Bobby D tops 'paycheque role' poll

Robert De Niro, a two-time Oscar winner and arguably one of the greatest actors of his or anyone else's generation, has topped a new poll of the most "shameless paycheque roles" of all time.

The poll, by Entertainment Weekly, listed distinguished actors who took roles so awful that a hefty paycheque could be the only logical explanation for accepting them.

De Niro, whose long list of credits includes Taxi Driver, The Untouchables, Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, Awakenings and Meet The Parents, came top for his toe-curling turn as Fearless Leader in 2000's box office bomb The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle.

He was followed by Richard Burton, star of epic cinema classics such as Cleopatra and The Longest Day, who was nominated for playing Father Phillip Lamont in the critical train-wreck that was The Exorcist II: The Heretic.

In third place was Gandhi and Schidler's List star Sir Ben Kingsley for his appearance in 2005 turkey Bloodrayne.

At number four was screen legend Tony Curtis (Some Like It Hot, Spartacus) as Marvin Lamar in baseball crash-and-burner The Bad News Bears Go To Japan.

Counter culture hero and film maverick Dennis Hopper, who starred in classics including Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now and True Grit, rounds out the top five with his appearance as King Koopa in the live action adaptation of Super Mario Bros.

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