newport Beach Film Festival. In 2022, Keitel starred in Steven Brand's noir thriller Joe Baby alongside Dichen Lachman, Willa Fitzgerald and Ron Perlman. Keitel has recently collaborated with Wes Anderson acting in minor roles in his films Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and Isle of Dogs (2018). He reunited with Martin Scorsese after 30 years appearing as Philadelphia crime family acting boss Angelo Bruno in his gangster movie The Irishman (2019) alongside Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. He reprised his role FBI Agent Peter Sadusky in the recent Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History (2022).

Personal life

From 1982 to 1993, Keitel was in a relationship with American actress Lorraine Bracco, which ended acrimoniously and triggered a prolonged custody battle over their daughter Stella (born 1985). He dated American potter Lisa Marie Karmazin from 2000 to 2001, after they met in Israel. They have a son named Hudson (born 2001), with whom Keitel does not have any relationship. Karmazin took Keitel to court for child support, and he settled in 2004.

Keitel reconnected with Canadian actress Daphna Kastner at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2001, having gone on a date with her in the 1980s before they lost contact. They married three weeks later in Jerusalem. Their son, Roman (born 2004), is also an actor.

In July 2017, Keitel became an honorary citizen of Romania's Maramureș County, from where his mother hailed.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1967 Reflections in a Golden Eye Soldier Uncredited Who's That Knocking at My Door J.R. 1970 Street Scenes 1970 Himself Documentary Brewster McCloud The Photographer Uncredited 1973 Mean Streets Charlie Cappa 1974 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Ben 1975 That's the Way of the World Coleman Buckmaster 1976 Taxi Driver Charles "Sport" Rain / Matthew Higgins Mother, Jugs & Speed Tony "Speed" Malatesta Buffalo Bill and the Indians Ed Goodman Welcome to L.A. Ken Hood 1977 The Duellists Feraud 1978 Blue Collar Jerry Bartowski Fingers Jimmy "Fingers" 1979 Eagle's Wing Henry 1980 Death Watch Roddy Saturn 3 Captain Benson Voice dubbed by Roy Dotrice Bad Timing Inspector Netusil 1982 The Border "Cat" That Night in Varennes Thomas Paine 1983 Copkiller Lieutenant Fred O'Connor Exposed Rivas Une pierre dans la bouche Tony 1984 Falling in Love Ed LaskyNemo Mr. Legend 1985 Camorra Frankie The Knight of the Dragon Clever 1986 Off Beat Mickey Wise Guys Bobby DiLea The Men's Club Solly Berliner 1987 The Inquiry Pontius Pilate Blindside Penfield Gruber The Pick-up Artist Alonzo Scolara 1988 The Last Temptation of Christ Judas Iscariot Dear Gorbachev Nikolaj Bucharin 1989 The January Man Police Commissioner Frank Starkey 1990 Two Evil Eyes Roderick Usher Segment: "The Black Cat" The Two Jakes Julius "Jake" Berman Grandi cacciatori Thomas 1991 Mortal Thoughts Detective John Woods Thelma & Louise Detective Hal Slocumb Bugsy Mickey Cohen 1992 Reservoir Dogs Larry Dimmick / Mr. White Also co-producer Bad Lieutenant The Lieutenant Sister Act Vince LaRocca 1993 Point of No Return Victor, The Cleaner The Piano George Baines Rising Sun Lieutenant Tom Graham Dangerous Game Eddie Israel The Young Americans DEA Agent John Harris 1994 Monkey Trouble Azro Pulp Fiction Winston "The Wolf" Wolf Somebody to Love Harry Harrelson Imaginary Crimes Ray Weiler 1995 Smoke Augustus "Auggie" Wren Blue in the Face Augustus "Auggie" Wren Also executive producer Ulysses' Gaze A. Clockers Detective Rocco Klein Get Shorty Himself Uncredited cameo 1996 From Dusk till Dawn Jacob Fuller Head Above Water George 1997 City of Industry Roy Egan Cop Land Ray Donlan FairyTale: A True Story Harry Houdini 1998 Shadrach Vernon Lulu on the Bridge Izzy Maurer Finding Graceland Elvis Sweets of Roses Hubie Voice Gunslinger's Revenge Johnny Lowen 1999 Three Seasons James Hager Also executive producer Holy Smoke! P.J. Waters Presence of Mind The Master 2000 U-571 CPO Henry Klough Prince of Central Park The Guardian Little Nicky Satan Viper Leone Voiced dubbed by Giancarlo Giannini 2001 Nailed Tony Romano The Grey Zone SS-Oberscharführer Erich Muhsfeldt Also executive producer Taking Sides Major Steve Arnold 2002 Ginostra Matt Benson Red Dragon FBI Agent Jack Crawford Beeper Zolo 2003 Crime Spree Frankie Zammeti The Galíndez File Edward Robards Who Killed the Idea? Private Investigator Short film Dreaming of Julia "Che" Also producer Chasing the Elephant The Mystery Man Short film 2004 Puerto Vallarta Squeeze Walter McGrane National Treasure FBI Agent Peter Sadusky The Bridge of San Luis Rey Uncle Pio 2005 Be Cool Nick Carr Shadows in the Sun Weldon Parish 2006 One Last Dance Terrtano A Crime Roger Culkin The Stone Merchant The Merchant Ludovico Vicedomini Arthur and the Minimoys Miro Voice 2007 My Sexiest Year Zowie National Treasure: Book of Secrets FBI Agent Peter Sadusky 2009 Inglourious Basterds Allied Commanding Officer Uncredited voice The Ministers Detective Joe Bruno Wrong Turn at Tahoe Nino 2010 A Beginner's Guide to Endings Duke White Little Fockers Randy Weir The Last Godfather Don Carini 2012 Moonrise Kingdom Commander Pierce 2013 A Farewell to Fools Father Johanis The Power Inside O'Mansky The Congress Al 2014 Two Men in Town Bill Agati The Grand Budapest Hotel Ludwig Rio, I Love You Himself Segment: "O Milagre" By the Gun Salvatore Vitaglia Gandhi of the Month Edward Baker 2015 Youth Mick Boyle Outlaws The Director Short film The Ridiculous 6 "Smiley" Harris 2016 Chosen Papi The Comedian Mac Schiltz 2017 Madame Bob Fredericks Lies We Tell Demi 2018 First We Take Brooklyn Anatoly Isle of Dogs Gondo Voice 2019 The Last Man Noe Esau Abraham See You Soon Billy The Painted Bird Priest The Irishman Angelo Bruno 2020 Fatima Professor Nichols 2021 Blood on the Crown General Hunter Blair Lansky Meyer Lansky 2022 The Baker Merchant 2023 Paradox Effect Silvio 2024Joe Baby Randall KaneSpreadFrankLaws of ManCassidy Whittaker 2025 The Wrecker Dante MilarepaMarpaThe LetterFinn O'Brien 2026 Hellfire Jeremiah Kill Code Eion +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television Year Film Role Notes 1966 Hogan's Heroes German Soldier UncreditedEpisode: "The Great Impersonation" 1966 Dark Shadows Blue Whale customer Uncredited2 episodes 1968 N.Y.P.D. Ramby Episode: "Case of the Shady Lady" 1971 Great Performances Jerry Episode: "A Memory of Two Mondays" 1973 Kojak Jerry Talaba Episode: "Siege of Terror" 1974 The F.B.I. Ernie Episode: "Deadly Ambition" 1974 A Memory of Two Mondays Jerry Television film 1974 Virginia Hill Bugsy Siegel Television film 1984 La bella Otero Ernest Jurgens Television film 1985 Amazing Stories Byron Sullivan Episode: "Vanessa in the Garden" 1986 The Ellen Burstyn Show Frank Tanner Episode: "Reading Between the Lines" 1988 The Play on One Carl Episode: "Down Where the Buffalo Go" 1989 This Ain't Bebop Television short 1993 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Harvey Keitel/Madonna" 2000 Fail Safe Brigadier General Warren A. Black Television film 2002 Saturday Night Live Siegfried Episode: "Robert De Niro/Norah Jones" 2006 The Path to 9/11 John O'Neill 2 episodes 2008–2009 Life on Mars Lieutenant Gene Hunt 17 episodes 2012 Fatal Honeymoon Tommy Thomas Television film 2016 Inside Amy Schumer Proposition Man Episode: "Fame" 2022 Mike Cus D'Amato 2 episodes National Treasure: Edge of History FBI Agent Peter Sadusky Episode: "I'm a Ghost" 2024The Tattooist of Auschwitz Older Lale Sokolov 6 episodes

Theatre

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1973 National Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actor Mean Streets 1976 Taxi Driver New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting Actor 1991 National Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actor Mortal Thoughts Thelma & Louise Academy Award Best Supporting Actor Bugsy Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor National Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actor 1992 Sant Jordi Award Best Foreign Actor Reservoir Dogs Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead Bad Lieutenant New York Film Critics Circle Best Actor 1993 Australian Film Institute Award Best Actor in a Leading Role The Piano Venice Film Festival Best Actor Dangerous Game 1995 Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize Smoke David di Donatello Best Foreign Actor 1996 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor From Dusk till Dawn 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Supporting Actor – Action U-571 2008 Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film Life on Mars 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Ensemble in a Motion Picture The Grand Budapest Hotel 2019 The Irishman