De Niro recalls ‘Casino’ character

Two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro is known to go to great lengths to study the character he plays.

De Niro racked up a lot of frequent flyer miles to research the mobbed-up Frank Rosenthal-type character in "Casino," the set-in-Vegas classic.

"I wanted him to be a consultant but he couldn't come into Las Vegas because he was in the 'black book,'" De Niro told me Monday night at the grand opening of AGO, the Italian eatery he co-owns with Agostino Sciandri at the Hard Rock Hotel.

"I spent time with him down in Florida and in Los Angeles, everywhere but here because he was banned," said De Niro, who won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1975 for "The Godfather: Part II" and a best actor award in 1981 for "Raging Bull."

Rosenthal, who turns 80 next year, is among the scrapbook of De Niro's most memorable characters.

The bookmaking whiz was the mob's frontman during the skimming era when he secretly ran a trio of Las Vegas casinos, including the Stardust.

REMEMBERING JOHN BELUSHI

Rob Belushi was a year and a half old when his famous uncle, John Belushi, died 26 years ago today of a drug overdose.

Most of what Rob knows about his uncle, the iconic star of "Saturday Night Live," came from hand-me-down family stories and film.

"I saw 'Blues Brothers' first and I'd watch 'The Best of John Belushi' over and over," he said Tuesday.

"I didn't know him but I have same feeling for him as many of his fans," said Belushi, a member of the "Second City" cast at the Flamingo.

He's confident Uncle John would approve that another family member is following in the family footsteps.

"Hopefully he'll be up there, looking down on me, and raising an eyebrow and saying 'you did alright, kid.'"

His actor dad, Jim, couldn't be prouder. He showed up to check out his son in the improv show late last month.

And he had a surprise Monday when the cast unveiled its new show.

"He called me and told me he was in Phoenix and he sent a telegram," said Rob. "He sends me an old-school telegram every time I open a new show because that was the way it was in show business. It's kind of a nice tradition."

But three scenes into the show, Rob heard his father's unmistakable laugh.

"I think he was letting me know he was out there."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Members of Mike Tyson's entourage let the cat out of the bag during a visit to Pure Nightclub (Caesars Palace) on Friday. After Tyson left in the wee hours, some of his pals had some news for James Hulwi's table in the VIP section: Tyson is planning to fight Evander Holyfield for a third time. Holyfield confirmed to the British Broadcasting Co. over the weekend that he's serious about it. ...

Pure Management Group's Lucky Strike partnership with the Rio is over. "(PMG) essentially sold back Lucky Strike, after months of talks -- a business decision in the best interest of both PMG and Rio," said Harrah's Entertainment spokeswoman Debbie Munch. "It has nothing to do with the IRS raid," said PMG spokeswoman Kate Turner.

SIGHTINGS

Also at Monday's grand opening of AGO: Tyson, Siegfried of Siegfried & Roy, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Nobu owner Nobu Matsuhisa, Bob Saget, Carey Hart, and Nathan Burton, fresh from announcing his move to the Flamingo showroom April 21 from the Miracle Mile (Planet Hollywood Resort). At N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) on Monday: Peter Berg, writer/producer/director of "Friday Night Lights" and a cast member in "Chicago Hope," and Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, dining with Gavin and Joe Maloof. They shared a bottle of 1975 Chateau Margaux 900 and a bottle of 1985 Chateau Margaux ($1500). At another table: Robert Sarver, majority owner of the Phoenix Suns, with Palms owner George Maloof. ...

Venetian headliner Wayne Brady, holding hands with his girlfriend/"X Burlesque" dancer Meeka Onstead during a birthday dinner Sunday at SW Steakhouse (Wynn) with several of her galpals. ... At Grimaldi's Pizzeria on Eastern on Sunday: singer Brandon Flowers of The Killers, comedian Bobby Slayton, and former UNLV basketball standout Kaspars Kambala, now a boxer; Morris Day and Terry Lewis of musical group The Time, at the 10 p.m. performance of "Love" (Mirage) on Monday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Send Gary Busey in to annoy and confuse our enemies." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Ralph Nader Campaign Promises.

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.