Jason Mantzoukas Thought Robert De Niro Was Going To Kill Him

By Andrew Sanford | Celebrity | December 15, 2023 |

By Andrew Sanford | Celebrity | December 15, 2023 |

I love Jason Mantzoukas. Like most people, I was introduced to Zouks through How Did This Get Made and The League (both of which I started enjoying simultaneously). For over a decade now, a day barely goes by when I don’t hear his voice. He even held a microphone to my ukulele as I sang a second opinion theme. I could have floated home that night.

I bring up my love of Zouks because I couldn’t fathom someone wanting to kill him. Not Jason Mantzoukas! He’s a comedic talent that is unmatched. His energy could power a city grid. Yes, his roles tend to lean more toward a kind of weird and wild raunch, but listen to him in an interview or on a podcast, and you will see how sweet he is. So, when Zouks said that Robert De Niro wanted to kill him, I didn’t buy it.

Zouks stopped by Jimmy Kimmel: Live to promote the new Percy Jackson Disney+ show. Getting to see Zouks on a late-night show is inherently exciting. He’s a great guest! Case in point, Zouks repeatedly says s*** during his appearance, and it’s bleeped with a fart noise. It caught me off guard until it was later revealed that Zouks requested it specifically.

He also tells a story about working with Louis Cyphre himself, Robert De Niro. Zouks and De Niro both starred in the 2016 film Dirty Grandpa. When Zouks was brought in, he had to do a scene with De Niro that involved a lot of silliness. De Niro did not smile or laugh. He remained stone-faced for the whole afternoon. At one point, Jason thought, “This guy is gonna kill me.”

When the shooting was over, De Niro said, “There’s some funny stuff in there.” I knew it! Even De Niro’s cold, New York heart can’t resist the comedy stylings of Jason Mantzoukas. Let it be known! De Niro’s time was not wasted! Long live Jason Mantzoukas!