The veteran actor, who starred in 1990's 'Awakenings' with the 'Mrs. Doubtfire star, says, 'Robin, my dear friend, I dedicate this award to you.'
- Oct 9, 2014
AceShowbiz - Robert De Niro dedicated his award to his late friend Robin Williams. The veteran actor was honored with the Entertainment Icon Award at the Friars Foundation's annual gala on Tuesday night, October 7 at the Waldorf-Astoria which also honored Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim with Award for Philanthropy.
At one point at the event, Penny Marshall showed a never-before-seen outtake of her movie "Awakenings" which starred De Niro and Williams. When De Niro received his award, he said he could not watch it without thinking "how much I miss Robin Williams."
"If you know me, you know how much I like to laugh. And no one made me laugh like Robin. Of course, it was more than the jokes. He had so much humanity. Just look at his face in that scene. He was a wonderful actor, sure but those feelings were real. No one could fake that kind of love and compassion," he said. "Robin, my dear friend, I dedicate this award to you."
The 71-year-old actor was joined by his wife Grace Hightower and children, Drena De Niro and Raphael De Niro, at the event. Tony Bennett, Sharon Stone, Orlando Bloom, Edward Norton and Christopher Walken were among the attendees.
Sting, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin served as performers at the star-studded event. The member of The Police performed "Every Breath You Take" while Wonder sang "I Just Called to Say I Love You", "My Cherie Amour" and "Superstition".
