Came to prominence in the early films of Martin Scorsese after working in theatre for around ten years, particularly Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. Faded into anonymity in the eighties even though he turned in some impressive performances in films by some of America's leading directors. He re-emergered into star status with his role as Mr. White in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant, The Piano 0110912.


Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#95). [1995] Worked as a court stenographer in NYC for about 10 years while he was a struggling actor. Dated Andie MacDowell. [1999] Has demonstrated extraordinary enthusiasm for working with first-time directors, from Martin Scorsese in 1968 to Ridley Scott, Paul Schrader, James Toback, Quentin Tarantino, and in 1999, Vietnamese-American Tony Bui. Listed as one of Entertainment Weekly's 25 Best Actors. [1998] Met second wife, Daphna Kastner at the Toronto film festival on 11 September 2001 and married her in a secret ceremony in Jerusalem, Israel three weeks later (7 October). A member of The Actors Studio, had studied with Frank Corsaro, Lee Strasberg & Stella Adler. Shares two roles with Dennis Farina. At the end of Get Shorty (1995), he plays the Dennis Farina character in the movie-within-a-movie. Farina also originated the role of Jack Crawford in Manhunter (1986), a role that Keitel played in the remake Red Dragon (2002). Appears in Get Shorty (1995) and its sequel, Be Cool (2005), but in two completely different parts. Although he frequently plays Italian-American characters, Keitel is of Polish and Romanian Jewish heritage. Graduated from the BFA program at the prestigious Actors Studio, New School University in New York city, under Dean James Lipton. Son, Roman, with wife Daphna Kastner. [August 2004] Presented good friend and fellow actor Michael Madsen with the inaugural Rebel Award for his past, present and ongoing commitment to independent film at Rebelfest 2005, Toronto. Played a "cleaner" in both Point of No Return (1993) (Victor the Cleaner) and in Pulp Fiction (1994) (Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe"). Resides in New York City. Also owns a home in California.