ROBERT DE NIRO

The two-time Oscar winner, 73, known for his gangster roles in

Goodfellas, The Godfather Part II and Casino, plays another kind of “bad guy” May 20 in HBO’s The Wizard

of Lies. He portrays financier Bernie Madoff, the stockbroker whose “wealth-management” scheme, considered the largest financial fraud in American history, robbed investors of billions of dollars.

What was it like to play Madoff? I think he’s a classic example of somebody who got to a position where people would think it was an honor for him to take their money. And that’s a classic con situation that you see in all walks of life. I feel that he got deeper and deeper into this thing and didn’t know how to get out of it.

In your 50s, you started doing comedies, like Analyze This and Meet the

Parents. Did you say, “OK, I want to lighten up now”? No, they came along. Billy Crystal had the idea for Analyze This. I don’t mind doing comedies if they’re comedies I can do. What led you to start the Tribeca Film Festival? It was to rebuild that part of Manhattan after 9/11 and to give back. Is a love of food why you became a restaurateur, now with three places in New York City: Nobu, the Tribeca Grill

and Locanda Verde? I like food. I started with the Tribeca Grill when we opened the Tribeca Film Center. Then, many years ago, I was out in Los Angeles and I went to Matsuhisa and met Nobu Matsuhisa and said, “If you ever wanted to open a restaurant in New York, let me know.” A movie reunion with Joe Pesci and Al Pacino? Go to Parade.com/deniro to read more.