Why Robert De Niro Fears For His Children’s Safety
Robert De Niro has long been one of the most respected actors in film, known for iconic roles in Taxi Driver and The Godfather series. He’s earned major honors like the Presidential Medal of Freedom and co-founded Tribeca Productions and the Tribeca Film Festival.
Despite his age, he stays active in Hollywood, appearing in recent films like Joker, Amsterdam, and The War with Grandpa. But for De Niro, fatherhood matters more than any role. He has seven children from different relationships.
His first marriage was to singer Diahnne Abbott, with whom he had a son, Raphael, and he adopted her daughter, Drena. After their divorce, he had twin sons, Aaron and Julian, with model Toukie Smith via surrogate. With his second wife, Grace Hightower, he had a son, Eliot, and a daughter, Helen, also through surrogacy. They eventually split in 2018. In 2023, he welcomed a daughter, Gia, with girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
Though private, De Niro occasionally opens up about parenting. He’s said he loves his children deeply, even if parenting is challenging. He aims to be honest with them and encourages them to follow their passions, saying, “Just don’t sell yourself short.”
De Niro, whose children are biracial, has also spoken about racial issues, saying raising them changed his perspective. He maintains strong ties with longtime friends like Meryl Streep, with whom he’s collaborated for decades.
