Robert De Niro’s family extends across decades and generations, reflecting his enduring life both on and off screen. As he celebrates his 82nd birthday in August 2025, a comprehensive Robert De Niro family overview reveals a complex network including seven children, former partners, and deep personal stories that have marked his journey as a father and public figure.
De Niro’s recent experiences, from attending joyful outings with his young daughter Gia Chen-De Niro and girlfriend Tiffany Chen to receiving his ninth Oscar nomination last year, show a man who balances a celebrated career with a vibrant family life. Despite being one of Hollywood’s legendary actors, he remains deeply committed to supporting and nurturing his children, a role he approaches with care honed over decades.
Meeting First Wife Diahnne Abbott and Their Early Years Together
Robert De Niro’s first marriage was to Diahnne Abbott, whom he met during the filming of Martin Scorsese’s 1976 classic Taxi Driver. Abbott appeared in a minor role as a ticket taker at a porn theater, a gritty detail that set the tone for their shared early work on screen. The couple married on April 28, 1976, cementing a personal and professional bond that included roles together in Scorsese’s New York, New York (1977) and The King of Comedy (1982).
Adopting Daughter Drena De Niro and Her Experience Growing Up
Drena De Niro, Diazhnne Abbott’s daughter from a previous relationship, was formally adopted by Robert De Niro after their marriage. Born on September 3, 1967, Drena embraced the arts early and pursued acting and producing within the entertainment industry. Her Instagram includes nostalgic moments, such as a childhood black-and-white photo featuring her parents with Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston, marking the unusual yet warm environment she grew up in.
In an interview, Drena reflected on the unconventional nature of her childhood, stating,
“it definitely wasn’t the typical family lifestyle,”
and highlighting the blend of warmth and exciting chaos she experienced. She also characterized her father as
a non-judgmental, open-minded person, always accepting of what people feel their paths are.
Son Raphael De Niro’s Transition to Real Estate
Raphael De Niro, son of Robert and Diahnne Abbott, was born on November 9, 1976, and spent part of his childhood moving from Los Angeles to New York City. This shift was a significant culture shock for Raphael, who later reflected on it in interviews. Robert and Diahnne divorced in 1988, but Raphael has made a name for himself outside of acting. He ventured into real estate, leading The De Niro Team at Douglas Elliman in Manhattan and holding partnership stakes in the Greenwich Hotel located in TriBeCa.
Raphael shares three children with his ex-wife Claudine de Matos and has been married to stylist Hannah Carnes since March 2020. Despite bearing his famous surname, he has worked hard to maintain privacy, admitting,
“I just try to keep my head down and keep my private life private.”
Loss of Grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez
One of the most tragic chapters in the De Niro family story is the death of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, Drena’s son with artist Carlos Rodriguez. Leandro died from a suspected overdose on July 2, 2023, at the age of 19. The tragedy deeply affected the family, particularly Drena, who marked what would have been his 20th birthday by posting on Instagram,
“Thank you for the happiest and most profound 2 decades of my life, little angel. I hope you are at peace and your spirit is filled with joy today and always.”
Robert De Niro expressed his shock and sorrow to People magazine, sharing,
“And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him. I don’t know if that would’ve made a difference. And so that’s always playing through my mind. It shouldn’t have happened.”
Relationship with Model-Actress Toukie Smith and Their Twins
De Niro began dating model-actress Toukie Smith in 1988, though they ended their romantic relationship several years before the birth of their twins. Their children, Julian and Airyn, were born via surrogate on October 20, 1995. Despite no longer being a couple, a spokesperson for De Niro confirmed that they maintained separate professional and personal lives but shared the responsibility of parenting.
Smith’s representative noted, according to the New York Times, that the bond between Smith and De Niro remained strong. Their joint efforts in parenting illustrate a respectful co-parenting dynamic despite their differing paths.
Airyn De Niro’s Journey and Identity
Airyn De Niro publicly came out as a transgender woman in April 2025, discussing her experience in Them Magazine. She emphasized how her transition also fostered a deeper connection to her racial identity, stating,
“I think a big part of [my transition] is the influence Black women have had on me,”
and added,
“I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”
Airyn’s inspiration comes from her mother, Toukie Smith. She recounted family occasions where she often heard praise for her mother and the happiness De Niro experienced when with her. Airyn reflected,
“I want to be like that… I want to be remembered the way that people remember her.”
Robert De Niro publicly supported Airyn, declaring,
“I loved and supported Aaron as my son and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is. I love all my children.”
Julian De Niro: Acting Career and Father’s Advice
Julian De Niro followed an artistic path in acting, appearing on Broadway in the Tony-nominated play The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window. In 2022, he portrayed a young Barack Obama in the Showtime limited series The First Lady and acted alongside his father in the Netflix series Zero Day, where De Niro played a former president involved in investigating a cyberattack.
De Niro has shared parenting advice about supporting his children‘s ambitions, stating in a People interview in January 2020:
“For my kids, I tell them, ‘If you want to be an actor or you want to do this or that, that’s fine as long as you’re happy. Just don’t sell yourself short,’… ‘That’s the most I would say—push yourself a little more and reach for what you really think it is you want to do. Don’t be afraid.’”
Marriage to Second Wife Grace Hightower
Robert De Niro married Grace Hightower, an actress best known for her role in Precious, on June 17, 1997. The marriage brought the birth of their son Elliot De Niro on March 18, 1998. De Niro filed for divorce in August 1999 but the couple reconciled and renewed their vows in 2004, a ceremony he jokingly noted was ensured by two judges
“to make sure this one sticks.”
De Niro spoke in 2009 about the challenges of raising children, emphasizing his focus on ensuring his kids become independent and self-reliant. Daughter Helen Grace De Niro was born via surrogate on December 23, 2011. The couple eventually separated permanently in 2018, with De Niro publicly honoring Hightower as a wonderful mother and requesting privacy during their transition to shared parenting roles.
Elliot De Niro and His Special Needs
Elliot De Niro’s experiences influenced Robert’s portrayal of a father in Silver Linings Playbook, a film about a man with a son diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In interviews, Robert drew parallels between his role and real life, sharing emotions with journalist Katie Couric in 2013:
“I don’t like to get emotional, but I know exactly what [my character] goes through.”
In 2016, De Niro revealed that Elliot has autism, bringing attention to the challenges and love involved in supporting a child with special needs.
Attention on Daughter Helen Grace De Niro
Robert De Niro has expressed deep affection for his youngest daughter Helen. In 2013, he described her as “so adorable” and said in an interview with CBS News,
“You just look at her, and it’s all there…Nothing else matters.”
Helen accompanied De Niro and Tiffany Chen to the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, marking one of her rare public appearances.
Current Relationship with Tiffany Chen and Baby Gia
De Niro’s relationship with tai chi expert Tiffany Chen became public in August 2021, yet it drew little media attention until the birth of their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, on April 6, 2023. The arrival was announced by Gayle King, who noted that
“This baby was planned…and brought here by love.”
De Niro candidly described the impact of having a baby in the household, admitting to AARP in January 2024,
“Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her.”
He called the experience wondrous, and in June 2025 told Entertainment Tonight that Gia, at age two, continues to bring pure joy.
