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.

Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Morgan Freeman, Harrison Ford, Adam Driver and Spike Lee were among the A-listers on hand to salute the filmmaker at Saturday's event.

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.