Scorsese feted by friends De Niro, DiCaprio, Hill

NEW YORK — Many young boys grow up with superheroes adorning their walls. Jonah Hill grew up with a picture of Martin Scorsese on his.

The actor related the poignant anecdote at a star-studded benefit Monday evening at the Museum of Modern Art, honoring the celebrated director for his contributions to both cinema and to film restoration and preservation.

“You might not even understand how often just the image of you creates young people who want to be filmmakers every single day,” said Hill, who worked with Scorsese on “The Wolf of Wall Street” and just released his directorial debut, “Mid90s,” last month.

Hill added: “As far as I’m concerned that’s the coolest thing in the entire world. Thank you for just existing, because I am only up here because you did what you did.”

Also among the speakers at MoMA’s annual film benefit, which raises funds to bring great works of film to the museum’s collection, were Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.

DiCaprio, who’s appeared in five Scorsese films, including “Shutter Island,” “The Departed,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” spoke of Scorsese as a lifelong teacher, from his constant on-set references to film history to his efforts to restore and preserve old films with The Film Foundation, which he founded in 1990.

“No one on earth has so relentlessly pioneered the salvation of movie history with such commitment the way Martin Scorsese has,” DiCaprio said.

Honoree Martin Scorsese, center, with actors, from left, Jonah Hill, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Leonardo DiCaprio

Scorsese, left, with his wife, Helen Morris, and daughter Francesca Scorsese