Robert De Niro’s grandson actor Leandro dies aged 19 as his heartbroken mother Drea posts poignant message saying ‘I wish love alone could have saved you’
- READ MORE: Inside Robert De Niro’s family and a look at his seven children
Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez has died at the age of 19.
Leandro was the son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena, 51, and artist Carlos Rodriguez, with Drena paying tribute to her late son in a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday.
Drena did not reveal his cause of death but shared a picture of her son, who appeared in the movie A Star is Born, and a poignant caption in which she declared ‘I wish that love alone could have saved you.’
The post began: ‘My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly.
‘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.’
Tragic news: Robert De Niro ‘s grandson Leandro has died at the age of 19 (pictured with his mother Drena and grandfather)
Heartbreaking: Leandro was the son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena and artist Carlos Mare, with Drena paying tribute to her late son in a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday
Drena continued: ‘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, I’m so sorry @carlosmare. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.’
She was immediately flooded with messages of condolences, with one friend commenting: ‘Drena don’t tell me it’s true tell me you’re joking because I can’t believe Leo isn’t with us anymore. It’s an horrible news to digest. Drena my heart is with you and Carlos and your loved ones – I love you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️’
Drena responded: ‘I know I still hope this is a nightmare and I’ll wake up tomorrow.’
Victoria Gotti, the daughter of mob-boss John Gotti, commented she was ‘heartbroken’ and she had ‘no words’ following Leandro’s death.
She wrote of Leandro: ‘You were such a playful handsome amicable and amazing young boy who grew into an amazing young man! May you rest my dear boy and I was so blessed to have shared thanksgiving with you—such a bright intelligent and well mannered young man. A young life cut far too short.’
Actress Rosie Perez Brooklyn wrote: ‘Shocked! I’m so sorry! We are all here for you !!! I love you too much!’, while Director and producer Lee Daniels wrote: ‘Drena may God keep you in his arms.’
Leandro’s father Carlos did not pay a public tribute to his late son but shared an image of a black square on his Instagram page without a caption.
MailOnline has contacted De Niro’s representatives for comment.
Aspiring actor and director Leandro was following in his mother and grandfather’s career footsteps, landing small roles in 2018’s A Star Is Born and Cabaret Maxime and 2005’s The Collection.
His mother Drena was adopted by De Niro, and took his surname, after the actor married her mother, Diahnne Abbott, in 1976.
She had a relatively transient lifestyle thanks to her father’s vibrant career and split her time between New York City, Los Angeles, and Italy.
Family: Drena is pictured with mother Drena and father Carlos Rodriguez
Grieving: Carlos did not pay a public tribute to his late son but shared an image of a black square on his Instagram page without a caption
Tragic loss: Leandro was the son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena (pictured in 2016)
Drena left school and decided to explore the arts, turning her hand to a whole host of career paths including model, DJ and fashion consultant.
She eventually decided to follow in De Niro’s footsteps and soon found her feet as an actress and filmmaker.
Her first role was in Allison Anders’s Grace of My Heart in 1996 and she went on to star in several of her father’s films including 1999’s On The Run, 2002’s City By The Sea and 2002’s Showtime.
De Niro split with Drena’s mother in 1988 but the Hollywood A-lister remained in her life nonetheless.
She made De Niro a grandfather in 2003 when she welcomed Leandro with her then-boyfriend Carlos Rodriguez.
Drena, who currently lives in New York, has since turned her attentions to directing and also describes herself as being trained in Muay Thai and martial arts.
At 51, Drena is five years older than his oldest biological child, Raphael, with Abbott. Now 46, he’s a Manhattan estate agent whose celebrity clients have included Jon Bon Jovi and Renee Zellweger.
De Niro also has two children — twins Aaron and Julian — from his relationship between 1988 and 1995 with former model and actress Toukie Smith. They were conceived by in vitro fertilisation and delivered by a surrogate mother.
In 1998, he also had a son, Elliot, and in 2011, a daughter, Helen, (also born via surrogate) during his stormy 20-year marriage to his second wife, former flight attendant Grace Hightower.
In May, the 79-year-old actor confirmed that he’d welcomed his seventh child.
There has been no official confirmation of the mother’s identity but his significantly younger girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, 43, was photographed prior with what appeared to be a baby bump.
Parents: De Niro adopted Diahnne Abbott’s daughter after the pair married in 1976 (pictured together in New York in 1977)
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