Robert De Niro has broken his silence over the death of his 18-year-old grandson Leandro who was was found dead on Sunday afternoon with a white powdery substance on a plate near his body.
In a statement today, the actor said: ‘I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo.
‘We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo.’
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez was the son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena, 51, and artist Carlos Rodriguez. On Sunday, Drena announced his death on Instagram, saying: ‘I wish that love alone could have saved you.’
Robert De Niro with Leo and his father when he was a child. Leandro’s mother announced his death on Instagram and both of his parents paid tribute to him on Sunday night
Leo’s father, Carlos, said in a post that his son is ‘Godschild now’
Leandro, 18, was found dead sitting in a chair in a $950,000, one-bedroom apartment in the Cipriani Club Residences on Wall Street in New York City on Sunday
The teenager’s lifeless body was found sitting in a chair inside a $950,000, one-bedroom apartment in the Cipriani Club Residences on Wall Street.
A police source tells DailyMail.com the substance was found near his body and there were no signs of trauma. He was found by a friend who hadn’t heard from him in a few days and was checking in on him, a police source told TMZ.
The concierge at 55 Wall Street confirmed that Leandro lived in the building, He’d lived alone in the upscale sixth-floor apartment, renting the unit for less than a year, he said. The apartment is located in the same stone building as Cipriani, a luxury venue for events.
He described Leandro as a friendly young man, who’d always say hello when he came and went.
‘I’d see him every now and then, and he’d always say hi,’ the concierge said. ‘He just was friendly, kept to himself.’
‘I didn’t know who he was until I read the story,’ he said. ‘It’s a tragedy. I was just talking to my coworker that said my daughter just turned 20. You see his (Leandro’s) picture, he was a baby.’
The apartment building on Wall Street where De Niro’s grandson was found on Sunday
The concierge said he had never seen De Niro at the apartment.
The 937 sq. ft. one-bedroom apartment is currently up for sale for $945,000 and an open house was scheduled for next Sunday.
Records show it was bought for $915,000 by Richard and Shulamit Charles in 2015 and has been on and off the market ever since.
It was last offered for rent at $4,000 a month.
Aspiring actor and director Leandro was following in his mother and grandfather’s career footsteps, landed a small role in 2018’s A Star Is Born as the son of Bradley Cooper’s best friend, George ‘Noodles’ Stone, played by Dave Chappelle. He also appeared in Cabaret Maxime in 2018.
Both of his parents paid tribute to him on Instagram on Sunday night.
His father, Carlos, said in a post: ‘Words aren’t enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends. He is God’s child now. On this full moon his spirit luminates what could not be seen in the dark.’
Drena’s 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 18 (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
Final post: Robert De Niro ‘s grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez appeared in a heartbreaking final social media post shared by his mother Drena on Mother’s Day
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.’
Leandro’s father added in his own comment: ‘Words aren’t enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends.
‘He is God’s child now. On this full moon his spirit luminates what could not be seen in the dark.
‘You can’t spell LOVE without LEO.’
The pair were 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.’
MailOnline has contacted De Niro’s representatives for comment.
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.
In May, Drena had taken to Instagram – weeks before her son’s death – to share a sweet post to praise him on Mother’s Day.
Family: Drena is pictured with mother Drena and father Carlos Rodriguez
Leandro with his mother in a recent photo she shared for Mothers’ Day
Grieving: His 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
Drena and Leandro both appeared briefly in A Star Is Born. He was 13 at the time of filming
Tragic loss: Leandro was the son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena (pictured in 2016)
Parents: De Niro adopted Diahnne Abbott’s daughter after the pair married in 1976 (pictured together in New York in 1977)
In the snaps, Drena could be seen beaming alongside Leandro for a selfie, with another shot showing the pair posing with Leandro’s father Carlos Rodriguez.
The post from May 15 post was captioned: ‘Mothers Day ~ A Lil bit of Leo Lil bit of Mare , Lots of Sunny & CleoPipa #AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore. Lots of memories of my soulmate ,fur baby Daisy. Today was a good day ✨♥️ #happymothersday.’
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.
The Cipriani Club Residences where the teen was found dead Sunday features a 24 hour concierge and butler service, library, bi-level fitness center, and landscaped roof deck
At 51, Drena is five years older than De Niro’s 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, 27, — 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, 21, and in 2011, a daughter, Helen, 11, (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 Gia Virginia with his girlfriend Tiffany Chan, 43, to whom he has been linked since summer 2021.
New parents: Robert shares the newborn baby girl with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen (pictured together on June 7 in NYC), to whom he’s been linked since summer 2021
His eldest daughter: Robert has two kids – Drena, 51 (pictured with Robert in 2022), and Raphael, 46 – with his ex wife Diahnne Abbott
De Niro (right) is pictured with his son Julian (far left) as well as John David Washington, Danielle Brooks and Samuel L. Jackson in November 2022 in New York City
His son Elliot: De Niro with his son Elliot, who is now 24, in 2011 in France
His girl: De Niro with daughter Helen Grace out for ice cream with their puppies in New York in April 2019
Gia was born on April 6 and weighed 8 pounds and 6 ounces.
In June, De Niro gushed about raising a newborn once again while at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, stating: ‘It feels great.’
In regards to how he has changed as a father, the Goodfellas star said: ‘I have certain awareness — when you’re older you have awareness of certain things in life, dynamics, everything, family dynamics.’
He added: ‘You can’t avoid learning certain things and how you can deal with those and manage them and this and that, the usual.
‘It’s amazing, but I’m very happy about it.’
Shortly after the news of his new family addition came to light, the actor told Page Six that welcoming his seventh child was ‘planned’ and questioned ‘How you could not plan that kind of thing?’
