Robert De Niro’s (79) family mourns the loss of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the Hollywood star’s grandson. “I am deeply shocked by the death of my beloved grandson Leo,” explains the actor in a statement, from which the industry magazine “Deadline” quotes, among others. The family is “very grateful for the expressions of condolence” that have reached them. However, they are now asking for privacy in order to be able to mourn.
De Niro’s daughter Drena (51) speaks in another statement of “immeasurable shock and sadness with which we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo”. Thank you for all the love and support, but ask for privacy. She later published the statement on Instagram.
Drena De Niro had previously announced the death of her “dear boy” with a moving post on the platform. “I loved you beyond words from the moment I felt you in my stomach,” she wrote of her “beautiful sweet angel”. Leandro was “everything that was ever pure and real in my life”. “I don’t know how I’m going to live without you, but I’ll try to move on and spread the love and light you gave me for letting me be your mom.”
Drena is the eldest daughter of Robert De Niro, who, like her brother Raphael (46), comes from the actor’s marriage to his ex-wife Diahnne Abbott. The twins Aaron and Julian (27) are from a relationship with Toukie Smith (70). He has a son, Elliott, 25, and a daughter, Helen, 11, with his ex-wife, Grace Hightower, 68. It was not until April 2023 that the actor also became the father of little Gia Virginia. Her mother is Tiffany Chen.
