Born in New York in 1939, Harvey Keitel spent time in the marines and working as a reporter before taking up acting in the late 60s. Martin Scorsese spotted his talent early on, casting him as the lead in his debut film Who’s That Knocking at My Door (1967). Keitel subsequently worked with numerous acclaimed directors, and can most recently be seen in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.
We asked readers to nominate the actor’s most memorable performances to date. Here’s our pick of the suggestions, with thanks to @tmbrntt, @MiddleFrances, @moviealchemist and @Louise_Penn_72 – but what other roles deserve to be on the list? Let us know in the thread below.
Bad Lieutenant
Nicolas Cage gave an unexpectedly great performance in Werner Herzog’s rethinking of Bad Lieutenant – yet didn’t come close to topping Keitel’s engrossing turn in Abel Ferrara’s intense, gruelling tale of depravity and redemption.
Reservoir Dogs
The Piano
Jane Campion’s acclaimed romantic drama stars Holly Hunter as Ada, a mute Scotswoman transported to 19th century New Zealand and an arranged marriage with Sam Neill’s frontiersman Alistair. Keitel plays George, another westerner, who’s attraction to Ada leads to conflict.
From Dusk Till Dawn
Robert Rodriguez’s gleeful, high-octane crime-cum-vampire flick stars Keitel as Jacob, a pastor whose family holiday takes an unexpectedly bloody turn when they’re taken hostage by a pair of bank robbers.
Taxi Driver
And finally, one of several Scorsese films to have featured Keitel – he plays a relatively minor, yet crucial, part in Taxi Driver as teenage prostitute Iris’s sleaze-ball pimp.
