Robert De Niro's grandson Leandro dies aged 19
Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro dies aged 19 as his mother Drea pays tribute to her ‘beautiful sweet angel’
- 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 and artist Carlos Mare, with Drena paying tribute to her late son in a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday.
She did not reveal his cause of death but shared a picture of her son 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 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️’
To which she responded: ‘I know I still hope this is a nightmare and I’ll wake up tomorrow.’
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 welcomed Leonardo in 2003 with her artist partner Carlos Mare
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 son 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.
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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