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Robert De Niro’s grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, has died aged just 19.
The actor’s daughter, Drena De Niro, confirmed the tragic news of her son’s death in a heartfelt Instagram tribute on Sunday.
The teenager’s A-lister grandfather, 79, told Page Six in a statement he was “deeply distressed” by his grandson’s sudden death.
Here’s what we know so far:
How did Leandro De Niro Rodriguez die?
His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
The teenager’s lifeless body was discovered sitting in a chair in a downtown Manhattan apartment on Sunday afternoon with a white powdery substance and drug paraphernalia nearby, police sources said.
Cops are probing his death as a possible overdose, according to the sources.
Leandro’s body was found by a friend who had gone to the apartment to check in after not hearing from him for several days, TMZ reported.
Who are his parents?
Leandro’s 51-year-old mom, Drena, is the oldest of De Niro’s seven children.
De Niro had adopted Drena in 1976 after he married her mother, Diahnne Abbott. The former couple ended up calling it quits in 1988.
In her heartfelt tribute to her son, Drena wrote: “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. 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.”
Leandro’s dad, Carlos Rodriguez, is a Big Apple-based artist and sculptor.
Known as Mare139 in the art world, Rodriguez is best known as being one of the pioneers of subway graffiti.
He shared a blacked-out image on his Instagram page after news of his son’s death broke.
What did Leandro do for a living?
Leandro followed in his mom and grandfather’s footsteps by becoming an actor.
The young actor’s most notable film credit was when he appeared alongside his mother in the 2018 flick “A Star Is Born.” In that role, Leandro played the son of Dave Chappelle’s George “Noodles” Stone, who was friends with Bradley Cooper’s Jackson Maine.
He also appeared with his mom in the 2005 film “The Collection” and 2018’s “Cabaret Maxime.”
What has Robert De Niro said about his grandson’s death?
“I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo,” the award-winning actor said in a statement through his rep.
“We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo.”
Family history: How many other children does Robert De Niro have?
Aside from adopting Drena, De Niro and his first wife have a son, Raphael, who is now 46.
De Niro is also the father of twins Aaron and Julian, 27, with Toukie Smith.
He shares Elliot, 25, and Helen, 11, with his second wife, Grace Hightower, who he was married to between 1997 to 2018.
De Niro and girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, recently welcomed a baby girl named Gia.
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