LEWISTON (AP) — Oscarwinning actor Robert De Niro received a doctorate of fine arts during the 146th commencement of Bates College.
During a 15-minute address Sunday that was by turns sincere and irreverent, De Niro drew a steady stream of laughter from the 463 graduating seniors and about 5,000 guests who gathered at the Lewiston campus.
De Niro, who left high school when he was a teenager to pursue an acting career, was one of three high-profile guests who received honorary degrees at the Bates College commencement. PBS “Newshour” senior correspondent Gwen Ifill and Princeton University molecular biologist Bonnie Bassler also were honored.
De Niro won a best actor Academy Award for “Raging Bull” and best supporting actor Oscar for “The Godfather, Part II.”
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