Emmys 2017: 15 movie stars who stole the small screen this year

Robert De Niro as Bernie Madoff in The Wizard of Lies.

13. Robert De Niro

The project: HBO’s The Wizard of Lies

The character: Bernie Madoff, real-life Ponzi schemer extraordinaire. In 2009 Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for ripping off an estimated $64.8 billion from the clients of his investment firm.

How he stole the small screen: De Niro isn’t a stranger to playing morally ambiguous characters or even full-on monsters. This is the man who brought Jimmy Conway, Al Capone, Max Cady, Travis Bickle and young Vito Corleone to life. But with Madoff, De Niro is able to add a new element to his collection of villainous roles: the banality of evil.

“He’s different. He’s not a physically scary person,” De Niro told the LA Times of his portrayal of Madoff. “It’s a whole ’nother thing. People felt confident in him. ‘Don’t worry. Bernie will take care of it.’”

The Silver Linings Playbook actor also excels at showing us how a seemingly average person could steal billions without being hampered by guilt. Madoff isn’t only the Wizard of Lies, he’s the Master of Self-Delusion. He doesn’t see himself as a bad guy; why should anyone else?

His past TV experience: De Niro’s non-Wizard of Lies TV résumé is scant. He made a 2013 cameo on SNL and played himself on both 30 Rock and Extras. I can’t vouch for Extras, but De Niro’s tiny 30 Rock turn is extraordinary.

And Madoff won’t be the Oscar winner’s last foray into TV: De Niro is attached to star in David O. Russell’s untitled Amazon show.

Awards recognition: De Niro will compete for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie prize at the Emmys this year.