Robert De Niro's Daughter Drena Honors Late Son Leandro on His 21st Birthday: 'My Little Angel'

Mar. 15, 2025

Drena De Niro and Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez.Photo:Drena De Niro/Instagram

Drena De Niro/Instagram

Drena De Nirois honoring her late sonLeandro De Niro-Rodriguezon what would have been his 21st birthday.

On Sunday, Aug. 11, Drena, the daughter of actorRobert De Niro, shared a post on social media in celebration of Leandro’s birthday, just over a year after his death at age 19.

Drena De Niro’s Instagram Stories post honoring her late son Leandro.Drena De Niro/Instagram

Leandro’s father, Carlos “Mare” Rodriguez, alsoshared a post on Instagramon his son’s birthday to mark the occasion. Sharing a photo of himself and Leandro sitting on the floor and posing for a photo together, he wrote in the caption: “Happy Birthday my beautiful boy.”

“May your soul be resting in peace as it is in me. Thank you for your light, laughter, Love and lessons,” he finished the caption, adding the hashtag: “#youcantspelllovewithoutleo 💔.”

Robert, 80, first shared the news about Leandro’s death on July 2, 2023, writingon Instagramin part, “Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.”

In August last year, the New York City chief medical examiner’s office confirmed to PEOPLE thatLeandro died of an accidental drug overdose, and attributed the overdose to the “toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine.”

Drena De Niro and Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez.Drena De Niro/ Instagram

Drena De Niro/ Instagram

Drena alsoshared more recent photos, including a photo of her visiting her son’s grave, which was decorated with vases full of flowers. She concluded the Instagram post with a snapshot of Leandro smiling.

“I KNEW this kid was jacking my clothes behind my back !!!” Drena jokingly began her caption.

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“Today we celebrated sweet wild boy Leo 🖤,” she continued in part. “In your short time here you made the world a brighter place. You are deeply loved like the sun loves the moon and the moon loves the sea.”

On his Instagram Stories that same day, Leandro’s father sharedthat he had made a cakein tribute to his late son, which had the phrase “You can’t spell love without Leo” written on it. He also sharedsome childhood videosof Leandro dancing in the street.

“Year One. Rest in Peace Rest in Me Leo," he wrote in a separate post last month. “#youcantspelllovewithoutleo 🙏🕊️❤️💔.”

source: people.com