Where Are Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver Stars Now?

The 1976 film Taxi Driver, directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader, remains one of cinema’s most intense and divisive works. Starring Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a troubled taxi driver struggling with his mental state while working the night shift in New York City, the movie premiered on February 8, 1976. Its narrative also followed the character Iris, played by then-12-year-old Jodie Foster, who was caught in a harrowing cycle of exploitation.

Centered on the performances of its ensemble cast and the dark underbelly of urban life, Taxi Driver has left a lasting impact. The film’s enduring legacy prompts an exploration of where its principal actors have reached in their careers and lives since their groundbreaking roles. This article examines the current status of the stars from Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver.

Robert De Niro’s Ongoing Collaboration with Martin Scorsese

Robert De Niro’s portrayal of Travis Bickle earned him widespread acclaim and one of his four Oscar nominations for this role. Having already won an Academy Award for his performance as the young Vito Corleone in 1974’s The Godfather Part II, De Niro was careful to maintain control over his career. He reflected on the pressures after his Oscar win, saying,

“Producers waving scripts are coming at me from every direction. If I let them, my life would be planned every day from now through 1980. Ultimately, a star becomes a corporation and freedom goes flying.”

 

Choosing to prioritize working with Scorsese, De Niro helped bring to life the film’s iconic line, “You talkin’ to me?”, which was famously improvised on set. Describing this moment, he recounted, “Marty always liked something unexpected.” Their partnership includes several celebrated films: New York, New York (1977), Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1982), Goodfellas (1990), Cape Fear (1991), Casino (1995), The Irishman (2019), and most recently Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). De Niro’s performance in Raging Bull earned him a second Oscar, and he has been nominated multiple times for his work with Scorsese, including as producer of The Irishman. Reflecting on this collaborative relationship, De Niro shared,

“I consider myself very lucky to have that long of a relationship with him. I can’t imagine my life without it.”

De Niro’s impressive filmography also features diverse roles outside of his work with Scorsese. These include acclaimed performances in The Deer Hunter (1978), Awakenings (1990), and Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Other notable starring roles include Once Upon a Time in America (1984), This Boy’s Life (1993), The Untouchables (1987), Heat (1995), and the 2019 film Joker. He has demonstrated versatility by venturing into comedic roles, particularly with the Meet the Parents series. Expanding behind the camera, De Niro directed films such as A Bronx Tale (1993) and The Good Shepherd (2006), both of which also featured him as an actor. Discussing his career outlook, he stated,

“Happiness is doing what you love to do.”

Throughout his career, De Niro has earned prestigious honors including a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2019, and an Honorary Palme d’Or set for 2025. Beyond acting, he co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2002 as a response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, helping to revitalize New York City’s cultural scene.

In his personal life, De Niro has fathered seven children. With his first wife, Diahnne Abbott (married 1976-1988), he had daughter Drena and son Raphael. He welcomed twins Julian and Airyn with model Toukie Smith. His second marriage to Grace Hightower (1997-2018) produced children Elliot and Helen. In 2023, De Niro and girlfriend Tiffany Chen had a daughter named Gia.

Jodie Foster’s Transition from Child Star to Acclaimed Director and Actress

Jodie Foster’s role as Iris Steensma in Taxi Driver marked her first Oscar nomination and cast a spotlight on her early maturity as an actress. Having previously appeared in Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), Foster’s portrayal of the young sex worker drew concern at the time due to her age. Addressing such worries on a 2024 episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, she reflected,

“I think it was her taking down her shirt to below her shoulders, right? So that’s nothing… And I think I was supposed to like undo his fly. That was about it.”

She also noted that her 18-year-old sister served as a stand-in for some scenes.

Foster’s career began as a child with commercial work at age three and films such as Bugsy Malone (1976) and The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976). Prioritizing education, she attended Yale University, emphasizing that working to pay for her studies was essential:

“And I think working is one of the best educations you can have.”

During her freshman year, Foster was stalked by John Hinckley Jr., who later attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981 to impress her. In 2024, Foster described the event as a traumatic moment during a rare interview with Interview Magazine.

Following graduation in 1985, Foster’s adult breakthrough came with her Oscar-winning role in The Accused (1988). She won a second Academy Award for playing Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), a character she described as neither a victim nor a superhuman, but a fully realized individual confronting evil. Other Oscar nominations followed for Nell (1994) and Nyad (2023).

Foster’s extensive filmography includes roles in Inside Man (2006), The Mauritanian (2021), and the upcoming A Private Life (2025). On television, she starred in the fourth season of True Detective in 2024, winning an Emmy. She also directs and made her debut behind the camera with Little Man Tate (1991), explaining,

“Directing is where I feel sanest and healthiest. That doesn’t mean I’m always Miss Cheerful. I just enjoy being the benevolent leader who is also one of the people.”

In her personal life, Foster was with producer Cydney Bernard from 1993 to 2008, with whom she has two sons, Charlie and Kit. In 2014, she married actress and photographer Alexandra Hedison.

Cybill Shepherd’s Rise Through Television Success and Continued Career

Cybill Shepherd portrayed Betsy, the campaign worker whom Travis Bickle obsessively pursues. Shepherd detailed her casting in Taxi Driver, recalling advice from her agent:

“[My agent] Sue Mengers said, ‘When you go to meet them, just shut up and don’t talk and you’ll probably get the part.’ … I got the part by shutting up.”

Shepherd gained significant acclaim with the 1985 television series Moonlighting, co-starring Bruce Willis. Playing Maddie Hayes, a former fashion model turned detective agency owner, Shepherd earned two Golden Globe Awards. Although beloved by audiences, off-screen tensions marked the show, leading to its 1989 cancellation. Reflecting on that period, Shepherd commented,

“They made Maddie an unreasonable, hysterical woman… So where are you going to get the conflict? From Maddie.”

She later reconciled with Willis and considered the role a major career milestone.

Her film work during that time included the romantic comedy Chances Are (1989) with Robert Downey Jr. Shepherd expressed pride in portraying an older woman romantically involved with a younger man, saying,

“It’s good to encourage that type of thing for young men’s sake.”

Shepherd reprised her role in the 1990 film Texasville, a sequel to The Last Picture Show (1971), in which she originally starred. Her television career extended with the lead role in Cybill (1995–1998), which won her a third Golden Globe. Other appearances include roles on The L Word, Psych, The Client List, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Beyond acting, she has performed as a cabaret singer.

Shepherd’s personal life includes marriages to David M. Ford (1978–1982), with whom she has daughter Clementine, and Bruce Oppenheim (1987–1990), with whom she has twins Molly Ariel and Cyrus Zachariah Shepherd-Oppenheim. Clementine appeared alongside her mother on The L Word.

Harvey Keitel’s Continued Presence in Film and Television

Playing Matthew “Sport” Higgins, the exploitative pimp of Iris, Harvey Keitel was already well-established as a frequent Martin Scorsese collaborator before Taxi Driver, with appearances in Who’s That Knocking at My Door (1967), Mean Streets (1973), and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974). He reunited with Scorsese for The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and much later for The Irishman (2019).

Keitel’s expansive career extends through notable roles in Quentin Tarantino’s films Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994), as well as several Wes Anderson projects including Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and Isle of Dogs (2018). Among other credits are Thelma & Louise (1991), Bugsy (1991)—which earned him an Oscar nomination—The Piano (1993), and National Treasure (2004). Recently, he starred in the 2024 TV series The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Keitel was in a long-term relationship with actress Lorraine Bracco from 1982 to 1993, with whom he shares daughter Stella (born 1985). In 2001, he married Daphna Kastner, and they have two sons: Hudson (born 2001) and Roman (born 2004).

Albert Brooks’ Transition from Taxi Driver Debut to Acclaimed Filmmaker and Comedian

Albert Brooks debuted in Taxi Driver as Tom, a rival love interest for Betsy. Born Albert Einstein, Brooks had already gained recognition as a comedic writer and performer on television, including creating short films for the early seasons of Saturday Night Live. He soon transitioned into directing, with his first film being Real Life (1979), where he played a version of himself attempting to make an Oscar-worthy documentary.

Brooks’s career in the ’80s and ’90s saw him acting in and directing a string of acclaimed films. His directorial works include Modern Romance (1981), Lost in America (1985), Defending Your Life (1991), and Mother (1996). Debbie Reynolds, who appeared in Mother, described her experience working with him, recalling,

“I said, ‘Albert, you shouldn’t take me on just one scene. Shouldn’t I read two?’ And he said, ‘See, you’re bossing me around already.’”

Brooks earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in Broadcast News (1987). He is also well-known for providing the voice of Marlin, Nemo’s father, in the Finding Nemo films and received praise for his role in Drive (2011).

He married Kimberly Shlain in 1997, and the couple has two children, Jacob and Claire.

Peter Boyle’s Diverse Career and Lasting Legacy

Peter Boyle portrayed Wizard, another taxi driver featured in the movie. Boyle established himself as a versatile character actor from the late 1960s onward, appearing in films such as The Candidate (1972), Young Frankenstein (1974)—which he considered the highlight of my career—Malcolm X (1992), While You Were Sleeping (1995), and Monster’s Ball (2001). He earned an Emmy Award for a guest role on The X-Files.

Boyle reached mainstream popularity with his role as Frank Barone on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, which began airing in 1996. Ray Romano, whose life inspired the show, praised Boyle, saying, “He’s like my own father.” Boyle received seven Emmy nominations for his work on the series. After the show ended in 2005, he remarked,

“I’m enjoying life, reading scripts, going to the theater in New York and missing the Raymond show.”

Off screen, Boyle married journalist Loraine Alterman in 1977; John Lennon famously served as his best man. They had two daughters, Lucy and Amy. Boyle passed away in 2006 at the age of 71 from complications related to multiple myeloma and heart disease. In honor of his memory, Romano has hosted an annual fundraiser to raise money for myeloma, supported by Boyle’s widow.

Legacy and Enduring Influence of Taxi Driver’s Cast

Taxi Driver remains a powerful cinematic work that launched and elevated the careers of its cast while showcasing Martin Scorsese’s directorial talents. The film’s stars—Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Albert Brooks, and Peter Boyle—have all left meaningful marks on the entertainment industry through varied roles and accomplishments spanning decades.

Their continued contributions to film, television, and theater, along with personal efforts such as De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival and philanthropic activities inspired by Boyles legacy, underscore their lasting impact. Fans and cinephiles alike recognize how the film and its performances helped shape modern storytelling, ensuring its place as a cultural touchstone in film history. Future projects like Scorsese’s recent collaborations with De Niro reaffirm these artists’ enduring partnerships and commitment to their craft.