AUSTIN, Texas, June 8 (UPI) -- The Ransom Center at the University of Texas has received a donation of movie memorabilia from Robert De Niro spanning his fabled movie career.
The donation includes movie scripts and other items, such as De Niro's leopard-skin robe from "Raging Bull," the Austin American-Statesman reported.
The collection has nostalgic value, but it also provides a glimpse into De Niro's own approach to acting, the newspaper said.
Passing over other major repositories such as the Library of Congress, De Niro said he chose the center for its reputation as a leading research facility. While many filmmakers have donated other collections to the center, this marks the center's first opportunity to present the works of a contemporary cinematic icon.
"This is very, very important," said Ransom curator Steve Wilson. "Our film collection goes up to about 1975, and that's when De Niro's career really took off. So it really brings us up to the present."
