Robert De Niro has publicly endorsed his controversial anti-vaccination documentary and claimed there is a "link" between vaccines and autism.

De Niro withdrew Vaxxed: From Cover-Up To Catastrophe from the Tribeca festival amid mounting criticism, saying he had concerns over "certain things" in the film.

But he has now defended his initial decision to air it and urged people to watch it.

He also called on the medical community to “find the truth” about any potential links between childhood vaccinations and autism.

While the 72-year-old actor did not say he was explicitly anti-vaccine, he urged scientists to explore the possible dangers.

“I think the movie is something that people should see...” he explained. “There’s a lot of information about things that are happening with the CDC, the pharmaceutical companies, there’s a lot of things that are not said”.

"I, as a parent of a child who has autism, I’m concerned. And I want to know the truth. I’m not anti-vaccine. I want safe vaccines,” he continued.

De Niro said his 18-year-old autistic son Elliot changed overnight after being vaccinated. When asked if he remembered him changing, he said, "My wife says that. I don't remember. But my child is autistic. And every kid is different".

“For me to get so upset... means there’s something there,” he added. “That’s all I wanted, was for the movie to be seen. People can make their own judgment, but you must see it.”

He added that the vaccine was "dangerous to certain people who are more susceptible".

"There is a link and they're saying there isn't," he said.

Robert De Niro: A life in film Show all 12 1 /12 Robert De Niro: A life in film Robert De Niro: A life in film Robert De Niro as Frank Goode in his latest film 'Everybody's Fine' Robert De Niro: A life in film Meet the Parents (2000)

After years of dramas and gangster epics, De Niro surprised us all with his role as Jack Byrnes in the comedy Meet the Parents. When Jack Byrnes (De Niro) is introduced to his daughter's future husband Gaylord Focker (Ben Stiller) he doesn't immediately take a liking to him. Throughout Gaylord's stay at the Byrnes house he is recorded on CCTV, planted with drugs and forced to wear a tight pair of Speedos. After several unfortunate incidents, Jack eventually welcomes his future son into the family. A film proving that De Niro could do comedy. Robert De Niro: A life in film Casino (1995)

Directed by his long term partner in film Martin Scorsese, Casino sees De Niro play the role of Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, who runs the mob owned Tangier Casino in Las Vegas. Rothstein attempts to live a civilized lifestyle with his gold digging wife, Ginger (Sharon Stone) before Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), a member of the mafia and a childhood friend of Ace comes to town. With an ambitious agenda of his own, Nicky soon disrupts Ace's relatively straight lifestyle. One of Scorsese's most colourful pieces of cinema and definitely a De Niro highlight. Robert De Niro: A life in film Cape Fear< (1991)

Another Scorsese picture, Cape Fear is a remake of the chilling 1962 film. Playing a convicted rapist, De Niro is released from prison after 14 years and begins stalking the family of the lawyer who defended him during his original trial. The film has some disturbing scenes but earned De Niro an Oscar nomination for his terrifying performance as the tattooed, bible quoting Max Caddy. Robert De Niro: A life in film Goodfellas (1990)

Arguably the best Scorsese De Niro collaboration. An inside look into the mob lives of three key New York players during the 1960s and 70s, it tells the story of Henry Hil (Ray Liotta), a local boy turned gangster. With a stellar cast including De Niro and Joe Pesci Goodfellas is also one of the finest of the Mafia film genre. Robert De Niro: A life in film Brazil (1985)

A film in which the government is reminiscent of 'Nig Brother' in George Orwell's 1984, Brazil came from visionary filmmaker Terry Gilliam. The story follows Sam Lowry, a man trying to hunt down the woman that keeps appearing in his dreams. De Niro originally wanted to play the part of Jack Lint, but Gilliam had already promised the role to British actor and Monty Python legend Michael Palin. Still wanting to be a part of the film, De Niro was instead cast as Archibald 'Harry' Tuttle. Robert De Niro: A life in film Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Spanning over 40 years, Once Upon a Time in America follows the lives of a group of New York City Jewish gangsters. Told mostly in flashbacks and visions of the future, the movie focuses on De Niro's character David 'Noodles' Aaronson and his lifelong partners in crime; Max, Cockeye and Patsy who grew up together in the rough Jewish neighbourhood of New York's Lower East Side in the 1920s. The story concludes in the 1960s, when an elderly Noodles returns to New York after many years in hiding to look into the past. Robert De Niro: A life in film 20th Century Fox Robert De Niro: A life in film Raging Bull (1980)

Yet another film directed by Martin Scorsese, showcasing De Niro at his most powerful, and winning him an Academy Award for best actor. Nominated for another seven Oscars as well as winning Golden Globes and BAFTAs, Raging Bull is recognised as one of the greatest sports films of all time. The story is of Jake LaMotta (De Niro), a boxer who struggles to fight with jealousy and paranoia as much as his opponents. Robert De Niro: A life in film The Deer Hunter (1978)

A powerful in-depth examination of the way in which the Vietnam War affects the lives of people in a small industrial town in America. Robert De Niro plays Michael, one of three Russian American steel workers preparing for two rites of passage; marriage and the military service. During the infantry combat in Vietnam, the three are captured and held prisoner in a riverside war camp. Robert De Niro: A life in film Taxi Driver (1976)

De Niro left a huge mark on the world of cinema with his harrowing and scarily realistic portrayal of Travis Bickle, a mentally unstable ex Vietnam War veteran, who becomes a cab driver in New York at night. Unable to cope with the crime, drugs and prostitution that surrounds his working nightlife, Travis is eventually pushed to the edge and takes matters into his own hands. Robert De Niro: A life in film Mean Streets 1973



De Niro's explosive lead roll as small-time hood Johnny Boy causing trouble on the mean streets of Little Italy in New York, marked the arrival of a major new acting talent, and the beginning of a long and fruitfull partnership with director Martin Scorcese

“I’m not a scientist, but I’ve seen so much reaction of just ‘let’s find out the truth’, so let’s just find out the truth,” he added.

Vaxxed’s director, Andrew Wakefield, has been prohibited from practising medicine in the UK.

The Briton was struck off the medical register after a 1998 study linking MMR vaccinations and autism was discredited and retracted from medical journal The Lancet. He was later found guilty of fraud for the same piece.