There was a lot of buzz surrounding Robert De Niro’s late-in-life fatherhood last year at 79, particularly when he revealed that he had welcomed a child with film producer Tiffany Chen. De Niro confirmed the news at a red carpet event in May, which took many of his fans by surprise.
Despite his age, it appears that the Goodfellas star is fully embracing the responsibilities of being a parent to a newborn. In a recent interview with AARP for their upcoming February/March issue, the 80-year-old actor became emotional while discussing his baby daughter, Gia.
De Niro shared, “I’m an 80-year-old dad, and it’s great. Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her. It’s wondrous.”
The Irishman actor, who received an Oscar nomination for his work in Flowers of the Killer Moon, revealed that Gia reminds him of his daughter Helen, born in 2011 with Grace Hightower. De Niro added, “I want to be around for as long as I can to enjoy it and enjoy her.”
When reflecting on his parenting style, De Niro admitted, “I don’t think I’m a cool dad.” Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of showing love to his kids while also recognizing the necessity of being firm when needed. He said, “You always want to do the right thing by the children and give them the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes you can’t.”
Despite his split from Grace Hightower in 2018, De Niro seems to have found love again with Tiffany Chen. With children from previous marriages, De Niro’s diverse family reflects his dedication as a caring and devoted father.
