Robert De Niro shows athletic physique at 81 as daughter Drena pays tribute

Robert De Niro made quite the splash to celebrate his 81st birthday on Saturday, August 17, as his family members rallied around him to mark the occasion.

The actor’s oldest of his seven children, Drena De Niro, took to social media to pay tribute to her dad, offering a glimpse of their celebratory day by the sea.

She shared photos and a video from their day at the beach, showcasing the star, who looked impressively fit and athletic for his age, making a 36-foot dive into the ocean wearing nothing but patterned swim shorts.

Drena also posted childhood photos of herself with her father, who adopted her after marrying her mother, Diahnne Abbott, in 1976. The photos also featured her half-brother Raphael, Robert and Diahnne’s only child together.

“Happy 81st Bday to my Dad and #1 ride or die… Love you with all my [heart] #BobbyD forever,” she captioned her tribute, sharing more nostalgic images on her Instagram Stories.

Robert has seven children with his former partners, including Drena, 56, and Raphael, 47, with Diahnne; twins Julian and Aaron, 28, with model Toukie Smith; Elliot, 26, and Helen, 12, with ex-wife Grace Hightower; and one-year-old baby Gia with his current girlfriend Tiffany Chen.

In a recent appearance on the Third Hour of Today ahead of the TriBeCa Film Festival in June, the two-time Oscar winner discussed his evolving role as a father. When asked how he felt he had changed between parenting his oldest (Drena) and his youngest (Gia), he humorously replied, “Ask the older ones.”

“I mean nothing is perfect in life, as we all know,” he continued. “And my older kids…as [they] get older, you know, they’re more critical. When they’re young, like the baby, that’s pure joy, period. So I’m enjoying that.”

Prior to paying tribute to her father on his birthday, Drena shared a bittersweet post on Instagram in memory of her late son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez. Tragically, Leandro died in July 2023 at the age of 19 from an accidental overdose after taking pills laced with fentanyl.

Leandro, whom Drena had with her ex Carlos “Mare” Rodriquez, would have celebrated his 21st birthday on August 11, just days before his grandfather’s 81st birthday. Drena posted an emotional message for him along with several photos of their time together.

“Happy Most Heavenly 21st Birthday to you Leandro …I have always been and remain in awe, love and admiration of you since the first moment I laid eyes on you,” she penned.

“I’m selfish and wish you were here with me, but I know you are probably having the blowout of all blowouts surrounded by an army of angels who love and cherish you as we do here.”

Drena continued: “I’ve run out of all the good and funny words in the vocabulary to describe you and my feelings for you so I’ll just say… Until we meet again my little Love. Shine On You Crazy Diamond you!”

Source: Getty Images