The De Niro family has suffered an unimaginable loss in the wake of the untimely passing of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, Robert De Niro’s grandson, and a budding actor. But since privacy has never really been the strongest suit of the media, least of all in such tragic times, the 79-year-old legend has issued a statement addressing Leo’s death and urging people to give the family the space and time to mourn their loss.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez Passes Away at 19
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, who was the son of Robert De Niro‘s adopted daughter, Drena De Niro, was pronounced dead on On Sunday, July 2. The heartbreaking news was first shared by his mother on Instagram. “I wish that love alone could have saved you,” Drena, 51, wrote.
Leo, who was just 19 years old, was discovered by the NYPD in a one-bedroom apartment situated on Wall Street after a friend who hadn’t heard from him in a while was trying to check on him. De Niro Rodriguez, who was an aspiring actor, was found unconscious on a chair in the Cipriani Club Residences apartment and had already passed when the police found him.
No cause of death has been disclosed yet, however, sources [via TMZ] report that the demise of De Niro Rodriguez is allegedly being investigated as a possible drug overdose.
Robert De Niro Breaks Silence on the Loss of His Grandson
The first ones to break the news to the public were Leo’s parents, Drena and Carlos Rodriguez, who paid a heartfelt tribute to their deceased son on Sunday night. De Niro, who is also grieving the inopportune death of his grandson, said in a statement to People magazine yesterday –
“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.”
De Niro Rodriguez had been keen on falling in the footsteps of his mother and grandfather, who doubles as an Oscar-winning actor and a Hollywood icon. He played a mother-son duo with Drena in 2018’s Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born and also appeared with her in Bruno de Almeida’s Cabaret Maxime as well as 2005’s The Collection.
Voicing the Goodfellas star’s concerns, Drena, in a separate statement, added –
“It is with immeasurable shock and sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo. We thank you for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we are given privacy at this time to process this inconsolable grief.”
