Robert De Niro's Grandson 'Would Have Been 20 Years Old Today'
By Afouda Bamidele on August 12, 2023 at 6:05 AM EDT
Robert De Niro's daughter, Drena has marked what would have been her son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez's exit from his teenage years.
The distraught mother took to her social media page in honor of her late baby boy, thanking him for giving her some of her happiest years. The bittersweet tribute was accompanied by a series of throwback content, including footage of Leandro showing off his dance skills alongside a friend named Adam.
Robert De Niro's Grandson Would Have Turned 20 On August 11, 2023
Just days after his death was ruled an accident as a result of a toxic combination of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine, Drena has marked what would have been Leandro's 20th birthday.
The "Showtime" star logged onto Instagram, where she uploaded ten slides of her son in various stages of his life, starting with a snap of baby Leandro staring at her with a wide-eyed expression. The tot was decked in a blue-and-white striped onesie and blue blue booties, while his mom wore a sleeveless white and a silver necklace as she beamed at him.
A swipe to the left unveiled the "City of the Sun" actress, her son, and his famous grandfather, Robert De Niro, taking a break from their meal at a restaurant to pose for a quick flick.
Other slides showcased the celebrant as a budding young man, striking a meditation pose with artist Carlos Mare, doing a fun handshake with Matthew Franklin, and straddling an oversized sling bag. Underneath the touching memories, Drena penned:
"You would have been 20 yrs old today ? Thank you for the happiest and most profound 2 decades of my life ,little angel. I hope you are at peace and your spirit is filled with joy today and always ?♥️?️???️ 8-11-03 - 7~2~23."
The 51-year-old superstar's fans not only felt the overall effect of the post, but they also expressed their support for her in the comment section. One person wished Leandro, "Happy birthday in heaven angel king," and another claimed that they "really love seeing all these photos."
"What an amazing sweet picture. Love to you and yours," a third netizen commented, as a fourth chimed, "Love all these moments. Thanks for the warm fuzzy heart." Similarly, a fifth fan lengthily gushed, "no doubt you are entertaining the heavens ... your youthful spirit will live on forever in all of us that you touched ...we celebrate the birth of the #loungesinger today #youcantspelllovewithoutleo."
Leandro died on July 2 after taking fake oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, prompting his mother to emotionally react on social media, typing:
"Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him so for all these people still f**king around selling and buying this sh*t, my son is gone forever."
His granddad also spoke about the loss, declaring, "I'm deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo. We're greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."
The 'A Star Is Born' Actor Was Pronounced Dead At The Scene
Shortly after the "Cabaret Maxime" actor was found dead at a New York City apartment, a joint undercover operation involving the NYPD, Homeland Security, and Drug Enforcement Administration led to the apprehension of Sofia Haley Marks, a 20-year-old woman widely recognized as the "Percocet Princess."
According to multiple claims, Marks was arrested on July 13 in connection with the alleged sale of fentanyl-laced pills to Leandro. Following her processing into the jail system, it was indicated that Marks is scheduled to be arraigned in a Manhattan federal court before the end of that week.
She was slammed with charges pertaining to federal narcotics distribution. Additionally, developments at the time revealed that law enforcement were conducting an investigation into Leandro's tragic demise, considering the possibility of an overdose.
This line of inquiry emerged following the discovery of drug paraphernalia and a white powdery substance in close proximity to his body. The then-teenager had reportedly been house-sitting in a renowned Manhattan apartment when NYPD responded to an emergency call from the address at 55 Wall Street around 2:30 p.m. on a Sunday.
Upon arrival, they found an unconscious and unresponsive male, later identified as Leandro. Despite the prompt arrival of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene, as The Blast shared.
