‘Deeply distressed’ Robert De Niro reacts to ‘beloved grandson’ Leandro’s death at 19

Oscar winner Robert DeNiro has said he is “deeply distressed” after learning of the death of his teenage grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.

‘Deeply distressed’ Robert De Niro reacts to ‘beloved grandson’ Leandro’s death at 19.

Robert De Niro is mourning his grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.

“I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo,” the actor said in a statement to the New York Post’s Page Six section via a spokesman on Monday.

“We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo.”

Robert’s daughter Drena De Niro announced her son’s death on Sunday in an emotional Instagram tribute to her “beautiful sweet angel”.

“I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly,” the actor and filmmaker, 51, captioned a throwback photo.

“You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life.”

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez (left) has died. Picture: Instagram.

After writing that she does not “know how to live without” the teenager, Ms DeNiro added, “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,” she continued. “I’m so sorry my baby. … Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.”

The cause of death was not immediately known, though drugs and drug paraphernalia were reportedly found near Leandro’s body.

Leandro was a 19-year-old actor. Picture: Instagram.

He was the grandson of Robert De Niro. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images.

Ms DeNiro shared her son with graffiti artist Carlos “Mare139” Rodriguez, who commented on her social media upload: “words aren’t enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends. He is Godschild [sic] now. On this full moon his spirit laminates what could not be seen in the dark. You can’t spell LOVE without LEO”.

Other celebrities left their support in the comments section, including singer Lenny Kravitz, US TV host Andy Cohen and Naomi Campbell.

“I am so sad to hear about beautiful Leo,” Mr Cohen wrote, while the model added how “heartbroken” she felt “at this very sad time and loss”.

Ms DeNiro is the eldest of the Hollywood legend’s seven children. He adopted her in 1976 after marrying her mother, Diahnne Abbott.

Leandro and his mother, Drena De Niro. Picture: Instagram.

The Oscar winner also shares son Raphael, 46, with Ms Abbott, as well as twins Aaron and Julian, 27, with Toukie Smith and son Elliot, 25, and daughter Helen, 11, with Grace Hightower.

In May, the Taxi Driver star revealed that his partner, Tiffany Chen, had given birth to baby number seven. The duo named their daughter Gia.

This story was published in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.

Originally published as ‘Deeply distressed’ Robert De Niro reacts to ‘beloved grandson’ Leandro’s death at 19