Robert De Niro has built a legendary career on screen, but his most personal role might be the one he plays at home: father to seven children. Spanning five decades and four mothers, his family tree is as layered as his filmography.

4 related posts

Total children: 7 ·
Youngest child: Gia (born April 2023) ·
Age at birth of youngest: 79 ·
Number of mothers: 4

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact birth dates beyond the year for some children
  • Full details of De Niro’s day-to-day relationships with each child
3Timeline signal
  • 1971: Adoption of Drena
  • 1976: Raphael born
  • 1995: Twins Julian and Aaron (now Airyn) born
  • 1998: Elliot born
  • 2011: Helen Grace born via surrogate
  • 2023: Gia born
4What’s next
  • Ongoing public appearances with youngest children
  • No indication of more children; De Niro focused on family and career

Six key facts about Robert De Niro’s children, one pattern: the actor’s family expanded steadily across nearly every decade of his adult life.

Fact Detail
Number of children 7
Oldest child Drena (born 1971)
Youngest child Gia (born 2023)
Mothers Diahnne Abbott, Toukie Smith, Grace Hightower, Tiffany Chen
First child 1971 (Drena, adopted)
Most recent child 2023 (Gia)

The implication: De Niro’s fatherhood spans two generations, with a 52-year gap between his oldest and youngest.

How many children does Robert De Niro have?

List of all seven children

  • Drena De Niro – adopted daughter, born 1971, mother Diahnne Abbott
  • Raphael De Niro – biological son, born 1976, mother Diahnne Abbott
  • Julian De Niro – son (twin), born 1995, mother Toukie Smith
  • Airyn De Niro – daughter (twin, formerly Aaron), born 1995, mother Toukie Smith
  • Elliot De Niro – son, born 1998, mother Grace Hightower
  • Helen Grace De Niro – daughter, born 2011, mother Grace Hightower
  • Gia Virginia Chen De Niro – daughter, born 2023, mother Tiffany Chen

Brief summary of each child’s background

Drena, adopted by De Niro during his marriage to Diahnne Abbott, later pursued acting and appeared alongside her father in A Bronx Tale (1993). Raphael, the first biological child, works in real estate. Julian and Airyn are twins born via surrogate in 1995; Airyn came out as transgender in 2023 with De Niro’s public support. Elliot and Helen Grace are from De Niro’s marriage to Grace Hightower, and Gia is his youngest child with Tiffany Chen.

Bottom line: Robert De Niro has exactly seven children from four relationships, spanning from 1971 to 2023. For fans tracking his family saga, the key takeaway is that his fatherhood journey didn’t slow down — it extended into his 80s.

Who are the mothers of Robert De Niro’s children?

Diahnne Abbott

De Niro’s first wife, actress Diahnne Abbott, is the mother of Drena (adopted) and Raphael. The couple married in 1976 and divorced in 1988 (ABC News (news network)).

Toukie Smith

Toukie Smith, a former model and actress, was De Niro’s longtime girlfriend. In 1995, they welcomed twins Julian and Aaron (now Airyn) via surrogate (People (celebrity news outlet)).

Grace Hightower

Grace Hightower, a philanthropist and former flight attendant, was De Niro’s second wife. They married in 1997 and separated in 2018. Together they have son Elliot (born 1998) and daughter Helen Grace (born 2011 via surrogate) (ABC News (news network)).

Tiffany Chen

Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor, is De Niro’s current partner. Their daughter Gia was born in April 2023 (Los Angeles Times (major daily newspaper)). The couple reportedly began dating around 2021 (People (celebrity news outlet)).

The implication: De Niro’s family composition reflects relationships that spanned four decades, with each mother playing a distinct role in his personal timeline.

How old was Robert De Niro when his youngest child was born?

Birth of Gia in 2023

Robert De Niro was 79 years old when Gia Virginia Chen De Niro was born on April 6, 2023 (Los Angeles Times (major daily newspaper)). At that time, his oldest child Drena was 52.

Age at each child’s birth

  • Drena (1971): De Niro was 28
  • Raphael (1976): De Niro was 33
  • Julian and Airyn (1995): De Niro was 52
  • Elliot (1998): De Niro was 55
  • Helen Grace (2011): De Niro was 68
  • Gia (2023): De Niro was 79
The upshot

Becoming a father at 79 puts De Niro in a rare group of celebrities who have children late in life. The age gap between his oldest and youngest child is 52 years.

What are the ages of Robert De Niro’s children?

Drena (born 1971)

Drena De Niro was born on September 3, 1971, making her 53 in 2024 (People (celebrity news outlet)). She is the only adopted child and has appeared in several films.

Raphael (born 1976)

Raphael De Niro was born in 1976 and turned 48 in 2024 (People (celebrity news outlet)). He works in real estate and maintains a relatively low profile.

Julian and Airyn (born 1995)

The twins were born on October 20, 1995, making them 29 in 2024 (People (celebrity news outlet)). Airyn publicly came out as transgender in 2023.

Elliot (born 1998)

Elliot De Niro was born on March 18, 1998, making him 26 in 2024 (People (celebrity news outlet)).

Helen Grace (born 2011)

Helen Grace De Niro was born on December 23, 2011 via surrogate, making her 12 in 2024 (People (celebrity news outlet)). She often appears with her parents at red carpet events.

Gia (born 2023)

Gia Virginia Chen De Niro was born on April 6, 2023, and turned 1 in 2024 (Los Angeles Times (major daily newspaper)).

Bottom line: The age range across De Niro’s seven children spans 52 years. For parents considering later-in-life fatherhood, the trade-off is clear: joy of a new child paired with a half-century generational gap.

What is known about Robert De Niro’s relationship with his children?

Public appearances and support

De Niro has frequently been photographed with his children at film premieres and family outings. Helen Grace accompanied him to the Killers of the Flower Moon premiere in 2023. Gia was introduced to the public in a CBS News (broadcast network) interview where De Niro proudly showed her photo. He has described being a father as “the most important thing” in his life.

Airyn’s transition and De Niro’s acceptance

In 2023, Airyn De Niro (formerly Aaron) came out as transgender. In an interview with People (celebrity news outlet), De Niro expressed full support for his daughter, saying he loves her no matter what.

Drena’s acting career

Drena De Niro has appeared in several films directed or produced by her father, including A Bronx Tale, The Good Shepherd, and The Irishman. She has said in interviews that working with him was a unique bonding experience.

Fatherhood in later life

In a 2023 interview with BBC News (public broadcaster), De Niro said about Gia, “I’m very happy with my new baby girl. It’s a wonderful thing.” He acknowledged that parenting at 79 is different but said he has the energy for it because family keeps him young.

Why this matters

De Niro’s evolving approach to fatherhood—from a busy young actor in the 1970s to a contented dad in his 80s—reflects how personal priorities can shift dramatically across a lifetime.

Family timeline

  • : De Niro adopts Drena with first wife Diahnne Abbott (People (celebrity news outlet))
  • : Raphael De Niro born to Diahnne Abbott
  • : Twins Julian and Aaron (now Airyn) born to Toukie Smith via surrogate (ABC News (news network))
  • : Elliot De Niro born to Grace Hightower
  • : Helen Grace De Niro born via surrogate to Grace Hightower (People (celebrity news outlet))
  • : Gia Virginia Chen De Niro born to Tiffany Chen (Los Angeles Times (major daily newspaper))

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Robert De Niro has seven children.
  • Mothers are Diahnne Abbott, Toukie Smith, Grace Hightower, and Tiffany Chen.
  • Airyn De Niro is transgender and came out publicly in 2023.
  • Gia was born in April 2023, and De Niro was 79.
  • Drena is adopted; the rest are biological.

What’s unclear

  • Exact birth dates beyond the year for Julian, Airyn, and Raphael (only month/day confirmed for some).
  • Full details of De Niro’s daily involvement with each child’s upbringing.
  • Whether more children are planned; no public statements on that front.

Perspectives from the family

“I’m very happy with my new baby girl. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Robert De Niro, in an interview with BBC News (public broadcaster)

“Maybe it’s not that simple for everyone, but for me it is.”

Airyn De Niro, in a social media statement reported by People (celebrity news outlet)

Grace Hightower has spoken positively about co-parenting with De Niro after their divorce, noting that they remain focused on the well-being of their children.

Grace Hightower, as cited by People (celebrity news outlet)

Summary

Robert De Niro’s seven children are a living timeline of his personal life, from his first marriage at 28 to welcoming a baby at 79. For fans and observers, the pattern is clear: fatherhood has been a constant through every phase of his career. For De Niro himself, the choice to keep building his family well into older age has brought him visible joy. Whether his youngest children will follow him into the public eye remains to be seen, but the legacy of the De Niro family continues to expand.

Related reading: **King of New York: Worth Watching, True Story & Controversy** · **Angelita Galarza-Guzman: The Private Life of Luis Guzmán’s Wife**

Additional sources

reddit.com, imdb.com, yahoo.com, usmagazine.com, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com

In addition to his iconic film roles, Robert De Niro’s personal life is well-documented in a detailed biography of De Niro, which covers his seven children, their mothers, and his health journey.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Robert De Niro have grandchildren?

Yes. Drena De Niro had a son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, who passed away in July 2023 at age 19 (People (celebrity news outlet)).

Which of Robert De Niro’s children is an actor?

Drena De Niro is the most active actor among his children, having appeared in several films. Raphael has not pursued acting, and the others are still young or private.

Has Robert De Niro spoken about Airyn’s transition?

Yes. He publicly expressed support for his daughter Airyn when she came out as transgender in 2023 (People (celebrity news outlet)).

What was Robert De Niro’s reaction to becoming a father at 79?

He told BBC News (public broadcaster) that he was “very happy” and that the baby brought him great joy.

How many children did Robert De Niro have with each wife?

With Diahnne Abbott: two (one adopted, one biological). With Toukie Smith: two (twins). With Grace Hightower: two. With Tiffany Chen: one.

Is Robert De Niro’s daughter Drena his biological child?

No. Drena was adopted by De Niro during his marriage to Diahnne Abbott.

What do Robert De Niro’s children do for a living?

Drena is an actress; Raphael works in real estate; Julian and Airyn are private; Elliot is a college student; Helen Grace and Gia are still in school.