Robert Anthony De Niro is one of Hollywood’s biggest superstars. He has played the leading role in major motion pictures – since the late 1960s. Only a few celebrities reach the kind of success Robert De Niro has achieved over the ages.
Robert De Niro – One of Hollywood’s Biggest Names
Robert De Niro’s acting prowess is untouchable; he really carries it through when he gets into a role. His crucial and mind-bending role in “Mean Streets,” to his super-hit “Taxi Driver,” to the amazing “The Godfather: Part II,” De Niro has a massive list of notable and unforgettable movies to his name.
He has been in nine Martin Scorcese movies, a director who creates genre-defining movies. Robert De Niro has received countless awards, including two Academy Awards, a shiny Golden Globe Award, and the prestigious Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
After playing a lot of gritty roles in most of his films, he went on to produce and direct a lot of movies himself. He also played significant roles in a few comedy movies, which were completely different from the kind of roles he played. Robert De Niro has done it all. No matter what age group you belong to, there will be at least one Robert De Niro movie in your list that you simply love.
Robert De Niro’s Love Life
Despite having a highly lucrative career, Robert De Niro has had a very rocky love life. Back in 1976, he married his Taxi Driver co-star Diahnne Abbott. They welcome a son, Raphael. De Niro also adopted Diahnne’s daughter of a previous relationship – Drena De Niro. Rober De Niro & Diahnne Abbott, sadly, divorced in 1988.
After his first divorce, Robert De Niro dated Toukie Smith. They welcomed two children – Aaron Kendrick De Niro & Julian Henry De Niro. Their relationship never evolved into a marriage. It lasted for a few years and came to an end in 1995.
After going through heartbreak twice in his life, he married a famous actress and philanthropist, Grace Hightower, in 1997. The couple welcomed their first child, Elliot De Niro, in 1998. And their second child, Helen De Niro, in 2011. Robert De Niro’s longest marriage was with Grace Hightower, spanning twenty years and ending when the two got divorced in 2018.
Robert De Niro as a Father to Six Children – An Incredible Teacher Who Also Learns From His Kids
Despite all of his rocky relationships, Robert De Niro has always been an incredible father to all of his children. He has always spoken amazingly about learning from them as he sees them grow. While speaking to PEOPLE, he said:
“There are great moments and moments of sadness.”
“Sometimes you’re the last person they want to deal with. It’s like when you walk your kids to school, and they get older and they don’t want to hold your hand or kiss you goodbye.”
He told the Los Angeles Times about keeping his children close:
“Everybody’s in New York and, hopefully, my younger kids will go to college in New York and find something they want to do so they’ll stay in the city,”
“I like the kids to be around. If they want to go to college here and live at home, I won’t have a problem with that.”
While talking about whether his children will follow his legacy in movies, he spoke to PEOPLE about letting them decide for themselves:
“For my kids, I tell them, ‘If you want to be an actor or you want to do this or that, that’s fine as long as you’re happy. Just don’t sell yourself short.’ That’s the most I would say — push yourself a little more and reach for what you really think it is you want to do. Don’t be afraid,”
“It’s important for them to find their own lane.”
And about his endless love for his children, he told Us Weekly:
“I love my children, just being with them,”
“…when you have the good moments, you forget about the ones that weren’t good.”
How Have Robert De Niro’s Biracial Children Changed His Life?
Robert De Niro loves his children, and he is also scared because of the volatile environment we live in. He wants to keep all of his children safe and happy, as any good father would. In 2020, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to speak about it.
“My children are all half black and I don’t have … even me, I take certain things for granted … When people say that they tell their kids, ‘Keep your hands when you’re stopped by any cops, keep your hands on the steering wheel, don’t make a sudden move, don’t put your hands below, don’t do this,’ you understand that. That’s scary. That has to change.”
We think Mr. Robert De Niro is an incredible human being who continues to teach and speak the truth without fear of the consequences – staying true to his old “Mean Streets” days. More power to you, Mr. De Niro!
What are your thoughts on Robert De Niro? What’s your favorite movie of his? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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