Who is your favorite actor or actress of all time?

There are so many great actors and actresses to choose from, but one stands out prominently in my mind. Robert de Niro became my favorite after I saw him in one particular movie. No, it wasn't after seeing him play Jake Lamotta in "Raging Bull" or Vito Corleone in "The Godfather: Part II," the two roles for which he has garnered Academy Awards.

To be sure, he was brilliant in those roles and quite deserving of the Oscars he received, but he first caught my attention as the overbearing Jack Byrnes in "Meet the Parents." Since then, I have watched probably 20 or more of his movies. My favorite De Niro movie of all time is the heist thriller "Heat," starring De Niro, Al Pacino, and Val Kilmer. Other notables include "The Score," " Analyze This," "Midnight Run," "Casino," and "Goodfellas."

The reason I think he bests all the other Hollywood greats is because he offers more in the way of versatility. Whether he is playing the loving dad, sinister crime boss, or comical goon, he shines in practically any role he is given. In "Heat," he played the role of career criminal Neil McCauley so well that I had a hard time hating his character. You normally root against the villain, but De Niro was so convincing that I didn't want him to die in the end.

Only masterful actors like Bobby D can achieve that. To be honest, I haven't been nearly as impressed with his work over the last 10 or so years. I think his last great performance came in "Meet the Fockers." Let's be fair -- De Niro is 70 now, and I can only imagine he just doesn't have the energy -- nor the need, moneywise -- to take on big roles anymore.

But I don't think anyone can dispute that Robert de Niro is one of the best actors of all time. I plan to see him alongside Ann Hathaway in "The Intern" this weekend, which looks to be a lighthearted comedy.

Who is your favorite actor or actress of all time, and why?

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