Robert De Niro and Whoopi Goldberg aren’t just Hollywood legends — they’re proper mates, and their friendship has only grown stronger with time. While plenty of celeb relationships come and go like yesterday’s headlines, these two have stuck by each other through thick and thin, and it turns out, they really do treasure one another.
Speaking to Closer, a source revealed just how tight-knit the pair have become over the years. “They both totally treasure each other,” the insider shared, painting a picture of a rare bond that’s more than just red carpets and photo ops.
Whoopi, who’s been rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business for decades, doesn’t hand out her respect lightly. “She knows everybody in show business, including billionaire moguls and tons of A-list actors, but people who have earned her respect are fewer, and Robert is at the absolute top of it,” said the source.
That admiration clearly goes both ways. Another insider noted that De Niro “trusts Whoopi implicitly.” And that trust is rooted in years of shared experiences and a kind of mutual understanding that not many in the entertainment industry manage to find.
“They both have this New York energy from the ’80s and a million mutual friends who didn’t survive even close to as long as they have,” explained another source, touching on the grit and resilience that’s defined both their personal and professional lives.
The two icons have weathered some of the most turbulent chapters in recent history — from the aftermath of 9/11 to the 2008 financial crash and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through all of it, they remained constants in each other’s lives.
When De Niro was keen to get the New York film scene back on its feet post-pandemic, Whoopi didn’t hesitate. While many in the industry were laying low, she was “right there on the front lines” supporting his efforts, according to sources. That kind of loyalty doesn’t go unnoticed.
“They are survivors and kings of the jungle, and they admire each other because of that,” one insider put it bluntly.
It’s not hard to see why their connection has stood the test of time. Both Whoopi and Robert have faced career highs and lows, personal challenges, and public scrutiny — and yet, they’ve managed to keep it real with each other throughout. In an industry known for fleeting friendships and ego-fuelled fallouts, their story is a refreshing reminder that some bonds run deeper than fame.
And while neither of them are the type to plaster their personal lives all over social media, those who know them say the respect and affection is genuine — no cameras needed.
