Robert De Niro talks of his father's struggle coming to terms with being gay

Robert De Niro has discussed the difficulties his father, the artist Robert De Niro SR, faced coming to terms with his homosexuality.

The Taxi Driver actor is set to release a new documentary called Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro Sr, in which he explores the life of the late the painter and sculptor.

“He probably was (conflicted about his sexuality),” the actor, 70, told OUT Magazine. “Being from that generation, especially from a small town upstate (in New York).

“I was not aware, much, of it. I wish we had spoken about it much more. My mother didn't want to talk about things in general, and you're not interested when you're a certain age.

“Again, for my kids, I want them to stop and take a moment and realise that you sometimes have to do things now instead of later, because later may be 20 years from now - and that's too late.”