Robert De Niro: How Many Kids Does The Screen Icon Have?

Chaim Ortiz 29 Jul 2025

Many people know Robert De Niro for his powerful acting roles, truly iconic performances that have stayed with us for years, you know? From intense mobsters to comedic characters, his presence on screen is pretty much unmistakable. It's really no wonder why so many folks are curious about his personal life, especially about his family.

Beyond the bright lights of Hollywood, a lot of people wonder about the man himself, and a common question that pops up is about his family, specifically, how many children does Robert De Niro have? This question, it seems, just keeps coming up, and it's something many want to know, as a matter of fact.

His family life, like many public figures, has seen its moments in the spotlight, and sometimes, it's a bit hard to keep track of everything, you see. We'll take a closer look at his family, giving you a clear picture of his children and the different relationships that have shaped his life outside of acting, so to speak.

Robert De Niro: A Brief Look
Robert De Niro's Personal Details
The De Niro Children: A Growing Family
A Father Through the Years
Frequently Asked Questions About Robert De Niro's Children
What This All Means

Robert De Niro: A Brief Look

Robert De Niro, a name that just about everyone recognizes, has built a truly remarkable career, wouldn't you say? He's been in some of the most memorable movies, leaving a big mark on cinema. His work has earned him many awards and a lot of respect from people who watch films, too it's almost a given.

Beyond his roles, people are often curious about the personal side of actors, and Robert De Niro is no exception, you know? It's natural to wonder about the people behind the famous faces. This includes questions about his family, his relationships, and how he manages life outside of the film set, really.

His journey in Hollywood began many years ago, and he has maintained a presence there for decades, which is quite something, in a way. His life, both on and off screen, has definitely been one that sparks a lot of interest, and people often want to know more about it, as a matter of fact.

Robert De Niro's Personal Details

Full Name	Robert Anthony De Niro Jr.
Date of Birth	August 17, 1943
Place of Birth	Greenwich Village, New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, Producer, Director
Spouses	Dianne Abbott (m. 1976; div. 1988), Grace Hightower (m. 1997; div. 2018)
Children	7 (as of 2023)

The De Niro Children: A Growing Family

Robert De Niro is a father to several children, and his family has grown over the years, which is pretty cool, you know? He has children from different relationships, and each one adds to the story of his life as a parent. It's a fairly big family, really, with a mix of ages and experiences.

The question of "how many kids" often comes up because his family has expanded over time, and some of his children are grown adults with their own lives, while others are still quite young, too. It makes for a rather diverse group, in some respects, spanning several decades.

He has always been quite private about his family life, but details about his children have become known over the years, just like with many public figures, you see. We'll go through each of his children, giving you a better idea of his family tree, so to speak.

Drena De Niro

Drena De Niro is Robert De Niro's first child, and she was adopted by him when he married her mother, Dianne Abbott, in 1976, that. She was born in 1971, making her his eldest, and she carries the De Niro name, which is something many people might not realize at first, you know?

Drena has also followed a path into the entertainment world, appearing in some films and working as a producer, which is kind of interesting, you know? She has been seen alongside her father at various events, showing a close bond, which is actually quite nice to see.

Her work in film includes roles in movies like "Joy" and "A Star Is Born," so she's been quite active in the industry, really. She has, in a way, carved out her own place, while still being a part of the De Niro legacy, you could say.

Raphael De Niro

Raphael De Niro is Robert De Niro's first biological child, born in 1976 to him and his first wife, Dianne Abbott, that. He's often been in the public eye more than some of his siblings, perhaps because of his career path, you know?

Unlike his father and sister Drena, Raphael chose a different professional direction, getting into real estate, which is quite a different field, as a matter of fact. He has become a fairly successful real estate broker in New York City, working with high-end properties, apparently.

He has a family of his own, too, adding another generation to the De Niro family tree, which is something many people might find interesting, you see. Raphael has, in a way, built a life that is distinct from the acting world, yet still connected to the city his father is so famous for, really.

Julian Henry and Aaron Kendrick De Niro

Julian Henry and Aaron Kendrick De Niro are twin sons, born in 1995 through a surrogate, to Robert De Niro and his then-girlfriend, Toukie Smith, that. They represent a unique part of his family story, being twins and born through a different arrangement, you know?

These two have largely stayed out of the public spotlight, which is often the case for children of famous people who don't choose a public career, too. Their lives have been kept fairly private, allowing them to grow up away from constant media attention, which is probably a good thing, honestly.

Julian, in particular, has shown some interest in acting, appearing in a few projects, so he might be following in his father's footsteps a little, perhaps. Aaron, on the other hand, seems to prefer a more private existence, which is totally understandable, you know? Their paths are, in a way, quite different from each other.

Elliot De Niro

Elliot De Niro was born in 1998 to Robert De Niro and his second wife, Grace Hightower, that. Elliot's birth brought another child into the family, and his life has been discussed publicly by his father on occasion, which is quite rare, you see.

Robert De Niro has spoken about Elliot having autism, sharing his experience as a parent of a child with special needs, which is something that has helped many other families, as a matter of fact. He has used his platform to raise awareness about autism, which is a really commendable thing to do, you know?

Elliot has also shown a talent for tennis, and his father has spoken about how much joy he gets from watching him play, too. It's a different side of the family life, showing the personal challenges and triumphs that come with raising children, particularly when they have unique needs, really.

Helen Grace De Niro

Helen Grace De Niro, born in 2011, is also a child of Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower, that. She was born via surrogate, just like the twins Julian and Aaron, which is a detail that sometimes surprises people, you know?

Helen is one of his younger children, and her life has been kept very private, perhaps more so than some of her older siblings, too. Given her young age, it's pretty normal for her to be out of the public eye, allowing her to have a fairly typical childhood, as much as possible, that is.

Her birth further expanded the De Niro family, showing that even later in life, he continued to embrace fatherhood, which is something that many people find quite touching, you see. She represents a newer generation within his family, with a lot of life still ahead, in some respects.

Gia Virginia Chen De Niro

Gia Virginia Chen De Niro is Robert De Niro's most recent child, born in April 2023, that. Her mother is Tiffany Chen, which brought a new chapter to his life as a parent, you know? Her arrival was announced when De Niro was already 79 years old, which was quite a big piece of news, too.

The news of Gia's birth created a bit of a stir, given his age, but it also showed his continued dedication to family, which is something that many people admire, you see. She is, by far, his youngest child, making the age gap between his eldest and youngest quite significant, as a matter of fact.

Gia's birth confirms that Robert De Niro is a father to seven children, solidifying the answer to the common question about his family size, really. Her presence means he's still experiencing the joys and challenges of raising a baby, even at this stage of his life, which is kind of remarkable, you know?

A Father Through the Years

Robert De Niro's journey as a father spans several decades, from his first child in the 1970s to his most recent in the 2020s, that. This long period shows his continued commitment to family life, even while maintaining a very busy and successful career, you know?

He has spoken on occasion about the challenges and rewards of being a parent, often with a sense of humor and warmth, too. It seems he values his role as a father very much, and it's clear his children are a significant part of his world, as a matter of fact.

The different ages of his children mean he has experienced various stages of parenthood, from raising young kids to having adult children who are building their own lives, which is quite a broad experience, you see. His family life, in a way, mirrors the long and varied career he has had, really.

It is interesting to consider how his children might view his fame, and how he has tried to give them as normal a life as possible, given his public status, too. This balance is something many celebrity parents work on, and De Niro seems to have handled it with a certain grace, you know? Learn more about family dynamics on our site.

His dedication to his family, even with the demands of his profession, is a testament to his personal values, you know? It shows that for all his on-screen personas, he is, at his core, a person who cares deeply about his loved ones, which is a pretty good thing, as a matter of fact. You can also link to this page about celebrity families.

Frequently Asked Questions About Robert De Niro's Children

How old are Robert De Niro's children?

Robert De Niro's children span a wide range of ages, from his eldest, Drena, born in 1971, to his youngest, Gia, born in 2023, that. This means he has children in their 50s, 40s, 20s, teens, and even a baby, too. It's quite a spectrum, you know?

Who are the mothers of Robert De Niro's kids?

Robert De Niro has children with four different women, that. His first wife, Dianne Abbott, is the mother of Drena (adopted) and Raphael. Toukie Smith is the mother of his twin sons, Julian and Aaron. His second wife, Grace Hightower, is the mother of Elliot and Helen. Most recently, Tiffany Chen is the mother of Gia, you see.

Has Robert De Niro spoken about his children's lives?

Robert De Niro generally keeps his family life quite private, but he has spoken publicly about his children on a few occasions, that. He has shared details about Elliot's autism to raise awareness, and he has also expressed his joy about his children and grandchildren, too. He tends to be pretty protective of their privacy, you know? For more information on his public statements, you might look at interviews with reputable news sources, like those found on IMDb's biography page for Robert De Niro.

What This All Means

So, the answer to "how many kids does Robert De Niro have" is seven, as of 2023, that. His family is a testament to his long life and varied personal relationships, showing a man who has embraced fatherhood across many years, you know? It's a pretty big family, and it continues to grow and change, too.

Understanding his family life gives a little more depth to the public persona of Robert De Niro, helping us see him not just as an actor, but as a parent and family man, which is kind of interesting, you see. It shows that even famous people have personal lives that are just as rich and varied as anyone else's, as a matter of fact.

Robert Pattinson - Profile Images — The Movie Database (TMDB)

Robert Downey Jr. says it was for the best that he didn't win an Oscar

Robert Thomas Pattinson - The actor - The musician: About Robert

Veritas Now

Robert De Niro: How Many Kids Does The Screen Icon Have?

Table of Contents