New Yorker Harvey Keitel is among the standout actors in Thelma and Louise, which airs tonight at 10:30 p.m. on BBC One. Among his co-stars are Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, Michael Madsen and Brad Pitt. The 1991 drama itself was directed by heavyweight Ridley Scott.

It follows the tragic story of two friends who decide to flee after killing a would-be rapist in self-defense.

The harrowing tale won Best Screenplay at the Oscars, while Sarandon and Davis also earned Best Actress nominations at the awards show.

Keitel portrays Arkansas State Police investigator Hal Slocumb, who is leading the investigation into the man’s death, and while he understands the women’s situation, he is confused as to why. for which they decided to flee.

Away from the camera, Keitel has amassed an incredible catalog of appearances in films such as Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Irishman, but continues to live a relatively quiet life.

He once recalled how his famous friend Robert De Niro was instrumental in securing his second marriage to his wife Daphna Kastner.

Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Keitel explained the connections between De Niro and how he first met his wife in the 80s.

He said: “I met my wife in Rome at a party for Robert.

“She allowed me to take her out to dinner. [Dal Bolognese Roma]. Then I called her back a second night.

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“Seven weeks later I was going to a film festival in Italy and I asked him to come with me.

“She said ‘yes’ and during the flight I said ‘How do you feel about getting married?’ She gave an excellent answer: she said, “OK”.

He added: “The top was, we got pregnant about a year later, and our son was born on Robert De Niro’s birthday.”

Keitel’s first marriage to actress Lorraine Bracco lasted 11 years, from 1982 to 1993.

However, their relationship ended in heartbreak, as the couple became embroiled in a long custody battle over their daughter, Stella.

Thelma and Louise is known for its jaw-dropping ending, where the couple’s car appears to be sliding down a canyon.

But in the extended version of the film, a scene appears to show them moving quickly through the vast rocks as Hal rushes to see what will happen to them.

It then shows a final shot of the couple walking away into the distance, which was meant to be a more symbolic depiction of their journey to “carry on”, rather than survive.

Discussing the decision to go for the shorter cut in 1997, Scott told Entertainment Weekly, “You know they’re going to die. But I wanted to come out on top of the car in control.”

Thelma and Louise airs tonight from 10.30pm on BBC One.