Robert De Niro has taken on all sorts of roles throughout his life, from mobster to intern, grandpa to taxi driver, but as the father to a one-year-old baby, there’s one role he’s admitted he doesn’t want: diaper changer.
The actor became father to his seventh child in April 2023, when he and his girlfriend, 45-year-old Tiffany Chen, welcomed a daughter named Gia.
De Niro is now 81 years old, but he’s still embraced fatherhood once again as he previously told People that when he looks at Gia, ‘everything else goes away’.
Robert De Niro has said he enjoys ‘all’ of fatherhood (Pedro Gomes/Getty Images)
In a new interview with The Times, the Cape Fear star explained that he’s an ‘early riser’ and spends his mornings with Gia, who is now 19 months old.
He gives her her bottle, and said he tries his ‘best’ when it comes to parenting.
When asked how his children might describe him, De Niro responded: “Oh God, they would all have a different answer. Family is so complex… I hope they’ll be happy.”
Part of keeping Gia happy involves watching the YouTuber Ms Rachel; a teacher who creates content to help educate youngsters. De Niro joins his daughter in watching the YouTuber, but there’s one part of parenting that he’s taken a step back from.
When asked if he’s a diaper changer, De Niro replied: “No, no, but I used to.”
His admission comes after the actor previously told The Guardian that parenting ‘doesn’t get easier’ over time.
He revealed that Chen does much of the work when it comes to raising their daughter, but said the couple also have help with their little one.
De Niro admitted Chen does the ‘heavy lifting’ (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
He said: “I don’t do the heavy lifting. I’m there, I support my girlfriend. But she does the work. And we have help, which is so important.”
With children ranging in age from 57 years old to 19 months, De Niro has said he enjoys ‘all’ of fatherhood.
He told The Guardian: “With a baby it’s different to with my 11-year-old. My adult children. My grandchildren. It’s all different […] I don’t talk to the adult children the way I talk to my baby, or the way I speak to my 11-year-old, though she’s pretty smart.”
De Niro first became a father when he adopted his eldest daughter, Drena, when he married her mom, Diahnne Abbott, in 1976. Together, De Niro and Abbott also welcomed a son, Raphael.
The actor and Abbott ultimately divorced, after which he welcomed twin sons, Julian and Aaron, via a surrogate with his partner Toukie Smith.
He then went on to marry Grace Hightower, with who he welcomed a son, Elliot, and a daughter, Helen.
De Niro and Hightower separated in 2018, and De Niro began dating Chen, who he met while working on his 2015 movie The Intern.
