Michael Imperioli says he still remembers the first time he met Robert De Niro — and their atypical introduction to one another. Imperioli, now 60, was just 23, when he began filming 1990's Goodfellas with De Niro, now 82. Speaking at a recent event with Sofia Coppola at New York City's Cherry Lane Theatre, Imperioli recalled how director Martin Scorsese encouraged actors to remain in character even when the film wasn't being shot.
"He said, 'My trailer's over here. If you have any questions, come and see me,' " Imperioli recalled of the director. "And he said, 'Just one thing I ask. Treat the actors like the characters on and off camera.' Which made it much more easy for me because it wasn't just an actor intimidated by his heroes or whatever."
