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.

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).

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#95). [1995]

Son, Roman, with wife Daphna Kastner. [August 2004]

Appears in Puerto Vallarta Squeeze (2004) opposite Scott Glenn, with whom he shared the role of Jack Crawford in the Hannibal Lecter films.

Like his good friend Robert De Niro, Keitel is usually very uncomfortable during interviews, often nervously laughing through them.

He was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 24th Istanbul Film Festival. (16 April 2005)

Appears in Get Shorty (1995) and its sequel, Be Cool (2005), but in two completely different parts.

Graduated from the BFA program at the prestigious Actors Studio, New School University in New York city, under Dean James Lipton.

Served in the U. S. Marines.

He is Godfather to Michael Madsen's son Max.

Daughter, Stella Keitel, with Lorraine Bracco.

Worked as a salesman in a women's shoestore.

Ranked #37 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

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.

Dated Andie MacDowell. [1999]

Shares two roles with Dennis Farina. At the end of Get Shorty (1995), he plays the Dennis Farina character in the movie-within-a-movie. Farina also originated the role of Jack Crawford in Manhunter (1986), a role that Keitel played in the remake Red Dragon (2002).

Has a son, Hudson, born to then girlfriend Lisa Karmazin, a potter in California, in the summer of 2001.

Presented good friend and fellow actor Michael Madsen with the inaugural Rebel Award for his past, present and ongoing commitment to independent film at Rebelfest 2005, Toronto.

A member of The Actors Studio, had studied with Frank Corsaro, Lee Strasberg & Stella Adler.

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).

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.

Although he frequently plays Italian-American characters, Keitel is of Polish and Romanian Jewish heritage.

Worked as a court stenographer in NYC for about 10 years while he was a struggling actor.

Played a "cleaner" in both Point of No Return (1993) (Victor the Cleaner) and in Pulp Fiction (1994) (Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe").

Operates his own film production company, The Goatsingers, with partner Peggy Gormley.

His last name is pronounced "ky-tel".