De Niro Got Ripped
Portraying Scorsese’s “Raging Bull” star, world champion boxer Jake LaMotta, took role prep to an entirely new level. De Niro packed on a mind-blowing 60 pounds, ameliorating the ripped boxer physique he trained for in the first part of the film.
He achieved the authentic old Italian guy look by traveling to Sicily and consuming as much pasta as possible while hanging out with elderly Italians. He won the Oscar for Best Actor.
No Stranger to the Crazy
Nicholson is known for mentally committing to his roles. Later, in Kubrick’s "The Shining", he was caught on tape preparing for the ax scene by running around the set screaming maniacally, “Ax, murder, kill!”
Nicholson's Jack Torrance is one of the most terrifying characters in the movie, immortalized for all eternity by the freaky improvised line, “Heeeere’s Johnny!”
Method actors are can be found all over the film industry. Other film legends have gone to shocking extremes to create outstanding and memorable characters. Here are some more of the very best.
Seriously Method Acting
When it comes to method acting, Robert De Niro is the champ. He had his teeth shaved down for "Cape Fear" and worked as an NYC cabbie preparing for his iconic role in "Taxi".
What he does to prepare for roles is truly astounding. No wonder he is considered one of the best in Hollywood.
Hoffman Didn't Sleep
Dustin Hoffman was trained at the celebrated Actor’s Studio in NYC. In "Marathon Man", he played opposite Laurence Olivier, a classically trained actor. When Hoffman had a scene in which his character did not sleep for three nights, Hoffman stayed up for three nights.
Legendarily, when he told Olivier his method, the response of the classically trained actor was, “Why don’t you just try acting?” Hoffman had the last laugh. Method acting made him a two-time Oscar winner ("Kramer vs. Kramer" and "Rain Man").
Then There Was the Slap
But it took a toll. Sleep deprivation nearly compromised his sanity. Hoffman narrowly averted a psychotic break. And in "Kramer vs. Kramer", he went overboard accosting Meryl Streep in off-camera clashes.
On camera, an unscripted slap in the face was as unwelcome as his heckling of the actress over her recently deceased boyfriend.