Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, 19, dies

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the 19-year-old grandson of Robert De Niro, has tragically died as his mum mourns the loss of her “darling boy”.

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the 19-year-old grandson of Robert De Niro, has died. Picture: Instagram.

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the 19-year-old grandson of Godfather star Robert De Niro, has tragically died.

The young actor was following in his granddad’s footsteps, having featured alongside Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born in 2018. His death was confirmed on Monday.

Leandro played Leo Stone, the son of Dave Chapelle’s George “Noodles” Stone, in the hit film and was beginning to make a name for himself in Hollywood.

He also held acting credits in The Collection (2005) and Cabaret Maxime (2018).

Leandro was the son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena De Niro, 51, and artist Carlos Rodriguez.

Drena took the star actor’s surname after he married her mother, Diahnne Abbott, in 1976.

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

Drena took to Instagram on Monday to confirm her son’s death, sharing an emotional tribute to her “darling boy”.

It was accompanied by a portrait shot of the teenager and was captioned: “I wish that love alone could have saved you”.

“My beautiful sweet angel, I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly,” Drena’s tribute read.

“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.

“You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you.

“Rest in peace and eternal paradise my darling boy.”

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

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

Leandro’s dad Carlos did not pay a public tribute to his late son but shared an image of a black square on his Instagram page.

Carlos is a renowned New York-based artist most notable for his subway graffiti and publishes under the pseudonym “Mare 139”.

Leandro’s cause of death has not been announced.

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

Drena is the adopted daughter of De Niro, 79, after his marriage to actor Diahnne Abbott. The couple later welcomed a son, Raphael.

Drena has worked in the arts, modelling, the music industry and fashion, before eventually following in her dad’s footsteps to become an actor and filmmaker.

De Niro is also father to Julian, Aaron, Elliot, Helen and Gia.

In April this year, he welcomed his seventh child, Gia, with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.

De Niro shares Elliot and Helen with his ex-wife Grace Hightower, and twins Julian and Aaron with actor Toukie Smith.

Originally published as Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, 19, dies