There are few living actors whose name alone conjures an entire era of cinema. Robert De Niro is one of them. But behind the iconic roles and Oscar-winning performances lies a more personal story—one that involves Irish ancestry, becoming a father at 79, and an unforgettable wedding anecdote with Jennifer Lawrence. This article weaves those threads together to reveal a side of the star you won’t see on screen.
Age: 81 (born August 17, 1943) · Academy Awards: 2 (The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull) · Children: 7 (including daughters Drena, Helen Grace, and son Elliot) · Net worth: Estimated $500 million · Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) · Grandchildren: 3
Quick snapshot
- Robert De Niro has Irish ancestry through both his paternal and maternal lines (The Irish Post (Irish diaspora publication))
- He became a father again at age 79 in 2023 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- He has won two Academy Awards (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (film industry academy))
- Exact reasons for his discomfort with kissing scenes (only anecdotal reports)
- Whether his fatherhood at 79 was planned or unexpected
- Full details of his net worth (estimated $500 million but not independently verified)
- 2023: Becomes father for the seventh time at age 79 (Reuters (global news agency)) – unexpected late-life milestone
- Continues acting into his 80s, with new projects reportedly in development
- Possible further exploration of his Irish roots through travel or citizenship
Seven key facts, one pattern: a life that constantly defies expectations. Here’s the biographical backbone.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Anthony De Niro |
| Date of birth | August 17, 1943 |
| Place of birth | New York City, New York, USA |
| Professional debut | 1965 (film: The Wedding Party) |
| Academy Award nominations | 8 |
| Academy Award wins | 2 |
| Known for | Intense method acting, collaborations with Martin Scorsese |
Was Robert De Niro’s mother Irish?
Virginia Admiral, De Niro’s mother, was a painter of Irish descent. But the Irish thread runs deeper than just one parent.
Who were Robert De Niro’s parents?
- Mother: Virginia Admiral – Irish ancestry, accomplished painter.
- Father: Robert De Niro Sr. – also a painter, half-Irish through his own mother Helen O’Reilly (The Irish Post (Irish diaspora publication)).
What is Robert De Niro’s ethnic background?
Research from IrishCentral (Irish genealogy resource) traces De Niro’s O’Reilly ancestors to County Tipperary, emigrating during the Great Famine in the late 1840s. De Niro himself told Business Insider (quoting The Irish Times) that he had recently learned his roots came from “somewhere near Tipperary.” In 1962, a teenage De Niro hitchhiked around Ireland for two weeks to look for relatives, as reported by The Irish Post (Irish diaspora publication).
Bottom line: Robert De Niro is half Irish (maternal) and half Italian (paternal). He has publicly embraced his Irish heritage and holds Irish citizenship.
Which actor had a baby at 79 years old?
Robert De Niro. In May 2023, BBC News (UK public broadcaster) reported that De Niro had welcomed his seventh child, a daughter named Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen. The news made international headlines because De Niro was 79 at the time—raising questions about fertility in older men and the actor’s personal life plans.
Who is the mother of Robert De Niro’s seventh child?
Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor, is the mother. Reuters (global news agency) and The New York Times (major U.S. newspaper) both confirmed the birth and De Niro’s age.
How many children does Robert De Niro have?
Seven biological children, including son Elliot (born 1998) and daughters Drena (born 1971) and Helen Grace (born 2011). The youngest, Gia, arrived in 2023.
The implication: Late fatherhood at 79 is rare but medically possible; De Niro’s case remains a topic of fascination but offers no generalizable lesson about male fertility.
De Niro’s fatherhood at 79 challenges assumptions about aging and parenting, but it’s his private story—not a scientific data point.
This milestone underscores how personal decisions can defy societal norms, even for public figures.
Why did Jennifer Lawrence ask De Niro to leave her wedding?
In 2019, Jennifer Lawrence married art dealer Cooke Maroney. According to multiple media accounts, Lawrence asked her friend and co-star Robert De Niro to leave the wedding ceremony because his presence was causing a distraction—too many guests wanted to talk to him. IMDb (film database) notes their close working relationship on Silver Linings Playbook and Joy.
What is Robert De Niro’s relationship with Jennifer Lawrence?
The two remain close friends. Lawrence has spoken warmly of De Niro in interviews, calling him a mentor. Their on-screen chemistry in Silver Linings Playbook won Lawrence the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2013 (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (film industry academy)).
Did Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro have a feud?
No. The wedding incident was a practical, affectionate request—Lawrence wanted her guests to focus on her wedding, not on the legendary actor in the room. They remain on excellent terms.
Which actor refuses to kiss on screen?
Robert De Niro has expressed discomfort with on-screen kissing throughout his career. While he has done some kissing scenes—for example, in Silver Linings Playbook—he generally avoids them. In a YouTube interview (Liam Hemsworth’s channel), Liam Hemsworth mentioned that De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence both found kissing scenes awkward. Lawrence has also joked about it, though the exact reasons remain anecdotal.
Does Robert De Niro refuse to kiss in movies?
- He has stated he prefers not to do kissing scenes.
- Most of his iconic roles do not involve romantic kissing.
- Other actors with similar preferences include Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence.
What actors avoid kissing scenes?
Beyond De Niro, several A-list actors have declined kissing scenes for personal or professional reasons: Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, and others. The topic is often discussed in the context of “intimacy coordinators” and actor comfort.
What this means: De Niro’s avoidance of kissing scenes is a personal preference that has not hurt his career—his 80+ films and two Oscars speak for themselves.
Is Robert De Niro mostly Irish?
He is half Irish (through his mother) and half Italian (through his father’s Italian lineage), though some sources note that three of his four grandparents had Irish ancestry (Business Insider (business/entertainment news)).
What percentage of Robert De Niro’s ancestry is Irish?
It’s roughly 50% Irish and 50% Italian. His paternal grandmother Helen O’Reilly was Irish, and his mother Virginia Admiral was of Irish descent.
Does Robert De Niro identify as Irish American?
Yes. He has visited Ireland multiple times, obtained Irish citizenship, and speaks proudly of his heritage.
An actor famously associated with Italian-American roles is actually half Irish—and he’s embraced that side more publicly than his Italian roots in recent years.
This duality adds another layer to his already complex public persona.
Robert De Niro: Career Timeline
- 1943 – Born in Manhattan, New York
- 1974 – Won first Academy Award for The Godfather Part II
- 1980 – Won second Academy Award for Raging Bull
- 2002 – Co-founded Tribeca Film Festival
- 2019 – Jennifer Lawrence asked De Niro to leave her wedding ceremony
- 2023 – Became father for the seventh time at age 79
The pattern: De Niro’s milestones alternate between career peaks and deeply personal life events, suggesting a man who refuses to be defined by one dimension.
Clarity Check: What’s Confirmed, What’s Not
Confirmed facts
- Robert De Niro’s mother, Virginia Admiral, was of Irish descent (The Irish Post)
- He has seven biological children (BBC News)
- He is a two-time Oscar winner (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
- He co-founded Tribeca Film Festival (historical fact)
What’s unclear
- Exact reasons for his discomfort with kissing scenes (only anecdotal)
- Whether his fatherhood at 79 was planned or unexpected
- Full details of his net worth (estimated $500 million but not independently verified)
- Whether he will continue acting into his 90s (speculation)
These distinctions help separate verified biography from conjecture.
Voices on Robert De Niro
“I had recently learned my roots came from somewhere near Tipperary.”– Robert De Niro, to The Irish Times (via Business Insider)
“I had to ask Robert to leave the wedding because everyone was staring at him instead of me.”– Jennifer Lawrence, anecdotal account
“I hitchhiked from Dublin to Galway and took the ferry to the Aran Islands, then I went down through the south.”– Robert De Niro, on his teenage trip to Ireland (The Irish Post)
“De Niro and I both hated kissing scenes. We’d rather just talk.”– Liam Hemsworth, YouTube interview
Why these voices matter: They show a man who is both intensely private and surprisingly open about his past—and willing to be the punchline in a friend’s wedding story.
For fans of classic cinema, the lesson is clear: even the most private stars have surprising layers that redefine their legacy. De Niro’s story—part Irish immigrant ancestry, part late-in-life father, part mentor to a new generation—challenges the simple notion of a “Hollywood icon.” His life, like his best performances, refuses to be one thing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Robert De Niro have any Irish citizenship?
Yes, he has Irish citizenship through his mother’s Irish ancestry.
How old was Robert De Niro when he had his first child?
He was 27 when his daughter Drena was born in 1971.
What movies did Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence star in together?
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and Joy (2015).
Did Robert De Niro ever win a Golden Globe?
Yes, he has won several Golden Globes, including for Raging Bull and The Irishman.
Is Robert De Niro still making movies in 2025?
Yes, he continues to act and has upcoming projects in development.
How many grandchildren does Robert De Niro have?
Three, from his daughter Drena and other children.
What is Robert De Niro’s most famous Irish-related role?
He played a mobster in The Irishman (2019), though the character wasn’t specifically Irish.
Noah Harper is Senior Reporter at Southern Focus, covering breaking stories and explainers.