Robert De Niro has played many legendary roles over the years, but his most important role is that of a father. The actor has seven children with four different women, including two with Diahnnne Abbott, Toukie Smith and Grace Hightower, as well as one with Tiffany Chen.
In May 2023, the “Taxi Driver” star told ET Canada that he has to ride the line between being “loving” and “stern” while raising his brood.
The Emmy winner said, “There’s no way around it with kids. I don’t like to have to lay down the law and stuff like that. But, [sometimes] you just have no choice.”
He continued, “Any parent, I think, would say the same thing. You always want to do the right thing by the children and give them the benefit of the doubt but sometimes you can’t.”
Continue reading to discover how De Niro’s family has grown from 1976 to 2023.
Drena De Niro
When Robert and Abott married in April 1976, the “D!rty Grandpa” star adopted the actress’ previous relationship’s daughter, Drena. The child, who was born in 1971, was given her stepfather’s surname at the time.
She has not only followed in Robert’s footsteps as an actress (in films such as “Great Expectations” and “Joy”), but she has also worked as a model and DJ. She also founded the production business Daredevil Films and Television.
When Drena and her then-boyfriend Carlos Rodriguez had their son Leandro in 2003, Robert became a grandfather for the first time.
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Raphael De Niro
Raphael, Robert and Abbott’s son was born in November 1976, seven months after their wedding. While the real estate broker did not pursue a career in Hollywood, he did assist several A-listers in finding houses while working at Douglas Elliman.
Raphael married fellow trader Claudine De Matos in 2008, but the couple divorced in 2015 after three children. Raphael had moved on with stylist Hannah Carnes, whom he is now married to, by the time their divorce was finalized in January 2020.
Aaron Kendrick De Niro
Robert divorced Abbott in 1988 and married actress Toukie Smith the following year. Before their 1996 divorce, the couple welcomed twin boys Aaron and Julian in October 1995.
Unlike his brother, Aaron has remained out of the spotlight.
Julian Henry De Niro
Julian has followed in his parent’s footsteps and attempted acting in addition to studying physics and math at New York University.
In 2016, he made his cinematic debut in “In Dubious Battle,” opposite James Franco, Selena Gomez, and other stars. In terms of film, Julian played a young Barack Obama in Showtime’s “First Lady” in 2022.
Elliot De Niro
Robert married Grace Hightower in June 1997. Elliot, their son, was born the following March.
In 2016, the Golden Globe winner revealed Elliot’s autism diagnosis. While Robert has stated that he is not “anti-vaccine,” he has stated that “something is not right” with the process in 2017. Elliot is well renowned for his accomplishments as a Special Olympics tennis player.
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Helen Grace De Niro
Helen, Robert and Hightower’s second child, was delivered via surrogate in December 2011. After over two decades together, the former couple, who had kept their youngest child out of the public, announced it quit in 2018.
De Niro tells E! News in a statement, “We are entering a period of transition in our relationship, which is a difficult but constructive process. I honor Grace as a wonderful mother and ask for privacy … as we proceed to develop our roles as partners in parenting.”
Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro
In May 2023, Robert made headlines when he corrected an ET Canada reporter who said he had six children, clarifying that he “just had a baby” and was a father of seven.
While the “Intern” celebrity did not confirm Tiffany Chen’s pregnancy then, he and martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen had been associated since 2021.
Later that week, Gayle King revealed on “CBS Mornings” that the parents named their baby girl Gia.
Robert De Niro and his partner Tiffany Chen welcomed Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro in early April — and now, she’s making her national TV debut on #CBSMornings. https://t.co/OJJxGcEKlU pic.twitter.com/opiFRpWkRs
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) May 11, 2023
