Robert De Niro has spent decades as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, but away from the cameras, his biggest role has been being a father. The Oscar-winning actor is the father of seven children, born across several relationships and different stages of his long career.
His family includes adult children who have built careers of their own, a daughter who entered the entertainment industry, a son who followed a different professional path, and his youngest daughter, Gia, who was born in 2023.
De Niro has also spoken warmly about spending time with his children. For him, family time has often been less about elaborate plans and more about simply being together. He has said that traveling with his children to warm places is one of his favorite things to do as a family.
His seven children are Drena, Raphael, Julian, Airyn, Elliot, Helen Grace and Gia.
Robert De Niro’s oldest daughter, Drena
Drena De Niro is Robert De Niro’s oldest child. She was born on Sept. 3, 1971, to actress Diahnne Abbott and her then-husband. When De Niro married Abbott in 1976, he adopted Drena, and she took his surname.
Growing up around two actors meant that Drena experienced a very different childhood from many children. She spent time on film sets and traveled with her family, including during periods when De Niro was working on major movies.
Italy became especially memorable for her. De Niro was filming projects including The Godfather Part II and 1900 there when Drena was young. Years later, she described those traveling years as some of the happiest memories of her childhood.
Drena eventually developed a career of her own. She worked as a model and appeared at New York Fashion Week, later working with several well-known designers. She also worked as a DJ before moving further into acting and producing.
Her acting credits include films such as Great Expectations, A Star is Born and Joy. She also became interested in producing and launched Daredevil Films and Television.
In 2001, Drena directed the documentary short Girls & Dolls, which earned her an award at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival.
Drena became a mother to Leandro
Drena welcomed her only child, son Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, in 2003 with her then-boyfriend Carlos Rodriguez.
Becoming a mother changed Drena’s outlook on life. She previously spoke about how having children can make everyday worries feel much smaller and put priorities into perspective.
Leandro was also connected to the entertainment world through his family. Sadly, he died on July 2, 2023, at the age of 19.
Drena publicly shared the devastating news and remembered her son with deeply emotional words. A month later, the New York City chief medical examiner determined that Leandro’s death was an accidental overdose.
His death became one of the most painful chapters in the De Niro family story.
Raphael De Niro chose real estate
Robert De Niro and Diahnne Abbott also welcomed son Raphael Eugene De Niro on Nov. 9, 1976.
Unlike his father, Raphael did not pursue a career in acting. Instead, he built a name for himself in New York’s real estate industry.
Raphael began working with Douglas Elliman in the early 2000s and launched the De Niro Team in 2004. His career has included working with high-profile clients, and he became a partner at the Greenwich Hotel in TriBeCa in 2008.
He has also been involved with the New York Residential Agent Continuum as a founding board member.
Raphael has three children from his marriage to Claudine De Matos. The couple married in 2008 before separating several years later, with their divorce finalized in 2020.
He later found love with stylist Hannah Carnes. The pair married at New York City Hall in March 2020 after changing their original wedding plans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Julian De Niro followed his father into acting
Julian Henry De Niro was born on Oct. 20, 1995, alongside his twin sister Airyn. His mother is model and actress Toukie Smith, who dated Robert De Niro after his divorce from Abbott.
Julian has shown an interest in acting, making his first credited film appearance in In Dubious Battle in 2016. The movie featured a large cast that included James Franco, Selena Gomez and Nat Wolff.
He later moved into television. In 2022, Julian portrayed a young Barack Obama in Showtime’s historical drama The First Lady.
Acting is not his only interest, however. Julian also studied computer science and mathematics at New York University. During his studies, he worked on a Twitter analysis project that explored what people wanted most in 2018, and the research was published in The Washington Post.
Julian has generally maintained a relatively private public life, although he has occasionally appeared alongside his father and siblings.
Airyn De Niro and her new chapter
Airyn De Niro is Julian’s twin sister. Born on Oct. 20, 1995, she lived a largely private life for many years.
In April 2025, Airyn publicly came out as transgender and spoke openly about her experience and identity.
She discussed growing up while feeling pressure around her appearance, identity and how she was perceived by others. Her story also touched on body image and the unrealistic standards that can affect people.
Airyn revealed that she began hormone therapy in November 2024.
She has expressed an interest in acting and modeling, while also studying to become a mental health counselor. She has spoken about wanting to provide support and advocacy for people who may face challenges similar to those she has experienced.
Her public emergence marked a new chapter in her life after years away from the spotlight.
Elliot De Niro has a passion for tennis
Elliot De Niro is Robert De Niro’s son with his former wife Grace Hightower. He was born on March 18, 1998.
Elliot has generally lived away from the entertainment industry, although his father has occasionally spoken publicly about him.
De Niro revealed in 2016 that Elliot is autistic. The actor has discussed his efforts to support his son’s interests and development.
Tennis became one of Elliot’s passions. In 2018, he was featured in an ESPN Special Olympics series that celebrated the organization’s history and highlighted athletes and contributors.
De Niro has spoken about how participating in activities such as tennis can help children build confidence, especially when they discover something they enjoy and do well.
Helen Grace has grown up away from the spotlight
Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower welcomed their daughter Helen Grace on Dec. 23, 2011, through a surrogate.
As De Niro’s youngest child for several years, Helen has largely been kept away from public attention. Her parents have made efforts to give her privacy while she grows up.
De Niro and Hightower separated in 2018 after more than two decades together, but they have continued to co-parent their children.
The actor has spoken about the changing relationship between parents and children as kids grow older. He has acknowledged that fatherhood comes with joyful moments as well as difficult and emotional ones.
Gia is Robert De Niro’s youngest child
Robert De Niro welcomed his seventh child, daughter Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen on April 6, 2023.
Gia’s arrival came when De Niro was 79, making her the youngest member of a large family spanning several generations.
De Niro revealed the news publicly during an interview in 2023, correcting an interviewer who referred to his six children.
“Seven, actually,” he said before explaining that he had recently welcomed a baby.
Gia has brought a fresh sense of joy into De Niro’s life. He has spoken about how much he enjoys simply looking at her and being present in the moment.
Her older siblings and the family’s grandchildren have also reportedly enjoyed having Gia around. There is a noticeable age gap between the youngest member of the family and some of her older siblings, making her arrival a unique new chapter for the De Niro family.
Robert De Niro’s approach to fatherhood
Despite having seven children with different family histories, De Niro has repeatedly described family as an important part of his life.
He has said that he enjoys spending time with his children, especially when everyone can be together. Traveling and sharing simple experiences have been among the things he values most.
The actor has also offered advice about encouraging children to follow their ambitions. His message has been to let children pursue what makes them happy while also encouraging them not to limit themselves.
That outlook can be seen across his family. His children have followed very different paths, from acting and modeling to real estate, education and other interests.
A large family with very different stories
Robert De Niro’s seven children have each created their own stories outside their father’s enormous Hollywood career.
Drena entered acting and producing after beginning in modeling. Raphael built a career in real estate. Julian followed the family connection to acting, while his twin Airyn has publicly shared a new chapter of her life and her hopes of working in counseling.
Elliot has pursued his interests in tennis, while Helen has grown up largely outside the public eye. Gia, the youngest, is still a child and has become a source of happiness for her father and the wider family.
Their lives have included achievements, career changes, family milestones and, sadly, heartbreaking loss. Through it all, Robert De Niro has continued to describe being with his children as one of the most meaningful parts of his life.
For an actor whose career has included some of cinema’s most memorable performances, his seven children remain one of the most personal and important parts of his story.