Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the grandson of Robert De Niro, has died. He was 19 years old. The Oscar-winning actor released a statement Monday, July 3: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo," said the 79-year-old American, who recently became a father for the seventh time. "We greatly appreciate everyone's condolences. We ask that we be given time to mourn Leo."
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It is the mother of the young man, actress Drena De Niro, daughter of the star of Taxi Driver, who announced the sad news in a message published Monday on Instagram. "My beautiful sweet angel. I've loved you beyond words or descriptions from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy, my heart and all that has always been pure and real in my life. I'd like to be with you right now. I'd like to be with you," the 51-year-old actress wrote. "I don't know how to live without you, but I will try to carry on and spread the love and light that you have made me feel so much by becoming your mom. You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish love alone could save you. I'm so sorry my baby, I'm so sorry @carlosmare [Leandro's sculptor and father]. Rest in peace and eternal paradise my darling boy."
In video, Martin Scorsese puts De Niro and DiCaprio in competition for a commercial
In another publication, posted Tuesday, July 4, Drena De Niro also evokes the wave of support she has received since the announcement of the death of her son. Before, once again, paying tribute to him: "You were kindness, acceptance and love and I can't believe it's all real. You have made everything bearable and every burden lighter. You didn't deserve to die like this, but I can only believe that God needed a strong and powerful angel in His army."
A suspected overdose
If the cause of death of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez is not yet known, the first leads of the investigation suggest an overdose of drugs. According to police sources cited by TMZ, a friend of the young man found him unresponsive in a New York apartment.
Actor like his grandfather, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez was spotted on the big screen for a role in A Star Is Born in 2018 alongside Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.