Apocalypse Now (1979), from which he was fired, was loosely based on Joseph Conrad's novel, "Heart of Darkness". Although Keitel didn't appear in the final film, he does appear in The Duellists (1977), which is based on another Conrad story.
Although he frequently plays Italian-American characters, Keitel is of Polish and Romanian Jewish heritage.
Appears in Get Shorty (1995) and its sequel, Be Cool (2005), but in two completely different parts.
Appears in Puerto Vallarta Squeeze (2004) opposite Scott Glenn, with whom he shared the role of Jack Crawford in the Hannibal Lecter films.
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#95). [1995]
Daughter, Stella Keitel, with Lorraine Bracco.
Graduated from the BFA program at the prestigious Actors Studio, New School University in New York city, under Dean James Lipton.
Has a son, Hudson, born to then girlfriend Lisa Karmazin, a potter in California, in the summer of 2001.
Has demonstrated extraordinary enthusiasm for working with first-time directors, from Martin Scorsese in 1968 to Ridley Scott, Paul Schrader, James Toback, Quentin Tarantino, and in 1999, Vietnamese-American Tony Bui.
He is Godfather to Michael Madsen's son Max.
He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
He was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 24th Istanbul Film Festival. (16 April 2005)
He was originally cast as Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now (1979). He was let go from the film, just two weeks into filming due to creative differences with director Francis Ford Coppola. Martin Sheen replaced him.
His last name is pronounced "ky-tel".
Is one of three actors to play Jack Crawford in the Hannibal Lecter films. He played the role in Red Dragon (2002), while Scott Glenn played the role in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), and Dennis Farina played the role in Manhunter (1986).
Like his good friend Robert De Niro, Keitel is usually very uncomfortable during interviews, often nervously laughing through them.
Listed as one of Entertainment Weekly's 25 Best Actors. [1998]
Met second wife, Daphna Kastner at the Toronto film festival on 11 September 2001 and married her in a secret ceremony in Jerusalem, Israel three weeks later (7 October).
Operates his own film production company, The Goatsingers, with partner Peggy Gormley.