De Niro donates film materials

Robert De Niro made an offer the University of Texas at Austin could not refuse.

The 62-year-old actor is donating his collection of film-related materials -- scripts, costumes and correspondence -- to the cultural archive at the university’s Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, it was announced Wednesday. “I know of no other actor’s archive that is as large and comprehensive as this one,” said Steve Wilson, associate curator of Texas’ film collection.

There are more than 3,000 costume items and props, including some from De Niro’s Oscar-winning roles in “The Godfather: Part II” and “Raging Bull.”

Several items will be on display at the university until June 18, including De Niro’s military dog tags and a script with his notes from “The Deer Hunter,” and his real New York City taxi license from his days driving the streets to research “Taxi Driver.”