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Robert De Niro replaced by Leonardo DiCaprio

Oct 24, 2012, 1:42 GMT

Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower

Robert De Niro thinks he has been replaced in Hollywood by Leonardo DiCaprio.

The 69-year-old legendary actor told guests at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills on Monday (22.10.12) that his younger rival and former 'This Boy's Life' co-star has now taken over as acclaimed director Martin Scorsese's big screen star of choice and joked he is only asked to hand out awards these days.

He said: 'What mostly gets me here is to present awards to other people. I've handed out Oscars to Sean Penn, Eli Wallach [and] Francis Coppola. I've honoured Meryl Streep at the Kennedy Centre. I've handed out about a half dozen lifetime achievement awards to Marty Scorsese, from the BAFTA to the Golden Globes.

'So even though [Leonardo] DiCaprio has taken my place in Marty's movies, I'm apparently the go-to guy in handing out the hardware.

'I've gotten pretty good at giving out awards but frankly I've gotten out of practice accepting an award myself. It's been awhile except for getting that medal from the Irish American League when they couldn't get Liam Neeson.'

The actor was being honoured at the event for his work in 'The Silver Linings Playbook' and during his acceptance speech he admitted he was surprised he won the 'Best Actor' award ahead of his popular co-star Bradley Cooper.

He said: 'I'm surprised I'm not presenting it to him.'

He also took the opportunity to compliment his other co-star Jennifer Lawrence.

He said: 'I know that soon I will be presenting her awards, too. It's what I do.'

The actor and his wife Grace Hightower are currently looking for a new home following a huge fire caused by a lint build-up in their clothes dryer at their luxury apartment.

The couple are planning to renovate their damaged home, which could take up to three years.