Robert De Niro might be a Hollywood legend but he is equally celebrated for his role as a devoted family man. With a brood of seven children, De Niro’s life off-camera has been as rich and riveting as his iconic on-screen performances.
At the age of 79, the two-time Academy Award winner rediscovered the joys of fatherhood after welcoming his youngest daughter, Gia, with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen in April 2023.
Embracing parenthood at a later stage in life has been “great” for De Niro and welcoming Gia into his life has been therapeutic asserted the veteran star. “I’m an 80-year-old dad and it’s great. Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about or this and that just goes away when I look at her. So that in itself, is, you know, wondrous,” he shared with AARP The Magazine in January 2024.
That said, De Niro has six other children – his eldest daughter Drena, 52, and son Raphael, 47, with his first wife Diahnne Abbott, twins Julian and Aaron, 28, born to former girlfriend Toukie Smith, a third son Elliot, 26, and daughter Helen Grace, 12, with his ex-wife, Grace Hightower.
Also, a grandfather, De Niro is a man who finds solace and joy in the simple moments spent with his children and grandchildren. In another interview with PEOPLE magazine, the Killers of the Flower Moon actor mentioned that his favourite thing to do with his children is “just being together, taking trips to warm places.”
As this Hollywood superdad enjoys fatherhood again, let’s delve into the captivating roster of all of Robert De Niro’s children.
Meet Robert De Niro’s 7 children in order
Drena De Niro
Robert De Niro embarked on his journey of becoming a superdad when he adopted Drena De Niro, the daughter of Diahnne Abbott and her former partner. Drena, who was born in 1971, took his last name upon her mother’s marriage to the Taxi Driver star in 1976.
Drena is renowned for her dynamic and glamorous career traversing modelling, DJing, acting and producing.
Drena embraced the spotlight from a young age, influenced by her upbringing on film sets and travels across Italy during her father’s filming projects. Making her mark in the fashion world, she graced runways for noted designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood before venturing into acting, appearing in films such as Great Expectations (1998), The Intern (2015) and Bradley Cooper‘s A Star is Born (2018).
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Transitioning to production, she founded Daredevil Films and Television, showcasing her versatility behind the camera. However, tragedy struck in 2023 when her son and De Niro’s grandchild, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, passed away at the age of 19.
In the aftermath of Leandro’s passing, Drena’s resilience shines through as she continues to honour his memory while navigating life’s challenges.
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Raphael De Niro
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Robert De Niro and his first wife Diahnne Abbott welcomed Raphael De Niro on 9 November 1976. He carved his path away from the silver screen, delving into the world of real estate. Joining Douglas Elliman in Manhattan, he established the esteemed De Niro Team in 2004, catering to high-profile clients like Jon Bon Jovi and Renée Zellweger.
Raphael married real estate broker Claudine De Matos in 2008 in a private ceremony and welcomed three children but their union faced challenges, culminating in a divorce finalised in January 2020. However, Raphael found love anew with stylist Hannah Carnes with their relationship blossoming publicly in 2017.
Their plans for a grand celebration were altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a more intimate ceremony at New York City’s City Hall in March 2020. With a thriving career and a renewed sense of love, Raphael De Niro seems to be in a happy place in life, much like his dad.
Julian Henry and Aaron Kendrick De Niro
Next up on the list of Robert De Niro’s children in order are the biracial twins – Julian Henry De Niro and Aaron Kendrick De Niro – born on 20 October 1995. The Goodfellas star shares the twins with his former girlfriend, actress Toukie Smith.
Julian followed his parent’s footsteps into the entertainment industry, making his mark with roles in productions like In Dubious Battle alongside James Franco and Selena Gomez. He has also portrayed a young Barack Obama in Showtime’s series The First Lady further, showcasing the talent prowess that runs into his genes.
Despite his burgeoning acting career, Julian pursued higher education, studying computer science and math at New York University. His academic achievements even led to a publication in the Washington Post, where he analysed Twitter data to uncover societal trends.
In December 2023, Julian made a rare public appearance alongside his father Robert and sister Drena at Art Basel in Miami, indulging in an evening of art appreciation and family bonding.
Talking about Aaron De Niro, he has chosen to stay private, with limited information available about his life. While his twin brother Julian embraced the spotlight, Aaron chose to keep a low profile, drawing little attention to himself.
In a candid moment on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Robert De Niro reflected on raising his biracial children, acknowledging the challenges they may face in a racially charged society. His remarks underscored the importance of navigating the complexities of racial identity, even if you are famous and come with that kind of clout.
Elliot De Niro
Robert De Niro Steps Out With Rarely Seen Son Elliot, 24: Photos Robert De Niro and his autistic son, Elliot De Niro, were spotted in New York City this week. See pics from their stroll here. pic.twitter.com/3WDsOShO5u
— Soulwell Publishing Group® (@SoulwellPublish) March 18, 2023
Elliot De Niro, born on 18 March 1998, is the first child of Robert De Niro and his second wife Grace Hightower. In March 2016, two years before divorcing Hightower, De Niro revealed that Elliot is on the spectrum, sparking a conversation about autism awareness and advocacy.
Despite the challenges, Elliot has found solace and joy in playing tennis. His passion for the sport was highlighted in ESPN’s Special Olympics: 50 Game Changers series, where he shared his journey and the positive impact tennis has had on his life.
De Niro has time and again emphasised the significance of finding activities that resonate with children with special needs, noting that tennis has boosted Elliot’s confidence and self-motivation.
Helen Grace
Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower, welcomed their second child, daughter, Helen Grace, via surrogate on 23 December 2011. De Niro and Hightower have made a concerted effort to shield Helen from the public eye, prioritising her privacy during her formative years. However, glimpses of their father-daughter bond have been captured by the media, showing them enjoying time together in various settings, from the beaches of California to the streets of Manhattan.
In 2018, De Niro and Hightower ended their 20-year marriage but remain committed to co-parenting Elliot and Helen amicably. De Niro expressed his appreciation for Hightower’s role as a mother, emphasising their ongoing collaboration in raising their children.
Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro
Last up on Robert De Niro’s children we have his seventh child, daughter Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, with girlfriend Tiffany Chen. Despite the initial secrecy surrounding her birth, De Niro eventually confirmed the news during an interview with ET Canada in May 2023 a month after welcoming Gia on 6 April 2023.
In subsequent interviews, De Niro expressed his joy of being a father again at 79, talking about the ongoing joy and challenges of parenting. Gia’s introduction to the world came amidst her mother Tiffany Chen’s battle with Bell’s palsy, adding a layer of complexity to their journey.
De Niro also revealed his desire to raise Gia as bilingual, given her Chinese heritage, highlighting his commitment to her cultural upbringing. Recently, De Niro took to Instagram to flaunt his sweet bond with his now almost a-year-old daughter. He expressed in an interview with PEOPLE his wish to live long and be around as much as possible for Gia. “I wanna be around for as long as I can to enjoy it, enjoy her,” he shared.
Clearly, the arrival of Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro marks a new chapter in the legend’s life, filled with love, cultural richness, and timeless familial ties.
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(Header and feature image courtesy: Instagram/Drena De Niro/Robert De Niro)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– How many biological children does Robert De Niro have?
Robert De Niro has four confirmed biological children. Notably, his eldest daughter Drena was born to Diahnne Abbott and her former partner. His other daughter Helen Grace was born via surrogacy, while not much information about the childbirth option of his seventh child Gia is out in public.
