Robert De Niro was spotted with his right arm in a sling this week, raising questions about whether the legendary actor recently faced an injury.
As multiple outlets report, the 82-year-old stepped out to attend a performance of the Broadway production of Oedipus on Wednesday, December 3 at Studio 54 in New York City.
After the show, he was photographed backstage with the cast, including Mark Strong, his former Stardust costar, and Lesley Manville.
A representative for De Niro confirmed it PEOPLE that he recently underwent a procedure, though no further details were shared.
A person who was present backstage said that the actor mentioned that he is expected to wear the veil only for a few more days.
Despite the arm brace, De Niro appeared to be in good spirits while supporting the new adaptation directed by Robert Icke.
His outing comes shortly after Jodie Foster reflected on her early experience working with De Niro on Martin Scorsese’s Taxi driver.
Speaking at the Marrakech Film Festival, Foster admitted she wasn’t immediately impressed as a 12-year-old sharing scenes with the future Oscar winner.
She remembered how he insisted they rehearse their lines repeatedly over lunches, staying deep in character, something she didn’t quite understand at the time.
“One of our greatest American actors, so proud to have worked with him, not the most interesting person on earth,” she said with a laugh, explaining how she would end up chatting with waiters during rehearsals because De Niro didn’t speak much as part of his method preparation.
The turning point came when he finally involved her in his process.
Foster said he guided her to improv during one of their lunch sessions, and that’s when she realized the power of building a character rather than simply reciting words.
“He finally walked me through improv when we had our third lunch together, and it opened my eyes to what acting could be,” she shared.
The moment energized her and told her mother she had “an epiphany”.
While fans wait for updates on his arm, De Niro continues to show his commitment to the arts, whether he’s supporting a friend’s play or inspiring stories from those who have worked with him.
