According to a heartfelt Instagram post from his mother, Drena De Niro, Robert De Niro’s grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, has died at the age of 18.
The tragic news about the actor’s grandson comes just weeks after he announced he has become a father for the seventh time at the age of 79.
Leandro, the son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena, 51, and artist Carlos Rodriguez, was an aspiring actor who had landed roles in ‘A Star Is Born’ and ‘Cabaret Maxime’ (2018) and ‘The Collection’ (2005). .
Drena paid tribute to her late son in a heartfelt Instagram post today. She didn’t reveal his cause of death, but shared a picture of Leandro, whom she described as a “beautiful, sweet angel,” along with a poignant caption that read, “I wish love alone could have saved you.”
Her post continued, “I don’t know how I’m going to live without you, but I will try to move on and spread the love and light that you so imparted to me in becoming your mother.”
Robert De Niro’s grandson has died. Leandro De Niro Rodriguez (pictured left) was the son of De Niro’s (pictured right) adopted daughter Drena De Niro (pictured center).
Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez (pictured) was an aspiring actor who had landed roles in ‘A Star Is Born’ and ‘Cabaret Maxime’ (2018) and ‘The Collection’ (2005).
“You were loved and cherished so much and I wish love alone could have saved you.”
“I’m so sorry my baby, I’m so sorry @carlosmare. Rest in Peace and in Paradise Eternal, my dear boy.’
She was immediately inundated with condolences, with a friend commenting, “Drena don’t tell me it’s true, tell me you’re joking because I can’t believe Leo is no longer with us.”
“It’s terrible news to digest.” Drena, my heart goes out to you and Carlos and your loved ones – I love you.”
Drena replied, “I know, I still hope this is a nightmare and I’ll wake up tomorrow.”
Leandro’s father Carlos did not publicly pay tribute to his late son, but instead shared a picture of a black square with no caption on his Instagram page.
De Niro announced in late May that he had become a father for the seventh time after an ET Canada reporter asked him what it was like being a father to six children.
The actor replied that he’s actually seven years old, since he actually “just had a baby.”
He did not reveal the child’s name or gender at the time, nor did he reveal the identity of his baby’s mother.
However, it has since been confirmed that De Niro’s girlfriend of over a year, martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen, is the mother of his youngest child.
After Leandro’s death, FEMAIL takes a look at the actor’s seven children.
De Niro’s newborn child with Tiffany Chen
Just days after De Niro confirmed he’d become a father to a seventh child, Tiffany was spotted walking the baby in New York City
The couple’s newborn baby – who appeared to be less than a month old – was wearing a pink romper and wrapped in a white blanket when Tiffany lifted the baby from the stroller
Just days after De Niro confirmed he’d become a father to a seventh child, Tiffany was spotted walking the baby in New York City.
The couple’s newborn baby – who appeared to be less than a month old – was wearing a pink romper and wrapped in a white blanket when Tiffany lifted the baby from the stroller.
Tiffany was seen cradling the couple’s baby to her chest throughout the day while enjoying her new motherhood.
She was also spotted pushing a stroller with her daughter while they soaked up the sun in the Big Apple.
Tiffany was seen cradling the couple’s baby to her chest throughout the day while enjoying her new motherhood
She was also spotted pushing a stroller with her daughter while they soaked up the sun in the Big Apple
De Niro told Page Six at the premiere of his movie, About My Father, in May that he wasn’t surprised to be a father again and that pregnancy with Tiffany was “planned.”
“How could you not plan something like that?” he asked the outlet.
He also shared with Extra his feelings about becoming a father again.
“I’m fine with that,” he replied when asked if he was excited. “I’m doing well.”
When asked if becoming a parent was ever easier, the former cab driver quipped, “It never gets easier.”
Drena DeNiro, 51
Drena, who currently resides in New York, describes herself as a trained muay thai and martial artist
Drena De Niro is the daughter of Diahnne Abbott and the adopted daughter of De Niro after the couple married in 1976 (pictured together in New York in 1977).
Drena was adopted by De Niro and took his surname after the actor married her mother Diahnne Abbott in 1976.
Thanks to her father’s dynamic career, she led a relatively transient lifestyle, commuting between New York City, Los Angeles and Italy.
The now 51-year-old dropped out of school and decided to pursue the arts. She has pursued a variety of career paths, including modeling, DJing and fashion consulting.
She eventually decided to follow in De Niro’s footsteps and soon found her footing as an actress and filmmaker.
Her first role was in Allison Anders’ Grace of My Heart in 1996. She went on to star in several of her father’s films, including On The Run (1999), City By The Sea (2002), and Showtime (2002).
De Niro split from Drina’s mother in 1988, but the Hollywood star stayed in her life nonetheless.
She made De Niro a grandfather in 2003 when she gave birth to son Leandro with then-boyfriend Carlos Rodriguez.
Drina, who currently lives in New York, has since turned to directing and describes herself as trained in Muay Thai and martial arts.
Raphael DeNiro, 46
Raphael initially followed in his father’s acting footsteps after making a few film appearances, but eventually decided to break away from the family tradition
Raphael is the eldest son of acting legend and ex-wife Diahnne Abbott (pictured together in 1977) and was born seven months after the couple’s wedding
Raphael, 46, the eldest son of acting legend and ex-wife Diahnne Abbott, was born seven months after the couple’s wedding.
Growing up, he showed great entrepreneurial spirit and worked various summer jobs, including in a Persian carpet shop, as a doorman and as a busboy at his father’s Nobu restaurant.
Raphael, whose parents divorced when he was a teenager, later attended New York University but did not graduate.
Early signs indicated that after a few film appearances he would be following in his father’s footsteps, but eventually he decided to break away from the family tradition.
Instead, he found his feet as a real estate agent in New York and worked his way up in the real estate industry – eventually founding his own team in 2004 under the Douglas Elliman real estate umbrella.
The De Niro group soon became the company’s top-selling team, bringing the company more than $250 million in annual sales on average. His clients include famous faces like Renee Zellweger and Kelly Ripa.
Raphael married fellow realtor Claudine De Matos in a ceremony in the Bahamas in 2008 and the couple had three children together before eventually separating.
The couple divorced in January 2020 and Raphael remarried during the pandemic, this time to stylist Hannah Carnes.
Aaron Kendrick DeNiro, 27
De Niro divorced Abbott in 1988 before finding romance with former actress and model Toukie Smith (pictured together).
Aaron (pictured left) has largely avoided the limelight, but over the years De Niro has spoken out about raising mixed-race children
De Niro divorced Abbott in 1988 before finding romance with former actress and model Toukie Smith later that same year.
He and Smith welcomed Aaron in 1995 along with his twin brother Julian.
Aaron has largely avoided the limelight and as such very little is known about him.
He also doesn’t appear to have any public social media profiles.
De Niro has previously spoken openly about raising mixed-race children.
Speaking on “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the Hollywood graduate said, “My kids are all half black.”
“Even I take certain things for granted.”
“When people say they tell their kids, ‘Keep your hands.’ [out] If you are stopped by police officers, keep your hands on the wheel, do not make sudden movements, do not put your hands down, do not do this. “You understand.”
Julian DeNiro, 27
Julian, Aaron’s twin brother, is also one of De Niro’s offspring who inherited the acting genes
His first big break came in 2016 when he starred in In Dubious Battle alongside an all-star cast that included Selena Gomez and James Franco
Julian, Aaron’s twin brother, is also one of De Niro’s offspring who inherited the acting genes.
His first big break came in 2016 when he starred in In Dubious Battle alongside an all-star cast that included Selena Gomez and James Franco.
But his TV debut was a little longer in coming.
Julian took on the role of young Barack Obama on Showtime drama series The First Lady in 2022.
And the budding star continues to bring his acting talent to the stage.
Julian, who studied computer science and mathematics at New York University, has also demonstrated great skill with the written word.
In 2018, he even published a study titled “What The World Wants” in the Washington Post.
In it, the star explored the results of an in-depth Twitter analysis he conducted with his professor and a classmate to find out “what people longed for the most in 2018.”
Elliot DeNiro, 25
Elliot is the actor’s first child with second wife, actress and philanthropist Grace Hightower
De Niro and Hightower married in 1997, separated in 1999, then reunited and renewed their vows in 2004 before filing for divorce in 2018
Elliot is the actor’s first child with second wife, actress and philanthropist Grace Hightower.
In 2016, De Niro revealed that Elliot had autism and that playing tennis is one of his passions.
He even starred in the ESPN series Special Olympics: 50 Game Changers, which honored the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics.
“Parents of special needs children find it difficult to find activities for their children,” De Niro said in the episode.
‘[Playing tennis] helps him. He’s more confident when he sees that he’s actually good at it.
“It’s the best self-motivator you can have.”
De Niro and Hightower married in 1997, separated in 1999, then reunited and renewed their vows in 2004 before filing for divorce in 2018.
The divorce was extremely contentious, as the couple initially fought over custody before discussing money and property.
Helen Grace DeNiro, 11
De Niro and Hightower gave birth to daughter Helen Grace via surrogate in 2011 — and largely tried to keep her out of the limelight
De Niro and Hightower gave birth to daughter Helen Grace via surrogate in 2011.
The former couple have largely tried to shield the now 11-year-old from the limelight.
But she’s been spotted multiple times enjoying the father-daughter time.
And the exes have apparently managed to put their differences aside in order to facilitate a successful co-parenting.
In 2018, after the split, De Niro said, “I honor Grace as a wonderful mother.”
Speaking about his kids getting older, De Niro previously told People, “There are great moments and there are moments of sadness.”
“Sometimes you’re the last person they want to have anything to do with.”
“It’s like taking your kids to school and they’re getting older and they don’t want to hold hands or kiss goodbye.”