Robert De Niro broke his silence on the demise of his 19-year-old grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.
“I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo,” De Niro, 79, instructed Us Weekly in a press release on Monday, July 3. “We’re significantly appreciative of the condolences from everybody. We ask that we please be given privateness to grieve our lack of Leo.”
Leandro was the son of Robert’s eldest daughter, Drena De Niro, whom the Irishman actor adopted whereas he was married to Diahnne Abbott. Drena, 51, welcomed Leandro with artist Carlos Mare in 2004. Shortly after the information broke, Drena responded to the assist she and her household have obtained following the tragic loss.
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“It’s with immeasurable shock and disappointment that we are saying goodbye to our beloved son Leo,” she mentioned in a press release to Us on Monday. “We thanks for the outpouring of affection and assist and ask that we’re given privateness right now to course of this inconsolable grief.”
Drena introduced the information of Leandro’s demise on Sunday, July 2, in a touching tribute put up.
“My lovely candy angel. I’ve cherished you past phrases or description from the second I felt you in my stomach. You will have been my pleasure my coronary heart and all that was ever pure and actual in my life,” she wrote through Instagram on the time, alongside a photograph of {the teenager}. “I want I used to be with you proper now. I want I used to be with you.”
Drena De Niro and Leandro De Niro Rodriguez Courtesy of Drena De Niro/Instagram
She continued: “I don’t know reside with out you however I’ll attempt to go on and unfold the love and lightweight that you simply so made me really feel in attending to be your mama. You had been so deeply cherished and appreciated and I want that love alone might have saved you 😞.”
Mare, for his half, honored their late son within the feedback of Drena’s put up.
“😢 My expensive Drena … phrases aren’t sufficient to specific the enjoyment he gave us or the loss we now endure with our households and mates. He’s Godschild now. 🙏🏼,” Mare commented on Instagram. “On this full moon his spirit luminates what couldn’t be seen at midnight. You possibly can’t spell LOVE with out LEO 👼💔💔.”
Earlier than his passing, Leandro was following in his mom and grandfather’s footsteps as he pursued a profession in performing. {The teenager} appeared in a number of roles alongside Drena together with the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born, 2005’s The Assortment and 2018’s Cabaret Maxime.