Martin Scorsese Says Raging Bull Literally Saved His Life After a Near-Fatal Drug Binge

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Martin Scorsese has been making films for almost sixty years, earning ten Academy Award nominations for directing and winning an Oscar in 2007 for *The Departed*. While he’s achieved enormous success, Scorsese has also faced difficult times, some of which are explored in the new five-part documentary, *Mr. Scorsese*.

The documentary shows how Scorsese dealt with a difficult period in his life. After his 1977 film, *New York, New York*, received negative reviews and wasn’t well-received by audiences, he reportedly turned to drugs with musician Robbie Robertson, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.

Despite having a memorable soundtrack, the film *New York, New York* wasn’t well-received by critics or audiences, earning scores of 57% and 58% respectively on Rotten Tomatoes. Director Martin Scorsese was deeply affected by the film’s failure, as he was living with Robbie Robertson at the time, who was also going through a difficult period with his band splitting up.

In a 2023 interview highlighted in the documentary *Mr. Scorsese*, musician Robbie Robertson recalled editing *The Last Waltz* with Martin Scorsese while also heavily using cocaine. Robertson explained they’d casually use the drug to stay energized, saying, “I was a little tired, so I’d do a little bump to perk up,” comparing it to some people having an espresso. He shrugged when he said it, as if it was a normal part of the process.

In a documentary, Martin Scorsese explained he was searching for inspiration again. He jokingly said his cocaine use, while harmful – ‘It makes me work better. Meantime, you’re dead’ – ultimately led to a health crisis. He ended up in the hospital with internal bleeding, where his friend and fellow actor, Robert De Niro, came to see him.

De Niro to Scorsese: ‘Do You Wanna Die?’

Robert De Niro had previously starred in *New York, New York*, but director Martin Scorsese wasn’t keen on making a sports movie. However, during a hospital visit, De Niro’s outburst – “What, you wanna die here?!?” – shocked Scorsese and gave him a new sense of purpose. After Scorsese recovered, the two traveled to St. Maarten to write the screenplay for *Raging Bull*. Scorsese credits this exciting new project, which became a classic film, with saving his life.

In a documentary, Martin Scorsese recounted meeting a well-known Native American medicine man while filming *Raging Bull*. The medicine man told Scorsese he had actually died in the hospital, before his friend convinced him to start the movie, and had been brought back to life. Scorsese reflected on this, saying, “People can experience something like death and then return to life.” The filmmaker, who is open about being Catholic, then admitted his personal struggle: “The issue for me is that I find myself enjoying wrongdoing, even when things are at their worst.”

The film *Raging Bull*, starring Robert De Niro, was a critical and audience success, earning a 93% approval rating from viewers and ultimately winning two Academy Awards. De Niro received the Oscar for his portrayal of Jake La Motta, and the film was recognized for its excellent editing. Director Martin Scorsese was nominated for Best Director, and the movie also competed for Best Picture in 1981. The film is based on the true story of middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta, as told in his 1970 memoir, *Raging Bull: My Story*. The cast also included Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Frank Vincent, and Nicholas Colasanto.

Raging Bull is streaming on Prime Video. Mr. Scorsese debuts on Apple TV on Oct. 17.

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2025-10-14 03:19