Robert De Niro‘s family has officially grown. On May 8, the veteran actor told ET Canada that he recently welcomed his seventh child at the age of 79. He confirmed the news while talking about his latest movie “About My Father.” During the interview, host Brittnee Blair noted that De Niro has “six kids” and that’s when he took the opportunity to announce that he was now the father of seven children. “I just had a baby,” he said.
Shortly afterward, De Niro confirmed to CBS Mornings that he welcomed a baby girl named Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro with his partner Tiffany Chen – a martial arts instructor whom he met on the set of “The Intern” in 2015. “I’m okay with it. I’m good with it,” De Niro told Extra about becoming a father again, adding that parenting “never gets easier.”
“The Godfather Part II” star has six other children from his various relationships over the years. He shares children Drena and Raphael with his first wife, Diahnne Abbott; twins Julian and Aaron with his former girlfriend Toukie Smith; and kids Elliot and Helen with his second wife, Grace Hightower.
Ahead, you’ll find more details about De Niro’s seven children, including their ages and careers.
Related: “The First Lady”‘s Young Barack Obama Is Robert De Niro’s Son Julian
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Drena De Niro
De Niro and Diahnne Abbott got married in 1976 after meeting on the set of “Taxi Driver.” The “Savage Salvation” actor then adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, from a previous marriage. Drena was born on Sept. 3, 1971, making her five years old when she was adopted and took on De Niro’s surname. After growing up on film sets her entire childhood, Drena went on to become a model, DJ, and actress. She’s appeared in several of her father’s films, including “Great Expectations,” “Showtime,” and “The Intern,” as well as other movies like “Joy” and “A Star Is Born.”
Getty/ Pierre Zonzon
Raphael De Niro
On Nov. 9, 1976, De Niro and Abbott welcomed their son Raphael. As a kid, Raphael was given the opportunity to act in some of his parents’s films like “Raging Bull,” “Love Streams,” and “Awakenings.” In a December 2017 interview with The Real Deal, Raphael said that he chose not to continue acting because it “didn’t appeal” to him and he didn’t want to live in his father’s shadow. So, instead of chasing fame, Raphael made a name for himself as a real estate agent for Douglas Elliman. His celebrity clients have included Jon Bon Jovi, Kelly Ripa, and Renée Zellweger.
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Julian De Niro
After divorcing Abbott in 1988, De Niro moved on with “227” actress Toukie Smith. The couple welcomed their twin sons, Julian and Aaron, via surrogate on Oct. 20, 1995. Just like his parents, Julian has also become an actor. In 2016, he appeared in the film “In Dubious Battle,” and in 2022, he played a young Barack Obama in the Showtime TV series “The First Lady.” Most recently, he made his Broadway debut in “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” in April.
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Aaron De Niro
Aaron has chosen to live outside of the spotlight, so little information is known about him. He was born on Oct. 20, 1995, alongside his twin brother. Although their parents were never married, they were in a long-term relationship from 1988 to 1996. Aaron and Julian were just a year old when De Niro and Smith split. (Aaron, Julian and Elliot De Niro are pictured here in 2007.)
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Elliot De Niro
A year after De Niro married actress Grace Hightower, the couple welcomed their son Elliot on March 18, 1998. Although not much is known about Elliot, De Niro confirmed in March 2016 that his son has autism while showing his support for the anti-vaccination documentary “Vaxxed” to be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, which he co-founded. “Grace and I have a child with autism and we believe it is critical that all of the issues surrounding the causes of autism be openly discussed and examined,” De Niro said in a statement at the time.
However, following backlash, De Niro ultimately decided to pull the film. “My intent in screening this film was to provide an opportunity for conversation around an issue that is deeply personal to me and my family,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “But after reviewing it over the past few days with the Tribeca Film Festival team and others from the scientific community, we do not believe it contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for.”
Getty/ Bruce Glikas
Helen Grace De Niro
De Niro and Hightower’s daughter, Helen, was born via surrogate on Dec. 23, 2011. Considering she’s still just a kid, it’s not surprising the couple has kept details about Helen under wraps. After the pair split in November 2018, De Niro and Hightower initially appeared to have separated amicably. “Grace and I have two beautiful children together. We are entering a period of transition in our relationship which is a difficult but constructive process,” De Niro said in a statement at the time. “I honor Grace as a wonderful mother and ask for privacy and respect from all as we proceed to develop our roles as partners in parenting.”
