Robert De Niro’s Children: Meet the Oscar Winner’s Big, Blended Family

Robert De Niro, the Academy Award-winning actor, is a devoted family man with a loving heart. With a total of seven children from his previous relationships, De Niro has always been committed to being a supportive and caring father.

Here, we’ll delve into the lives of each of his children, exploring their unique personalities, interests, and accomplishments.

Drena De Niro, 52

Drena De Niro, born on September 3, 1971, is De Niro’s eldest child with his first wife, Diahnne Abbott. Adopted by De Niro in 1976, Drena spent her early years on film sets and traveling the world with her parents. She has fond memories of her childhood, particularly her time in Italy, where her father was filming The Godfather Part II and 1900.

Drena pursued a career in modeling, making her runway debut at New York Fashion Week. She worked with renowned designers like Patrick Kelly, Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, and Giorgio Armani. Later, she transitioned to acting, appearing in films like Great Expectations, A Star is Born, and Joy. Drena also ventured into producing, launching her own production company, Daredevil Films and Television.

In 2003, Drena welcomed her son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, with her then-boyfriend, Carlos Rodriguez. Unfortunately, Leandro passed away on July 2, 2023, at the age of 19. Drena shared a heartfelt tribute to her son on Instagram, expressing her love and grief.

Raphael De Niro, 47

Raphael De Niro, born on November 9, 1976, is De Niro’s son with Diahnne Abbott. Unlike his family members, Raphael didn’t pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Instead, he made a name for himself in the real estate world, working for Douglas Elliman. He launched the De Niro Team with the real estate firm in 2004 and has since worked with A-list clients, including Jon Bon Jovi, Kelly Ripa, and Renée Zellweger.

Raphael has been married twice, first to Claudine De Matos in 2008, with whom he had three children, and then to stylist Hannah Carnes in 2020. He is also a founding board member of the New York Residential Agent Continuum.

Julian De Niro, 28

Julian De Niro, born on October 20, 1995, is De Niro’s twin son with actress Toukie Smith. Julian has inherited his parents’ acting genes, making his film debut in 2016 with In Dubious Battle. He has also appeared in TV shows, including The First Lady, where he portrayed a young Barack Obama.

In addition to acting, Julian studied computer science and math at New York University. He was even published in the Washington Post after conducting a Twitter analysis with his professor and a classmate. Julian has made rare public appearances with his father and sister, Drena, including a recent outing at Art Basel in Miami.

Aaron De Niro, 28

Aaron De Niro, born on October 20, 1995, is Julian’s twin brother. Unlike his siblings, Aaron has kept a low profile, and little is known about his personal life.

However, De Niro has spoken about raising his biracial children, acknowledging the importance of teaching them about their heritage and the challenges they may face.

Elliot De Niro, 26

Elliot De Niro, born on March 18, 1998, is De Niro’s son with ex-wife Grace Hightower. In 2016, De Niro revealed that Elliot has autism. As a parent, De Niro has been an advocate for autism awareness and has spoken about the importance of finding safe and effective treatments for the condition.

Elliot is passionate about playing tennis, and in 2018, he was featured in ESPN’s Special Olympics: 50 Game Changers series. De Niro has expressed his pride in Elliot’s accomplishments, saying that playing tennis helps him build confidence and self-motivation.

Helen Grace De Niro, 12

Helen Grace De Niro, born on December 23, 2011, is De Niro’s daughter with ex-wife Grace Hightower. The former couple has kept Helen out of the spotlight, but occasional photos of her with her father have surfaced in the media.

De Niro and Hightower remain amicable co-parents, and he has spoken about the challenges of watching his children grow up. “There are great moments and moments of sadness… Sometimes you’re the last person they want to deal with,” he said.

Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro

Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, born on April 6, 2023, is De Niro’s youngest child with his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen. De Niro revealed the news of Gia’s birth during an interview with ET Canada and has since spoken about his plans to teach her both Chinese and English.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, De Niro expressed his joy in being a father again, saying, “When I look at her, everything else goes away. So it’s a great joy and relief to just be with her in the moment.” He also shared that his older children are thrilled to have a new sibling, and the grandkids are excited to have an aunt.

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