Gilbert Bigio, Haitian Tycoon Linked to Gangs, Dies at 91

Key PointsRobert De Niro is reflecting on production of Elia Kazan's final film, The Last Tycoon. "I don't mind [when] a director or somebody tries to tell you" that you've done good work as an actor, De Niro remarked. But when Kazan told the actor he did "great" after one particular scene, De Niro's reply left the director flummoxed. Don't make Robert De Niro call your bluff — even if you're showering him with praise. During a ranging conversation on Tuesday's episode of the Good Hang podcast, the legendary actor offered his opinion on directorial bedside manner, particularly where praise is concerned. "I'm a little suspicious sometimes when people are too, I don't know, when they're flattering me," host Amy Poehler told De Niro, who wholeheartedly agreed. "I don't mind [when] a director or somebody tries to tell you, 'Very good,' or certain types of, 'That's good.'" But when Elia Kazan tried it on the set of his final film, The Last Tycoon, his star didn't much take to it. De Niro in 'The Last Tycoon'Credit: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty"We came out of a looping stage, and he said, you know, 'That was great. That was really, you know,'" De Niro recalled. "I said, 'Well thanks.

He rose from poverty in Puerto Rico to win world boxing championships in three weight classes. He defended his titles with a record 17 straight KOs.

An actor, producer and director, he also managed several theater companies. But he was best known for his performances in works by Samuel Beckett.

After an early career in New York City, where he co-founded one of the first artist-run galleries, he fell in love with India and uprooted his life.