Robert De Niro attended the wake on Thursday for his 19-year-old grandson Leandro, who died after taking fentanyl-laced pills.
The teen’s lifeless body was found sitting in a chair next to white powder in a $950,000 one-bedroom apartment at the Cipriani Club Residences on Wall Street, New York, on Sunday.
His mother Drena De Niro – an American actress who was adopted by De Niro after the actor married her mother Diahnne Abbott in 1976 – announced his death on Monday, saying: “I wish only love could have saved you.”
On Thursday, the family held a vigil in New York City at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The funeral chapel has also cared for the bodies of Judy Garland, Heath Ledger, John Lennon and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
The 79-year-old Oscar winner was joined by Harvey Keitel, his Taxi Driver co-star and friend of 50 years, and Keitel’s wife, Canadian film director Daphna Kastner.
Robert De Niro is seen Thursday at his grandson Leandro’s wake in New York City
Leandro’s parents Drena De Niro and Carlos Rodriguez, an artist, are seen at the funeral home on Thursday
Drena De Niro hugs Harvey Keitel after Thursday’s ceremony
Keitel, 84, is seen exiting the funeral chapel in Manhattan’s Upper East Side
Drena De Niro said on Instagram that she was shocked that fentanyl-laced pills could be sold
Drena De Niro, 51, announced the tragic loss of her son Leandro on Monday, saying, “I wish only love could have saved you.” Leandro is depicted with his mother Drena and grandfather
Robert De Niro covered his face with a newspaper as he left his house to travel to the funeral chapel.
Drena De Niro arrived holding hands with her ex-husband, Carlos Rodriguez, a 51-year-old artist and Leandro’s father.
The actor, who became a father of seven when he welcomed a daughter to his girlfriend in April, said in a statement earlier this week that he was “deeply saddened by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo.”
He added: “We are extremely grateful for everyone’s condolences. We ask for privacy to mourn our loss of Leo.’
Drena is Robert De Niro’s oldest child.
He is also the father of Raphael, a 46-year-old real estate agent; twin sons Aaron and Julian, an actor, both 27; Elliot, a 25-year-old with autism who has competed in the Special Olympics in tennis; and Helen, age 11.
On April 3 this year, the actor welcomed daughter Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro with his partner, Tiffany Chen, 45.
Drena announced the death of her son on Monday.
She later added a close-up black-and-white photo of Leandro smiling as she thanked friends and family members who had been supportive after his unexpected death.
Drena De Niro posted a black and white photo of her 19-year-old son Leandro to Instagram along with a heartbreaking caption about her holding him for the last time at a funeral home
“I can barely type through my tears, but all the love, the messages, calls, texts, emails, the friends and family that have held me for the last 24 hours, I haven’t been able to answer yet, but we are grateful for all your love and condolences,’ she said.
“None of this is right or fair and my heart aches in a way I never thought possible, while still breathing and barely functioning.
“Leo my love, I love you today like the first day I held you in my arms.”
The grieving mother added that she was taken to the funeral home where she “touched and held” her son for the last time, by the same driver who collected her from the hospital when he was born.
“You were kindness, acceptance, and love and I can’t believe this is all real. YOU made everything bearable and every burden lighter,” she added.
Drena De Niro’s heartbreaking post about holding her 18-year-old son for the ‘last time’
“You didn’t deserve to die like that, but I can only believe that God needed a strong, mighty angel in their army.
“I carry you every second of every moment in my heart and memories until I am with you again. My heart is broken forever.
“I daddy and your family love you, I love you, I love you with every beat of my crying heart.”
She also shared a series of photos of Leandro with her 27.5k followers on her Instagram story, including some of him as a younger child.
Leandro’s father, artist Carlos Rodriguez, posted a black square on Instagram on the day of his son’s death.
Rodriguez has been quieter in the wake of the tragedy, but he also recently shared a reel of photos of Leandro and their family, featuring the Hollow Coves song Blessings.
He shared the reel alongside the caption, “Thank you for your messages of support.
“Drena De Niro and our families are grateful. You can’t spell love without Leo.’
Aspiring actor and director Leandro followed in his mother’s and grandfather’s footsteps, landing small roles in 2018’s A Star Is Born and Cabaret Maxime and 2005’s The Collection.
Leandro’s mother – an American actress who was adopted by De Niro after the actor married her mother Diahnne Abbott in 1976 – announced his death on Monday, saying: ‘I wish only love could have saved you’
Aspiring actor and director Leandro followed in his mother’s and grandfather’s footsteps, landing small roles in 2018’s A Star Is Born and Cabaret Maxime and 2005’s The Collection.
His mother had a relatively transient lifestyle thanks to her father’s vibrant career, dividing her time between New York City, Los Angeles, and Italy.
Drena left school and explored the arts, devoting her hand to a slew of career paths including modeling, DJing and fashion consulting.
She eventually decided to follow in De Niro’s footsteps and quickly found her footing as an actress and filmmaker.
Her first role was in Allison Anders’ Grace of My Heart in 1996 and she went on to star in several of her father’s films, including 1999’s On The Run, 2002’s City By The Sea, and 2002’s Showtime.
De Niro split with Drena’s mother in 1988, but the Hollywood A-lister nevertheless remained in her life.
She grandfathered him in 2003 when she welcomed Leandro with her then-boyfriend Carlos Rodriguez.
Drena, who currently lives in New York, has since turned her attention to directing, and she also describes herself as trained in Muay Thai and martial arts.