Seven months after Robert De Niro's 19-year-old grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, died of an overdose, the Killers of the Flower Moon star is sharing his feelings about the tragic loss for his family. In a new interview with People magazine, Robert admitted that he was in "disbelief" when he found out about Leandro's death, and even now, he's still working through all of the "what if" questions.
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Leandro died in July 2023.
Last summer, Leandro was found dead in his New York City apartment building, the Cipriani Club Residences. As TMZ reported, an autopsy later revealed that his death was ruled as an accidental overdose caused by the "toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine."
Now, Robert is opening up about his grandson's death.
While talking to People, Robert said he felt "disbelief" when hearing the news that Leandro had died. The 19-year-old was the only son of Robert's daughter, Drena, whom he shares with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott.
"It’s just a shock," he said. "Never thought it would happen."
He still thinks about all of the what ifs.
Robert told People, "it shouldn't have happened."
"I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him. I don't know if that would've made a difference. And so that's always playing through my mind," he admitted.
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Robert also released a statement on Leandro's death after the news broke.
"I'm deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo," read the statement the actor released to the media just days after his grandson's death. "We're greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."
The loss of Leo is devastating for his family.
Earlier this week, Drena marked seven months since Leandro's death with an Instagram post that included photos of the two of them together through the years.
"Life is completely empty without you. Life isn’t fair nor did it ever promise to be fair and I try to figure out how to accept that every day. I just wait quietly and patiently like a ghost until when I will be with you again," Drena wrote. "Until then there is no peace. I miss you beyond comprehension kid. I love you more than all the words in the human vocabulary can convey. My only comfort in this nightmare is that I know you always knew that."
