The actor Robert De Niro, 60, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but his prospects for a full recovery are good, his publicist said.

"Doctors say the condition was detected at an early stage because of checkups," publicist Stan Rosenfield said in a statement.

Mr Rosenfield said De Niro planned to fulfil his commitment to start shooting his next film, Hide and Seek early next year.

He shot to fame in Martin Scorsese's 1973 film Mean Streets. He won an Oscar for best actor in 1981 for his role in Raging Bull.