The ‘Godfather’ director was honored with the 50th AFI Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday night, bringing out an impressive array of A-listers.

Although Robert De Niro was passed over for The Godfather, his starring role in the sequel turned out to be the offer he couldn’t refuse. While paying tribute to director Francis Ford Coppola with the AFI Life Achievement Award,

At the AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony, veteran actor Robert De Niro expressed his gratitude to Francis Ford Coppola for not casting him in the original 'The Godfather' film.De Niro's role in 'The Godfather Part II' ultimately earned him his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.