A Guide to Robert De Niro's Big Family

As I delve into the remarkable life of Robert De Niro, I am struck by his unyielding dedication to his craft and family. His journey is a testament to resilience and perseverance, as he continues to push boundaries in Hollywood while juggling the responsibilities of parenthood.

At one of the major award ceremonies earlier this year, Robert De Niro’s name wasn’t announced, but his legendary aura was palpable throughout the entire award season.

Although his chilling act in “Killers of the Flower Moon” faced comparison with Robert Downey Jr.’s exceptional, transformed portrayal as the main antagonist in “Oppenheimer,” the actor received rave reviews for his depiction of the actual architect behind a murderous plot aimed at stripping members of the Osage Nation of their oil wealth in 1920s Oklahoma.

He will forever be recognized for his Academy Award-winning performances in “Raging Bull” and “The Godfather Part II,” as well as his memorable roles in “Taxi Driver,” “Cape Fear,” “Heat,” “Analyze This,” and “Meet the Parents.”

As a lifestyle connoisseur, let me put it this way: Even at the ripe age of 81, De Niro remains a charismatic figure whose family could easily pack a small theater. Interestingly enough, his family expanded yet again in 2023 with the arrival of their seventh child, making them quite the popular topic – so much so that they even became the subject of one of the raciest jokes at the 2024 Golden Globes by the witty host, Jo Koy, in January.

In his monologue, Koy expressed his admiration by saying, “I’m a fan, I can’t help but adore you, Robert. Time and time again, you never fail to impress me. I wonder how you manage it. Your next performance is bound to be your best yet. How on earth would you make her pregnant at 80? Is there some sort of special effect involved? CGI?”

Despite it possibly being awkward, Robert De Niro and his girlfriend Tiffany Chen, who is mother to their 16-month-old daughter Gia, shared a hearty chuckle during the live CBS broadcast.

Jimmy Kimmel, the host of the Oscars, followed a similar pattern by mentioning Robert De Niro during his monologue. The joke about having a baby at 80 was previously used, but there were still plenty of comments to make about Jodie Foster, who is 61 years old. Notably, she was young enough to play his daughter in the 1976 film “Taxi Driver”. Now, at 20 years older than him, she’s said to be “too old to be his girlfriend.”

Chuckles and tacit signs of acknowledgment all around.

However, should you be intrigued by the lineage of this acclaimed actor, let me lead you through an overview of Robert De Niro’s extensive family tree.

Robert De Niro crossed paths with his initial spouse, Diahnne Abbott, during the filming of Martin Scorsese’s movie “Taxi Driver.” In this iconic 1976 production, Diahnne played a minor role as the ticket seller at the adult theater that Travis Bickle frequented.

They tied the knot April 28, 1976.

Besides their joint appearance in Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film ‘New York, New York’, a dramatic portrayal of troubled romance, they were also seen together in his 1982 movie ‘The King of Comedy’, a satirical production.

The actor adopted Diahnne’s daughter Drena, born Sept. 3, 1971, when they got married.

Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower’s son, named Raphael, was born on the 9th of November, 1976. As a young boy of around 10, Raphael experienced a significant change when his family relocated from Los Angeles (the city where his father was born) to New York (a place closely linked with his father). In an interview with The Real Deal, he described this move as a substantial “culture shock.”

Raphael’s parents divorced in 1988.

As Drena, who once shared a captivating black-and-white snapshot of myself at dinner with my parents and the iconic duo Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston on Instagram (with the intriguing caption “at this point all I wonder is WTF was I doing there ???”), I have continued to be a part of the show business world, both as an actor and producer.

In her youth, she shared with Everything Zoomer that her family life deviated from the ordinary, yet it was filled with warmth, excitement, and a fair share of chaos. She characterized her father as someone who was understanding, open to new ideas, and always supportive of others’ choices in life.

Raphael went into real estate, which also runs in the family. Per his website, he leads The De Niro Team at Douglas Elliman in Manhattan, and he’s a partner in TriBeCa’s Greenwich Hotel.

As a 46-year-old individual who has gone through two marriages and shared three children with my former spouse Claudine de Matos, I can say that my journey of love and family has been filled with both challenges and rewards. My current marriage to stylist Hannah Carnes since March 2020 brings a new chapter in my life, one that I am excited to explore and grow together. Each relationship and experience, including the ups and downs, has shaped me into the person I am today, and I wouldn’t change anything about it.

Recognized solely by his last name fueling gossip in the tabloids, Raphael explained to The Real Deal, “I simply aim to stay low-key and safeguard my personal life’s privacy.”

On July 2, 2023, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the son of Drena and the late Carlos Rodriguez (an artist), tragically passed away at the age of 19, suspected to be from an overdose.

Two weeks after the incident, a 20-year-old female suspect was apprehended by federal authorities due to allegations of distributing drugs linked to Leandro’s demise, a case initially believed to be caused by pills contaminated with fentanyl as suggested by his mother.

On August 11, 2023, which would have been her son’s 20th birthday, Drena posted on Instagram, “I am grateful for the happiest and most profound 20 years of my life, precious child. I wish you peace today, and may your spirit be forever filled with joy.”

As a loving grandfather, I was left in shock by the untimely passing of my grandson. Reflecting upon our shared moments together, I can’t help but wonder about the things we might have experienced had I acted differently. I question if any changes on my part could have altered this heartbreaking outcome. These thoughts continue to haunt me, as they should not have been taken from us so soon.

Robert De Niro and his model-actress wife Tobi Smith are the proud parents of twin boys Julian and Aaron, who were born on October 20, 1995.

In 1996, the actor and Smith parted ways following an eight-year relationship, a time when they had jointly run a catering business that provided food for Sean Penn and Madonna’s wedding anniversary celebration.

Aaron keeps his personal life low-key, whereas Julian, a talented actor, has been on stage at Broadway in the Tony-nominated production of “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window“. In 2022, he portrayed a young Barack Obama in the Showtime limited series, titled “The First Lady“.

In simpler terms, Robert De Niro stated in January 2020 to People magazine, “I tell my children, ‘It’s okay if you wish to pursue acting or any other dream you have. What matters most is your happiness. Just remember not to underestimate yourself.’ In essence, I advise them to strive a bit more towards their goals and aim for what they truly desire, without fear.”

Robert De Niro is the father of Elliot, who was born on March 18, 1998, and Helen Grace, who was born to a surrogate mother on December 23, 2011. These children were born during his marriage to Grace Hightower.

On June 17, 1997, he wedded the renowned actress. By 1999, De Niro had initiated a divorce, but just before the proceedings were finalized, they made up and reaffirmed their commitment to each other in a vow renewal ceremony in 2004.

They again began divorce proceedings in 2018.

Speaking about the movie “Silver Linings Playbook,” where he portrayed a father of a son with bipolar disorder, De Niro once spoke candidly to Katie Couric in 2013, saying, “I can relate to my character’s struggles.” In 2016, he revealed that his son Elliott has autism.

De Niro’s seventh child was born April 6, 2023.

On her show on May 11th, CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King had the privilege of unveiling the name. She exclaimed, “How adorable is this baby!” referring to then-one-month-old Gia. “Robert De Niro and his partner, Tiffany Chen, are absolutely thrilled about their little girl.”

As a devoted admirer, I’d express that although the two-time Oscar laureate may not be involved in the “heavy tasks,” his heartfelt enthusiasm for having a newborn at home is truly inspiring to me.

He shared with AARP, “All my concerns and preoccupations vanish whenever I see her. It’s truly amazing.”

2024-08-17 10:18

A Guide to Robert De Niro’s Big Family

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