Much was said about Robert De Niro becoming a father last year at the age of 79, and there were many critics when he disclosed that he had welcomed a child with film producer Tiffany Chen. De Niro confirmed this news at a red carpet event in May, causing considerable surprise among his fan base.
However, it seems that the Goodfellas star is fully embracing the role of being a parent to a newborn, despite his age. In a recent interview with AARP for their upcoming February/March issue, the 80-year-old actor became emotional while discussing his baby daughter, Gia.
De Niro expressed, “I’m an 80-year-old dad, and it’s great. Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her. It’s wondrous.”
The Irishman actor, who received an Oscar nomination for his work in Flowers of the Killer Moon, shared that Gia reminded him of his daughter Helen, born in 2011 with Grace Hightower. De Niro added, “I want to be around for as long as I can to enjoy it and enjoy her.”
Reflecting on his parenting style, De Niro mentioned, “I don’t think I’m a cool dad.” Despite that, he emphasized his belief in being loving with his kids, though acknowledging the need to be stern at times. He stated, “You always want to do the right thing by the children and give them the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes you can’t.”
De Niro, who split from Grace Hightower in 2018, appears to have found love again with Tiffany Chen. His diverse family includes children from previous marriages, showcasing his commitment as an attentive and loving father.