One of the most respected actors of his generation, Keitel has given impressive performances in films by many of the world's most interesting filmmakers: Robert Altman (BUFFALO BILL AND THE INDIANS, OR SITTING BULL'S HISTORY LESSON, 1976); Alan Rudolph (WELCOME TO L.A., 1977; MORTAL THOUGHTS, 1991); Ridley Scott (THE DUELLISTS, 1977; THELMA & LOUISE, 1991); Paul Schrader (BLUE COLLAR, 1978); Bertrand Tavernier (DEATH WATCH, 1980); Nicolas Roeg (BAD TIMING: A SENSUAL OBSESSION, 1980); Lina Wertmuller (A COMPLICATED PLOT ABOUT WOMEN, ALLEYS AND CRIMES, 1985); Tony Richardson (THE BORDER, 1982); and Dario Argento ("The Black Cat" segment of TWO EVIL EYES, 1990).
Overcoming a childhood stuttering problem, Keitel began taking acting classes and eventually joined the Actor's Studio. In 1965, he answered a newspaper ad placed by a NYU student filmmaker seeking performers for his first feature. WHO'S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR? (1968) was the beginning of Keitel's long and fruitful association with Martin Scorsese. Keitel then appeared in the director's little-seen documentary STREET SCENES (1970), but it was their third film together, MEAN STREETS (1973), that catapulted them both to international prominence. Though of Polish-Romanian extraction, Keitel proved extremely convincing as a young Italian-American with conflicting feelings about his cultural heritage. Indeed, the role is generally perceived as providing an alter ego for the filmmaker. The collaboration with Scorsese continued with ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (1974), TAXI DRIVER (1976) and THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (1988).
The twelve-year gap between work in Scorsese's films represents a significant phase in Keitel's career. Originally cast in the leading role in Francis Ford Coppola's APOCALYPSE NOW (1979), the actor had a falling out with the director and was fired on location in the Philippines. Keitel was replaced by Martin Sheen. Instead of starring in one of the most publicized films in recent history, he was featured in Ridley Scott's considerably more modest (and commercially unsuccessful) directorial debut, THE DUELLISTS, adapted from the story by Joseph Conrad. This marked the beginning of a very busy but unsatisfying period during which Keitel appeared in 20 films and three plays in ten years. Though he continued to give strong performances, many of the films were mediocre and/or little-seen. Keitel became a regular in minor fare from once major international directors, while former co-star Robert De Niro went on to glory in some of the most respected films of the decade. The role of Judas in Scorsese's THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST marked the beginning of Keitel's Hollywood comeback. Though the film was a commercial flop, it brought the actor back into the eye of the general public. Keitel starred in several more flops before the banner year 1991, when he had meaty roles in three major motion pictures: MORTAL THOUGHTS, THELMA & LOUISE and BUGSY. He has been reinstated on the industry's A-list.
Keitel has displayed a penchant for working with first-time directors. He toiled alongside Richard Pryor and Yaphet Kotto in Paul Schrader's underrated BLUE COLLAR (1978), an uncompromising drama about Detroit auto workers and their corrupt union. Keitel also starred in James Toback's first film, FINGERS (1978) and went on to appear in that director's EXPOSED (1983) and THE PICK-UP ARTIST (1987).
Keitel became a significant figure in 90s independent filmmaking. He proved a godsend to first-time director/screenwriter Quentin Tarantino when he became enamoured of the screenplay for RESERVOIR DOGS (1992) and agreed to star and co-produce. The film was originally slated to be made for a paltry $35,000, but Keitel's involvement helped expand its budget to $400,000 and attracted other major talents to the project. His no-holds-barred performance as the corrupt, substance-abusing and spiritually ailing titular character in Abel Ferrara's BAD LIEUTENANT (1992) brought him critical kudos and helped boost the reputation of that previously B-plus indie filmmaker. Since then Keitel has had supporting roles in several high profile 1993 films, including POINT OF NO RETURN, RISING SUN and Jane Campion's acclaimed New Zealand feature, THE PIANO. The latter brought forth a side seldom seen. Playing a Scottish settler who goes native in mid-19th century New Zealand and falls passionately in love with the mute Holly Hunter, Keitel exuded a surprising romantic intensity rather than the machismo that has become associated with his persona.
Other notable credits include RISING SUN and DANGEROUS GAME (both 1993), PULP FICTION (1994), SMOKE, CLOCKERS and BLUE IN THE FACE (all 1995), FROM DUSK TILL DAWN and HEAD ABOVE WATER (both 1996), CITY OF INDUSTRY, COP LAND and FULL TILT BOOGIE (all 1997), SHADRACH, LULU ON THE BRIDGE and FINDING GRACELAND (all 1998), THREE SEASONS, HOLY SMOKE and PRESENCE OF MIND (all 1999), "Fail Safe" (TV), U-571, PRINCE OF CENTRAL PARK and LITTLE NICKY (all 2000), NAILED, TAKING SIDES, THE GREY ZONE, VIPER and DREAMING OF JULIA (all 2001), NOWHERE, GINOSTRA, RED DRAGON, CRIME SPREE and BEEPER (all 2002), CRIME SPREE, EL MISTERIO GALINDEZ, WHO KILLED THE IDEA?, DREAMING OF JULIA and CHASING THE ELEPHANT (all 2003), PUERTO VALLARTA SQUEEZE, NATIONAL TREASURE and THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY (all 2004), ONE LAST DANCE, BE COOL and THE SHADOW DANCER (all 2005), A CRIME, IL MERCANTE DE PIETRE and ARTHUR ET LES MINIMOYS (voice) (all 2006), MY SEXIEST YEAR and NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (both 2007), and THE MINISTERS (2008).
Keitel was married to Lorraine Bracco from 1982 to 1993; their daughter, Stella Keitel (b. 1985), is an actress. Keitel had a son, Hudson Karmazin Keitel (b. 2001), with potter Lisa Karmazin. In 2001, he married actress-writer Daphna Kastner; they have one son, Roman (b. 2004).
Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 1991: BUGSY
1 nomination