Robert De Niro is reportedly close to cracking after losing his grandson and welcoming his seventh child this year.
The 79-year-old has had a huge six months, which have seen him go through many changes, including welcoming a baby daughter with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
De Niro was initially rather private about the details of his new arrival, he eventually appeared on CBS Mornings in May to reveal that his daughter’s name was Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, and that she was born on April 6.
News first broke that the veteran actor – who is best known for his roles in Goodfellas, Casino, and Taxi Driver – had become a dad again as a septuagenarian after he corrected a reporter who asked about his six kids during a red carpet interview.
“I know you have six kids,” ET Canada’s Brittnee Blair said to the actor, who was promoting his new movie About My Father at the time.
“Seven, actually,” he clarified, “I just had a baby.” At the time, he didn’t provide any further details.
Not long afterward, De Niro spoke to Extra ahead of the Tribeca Film Festival about how fatherhood had re-energised him, joking: “I’m going to have a new one every year.”
Aside from welcoming new life into the world, however, De Niro also suffered the devastating loss of his 19-year-old grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez on Sunday (July 2).
His mother Drena De Niro – who is the daughter of De Niro’s ex wife Diahnne Abbott – took to Instagram to post a heartbreaking tribute to her son.
“My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly,” 55-year-old Drena wrote.
The actress continued: “You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life. I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you. I don’t know how to live without you but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama. You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you.”
“I’m so sorry my baby,” Drena concluded, ended her tribute, also tagging Leandro’s artist father, Carlos Rodriguez in the post. “Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.”
An insider who has previously worked with De Niro has now revealed that these significant life changes may eventually cause the actor to “crack”, telling The Sun: “Knowing De Niro is knowing a guy who isn’t affected much by the ups and downs of life. His attitude is that emotions are for the screen, and in real life he goes out of his way to present an icy-calm, rock-steady demeanour.”
The insider continued: “He’s seen a lot and been through a lot. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anybody at this point, and he can still snap his finger and get a movie made, which is the definition of power in Hollywood but he has had an absolutely crazy 2023.”
They also added that having a new baby, losing his young grandson, and entering a legal battle with a former assistant is incredibly stressful for the Meet The Parents actor. “If the iceman is ever going to crack, that’s going to happen now, because what he’s been facing is a perfect storm and the year is barely half over,” the insider concluded.
A law enforcement source reportedly told Radar Online that the teen died from a fatal overdose during a cocaine binge, and that Leandro was found in a chair next to a white powdery substance believed to be the drug.
As per the outlet, the powder was seized along with unidentified pills and other drug paraphernalia. The evidence will now be tested, with results expected within a few days.
READ MORE
- Robert De Niro breaks silence after grandson’s death – confirms the rumors are true
- Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro passes away at 19 years old – mother Drena shares emotional words
