Robert De Niro goes method once again for role as Bernie Madoff with the actor looking and behaving just like the disgraced Ponzi scheme crook

  • Robert De Niro was seen filming his new movie Wizard of Lies about the Bernie Madoff scandal looking just like the disgraced stockbroker
  • De Niro has grown his hair long and even shaved the crown of his head to appear bald like Madoff for the role
  • The actor has gone method many times in the past, moving to Sicily in 1973 to learn the language before he filmed The Godfather Part II
  • He lost 30 pounds and obtained a taxi license to pick up fares prior to the making of Taxi Driver
  • De Niro gained 60 pounds and entered boxing matches to prepare himself for his Oscar-winning role as Jake La Motta in Raging Bull
  • He paid a doctor $20,000 to grind down his teeth and covered his body in vegetable dye tattoos before filming Cape Fear 

By Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:00 EST, 7 October 2015 | Updated: 11:41 EST, 7 October 2015

Actor Robert De Niro was photographed filming scenes for his new HBO film about Bernie Madoff on Tuesday in New York City looking identical to the disgraced stockbroker.

De Niro appeared in a baseball cap with his hair long and white just like Madoff as he filmed the infamous moment in December 2008 when the Ponzi scheme crook was confronted by the press outside his Manhattan apartment.

It is the latest in a long string of roles in which De Niro has seemingly lost himself to play a character, changing everything from his appearance to his behavior in order to perfectly capture a different person.

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Robert De Niro
Bernie Madoff

Robert De Niro was seen filming his new movie Wizard of Lies (left) about the Bernie Madoff (right) scandal looking just like the disgraced stockbroker

De Niro lost 30 pounds and gave himself a Mohawk prior to the making of Taxi Driver (above)

De Niro lost 30 pounds and gave himself a Mohawk prior to the making of Taxi Driver (above)

He even obtained a taxi license (above) to pick up fares around New York City

He even obtained a taxi license (above) to pick up fares around New York City

De Niro, 72, even seemed to be channeling Madoff's smug demeanor during a press junket for his recently released film The Intern, which he starred in alongside Anne Hathaway.

The 72-year-old Oscar winner appeared condescending when he spoke with Radio Times writer Emma Brockes last month while promoting the film, giving brief answers to her questions before walking out.

He told her as he left the room; 'I'm not doing this, darling.'

De Niro stars alongside Michelle Pfeiffer - who is playing Ruth Madoff - in the film, directed by Barry Levinson.

It is called Wizard of Lies and based on two books about Madoff -  Wizard of Lies and Truth or Consequences.

As for his physical appearance, De Niro revealed during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers that in addition to growing out his hair he also shaved the middle so he would be bald like Madoff, something he covers up with a hat when he is not on set. 

Shaving his head is nothing however compared to some of the things he has done in the past.

Robert De Niro
Jake La Motta

De Niro gained 60 pounds and entered boxing matches (left) to prepare himself for his Oscar-winning role as Jake La Motta (right) in Raging Bull

The actor moved to Sicily in 1973 to learn the language before he filmed The Godfather Part II (above)

The actor moved to Sicily in 1973 to learn the language before he filmed The Godfather Part II (above)

He paid a doctor $20,000 to grind down his teeth and covered his body in vegetable dye tattoos before filming Cape Fear (above)

He paid a doctor $20,000 to grind down his teeth and covered his body in vegetable dye tattoos before filming Cape Fear (above)

Before playing Vito Corleone in The Godfather II in 1974 - a role that would win him his first Oscar - De Niro moved to Sicily a few months prior to shooting so he could learn the language and better develop his character.

He took a similar approach when he made Taxi Driver in 1976, obtaining a taxi license and picking up fares around the city during filming of the movie.

He also lost 30 pounds to play the role of Travis Bickle, and gave himself a Mohawk halfway through the production. 

For his role as legendary boxer Jake La Motta in 1980's Raging Bull - the role that won him his second Oscar - De Niro gained 60 pounds and underwent rigorous training to be able to act out the boxing scenes, even having La Motta himself work as his trainer. 

He also entered boxing matches while preparing for the film.

Then there was his role in Cape Fear in 1992, where to play convicted rapist and recently released convict Max Cady the actor paid a dentist $20,000 to grind down his death and worked out constantly to build muscle.

He was also tattooed for the part, but used vegetable dyes which faded after a few months. 

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