Helen Grace De Niro - Facts about Robert De Niro's Daughter

Publish date: 2024-05-21

Robert De Niro and Helen Grace De Niro. | Source: Getty Images

Helen Grace De Niro is the youngest daughter of iconic Academy-Award-winning actor Robert De Niro whom he shares with his second wife, Grace Hightower.

Robert De Niro is a Hollywood legend, two time Academy Award winner, and is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. He was once married to Grace Hightower, and from their marriage, they welcomed their second child, Helen Grace De Niro.

The actor's daughter, Helen Grace De Niro, has six siblings and half-siblings from her father's other relationships. She has five older siblings and one younger one.

Helen Grace De Niro, Robert De Niro, and Grace Hightower backstage with actress Chilina Kennedy as "Carole King" in the hit musical Broadway "Beautiful" on in 2015 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

In nearly sixty years, Robert has been nominated for 8 Oscars and won two—Best Supporting Actor for "The Godfather Part II" and Best Actor for his portrayal of boxing champion Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull."

Grace and Robert were married in 1997 and, in 1998, welcomed their son, Elliot. By 1999 the marriage was in trouble, with the actor filing for divorce from his wife in a New York court. They even went so far as to fight over Elliot's custody before reconciling.

Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower at the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in 2014, in West Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Helen Grace de Niro Was Born in 2011

Despite almost divorcing in 1999, Robert and Grace worked through their problems and stayed together, raising their son Elliot, who is on the autism spectrum. In 2011, the couple announced the birth of their daughter Helen Grace, an early Christmas present, who arrived on December 23.

Robert recently welcomed his seventh child at the age of 79, and besides the new baby, and Helen Grace, he has five other children.

Like her half-siblings, twins Aaron and Julian, Helen Grace was conceived In Vitro and born via a surrogate. In a 2012 interview, Robert spoke ruefully of being a new dad at 69 and revealed that baby Helen Grace kept her parents up at night.

Grace Hightower and Robert De Niro at the 72nd Annual Tony Awards in 2018 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

But when Helen Grace was eight, her parents' relationship was troubled again. During the couple's 1999 almost-divorce, Robert had accused Grace of being violent, and in 2005 a disgruntled employee complained:

"She is mean. If Mr. De Niro knew how badly she treats her kids, he would leave her."

In November 2018, it was revealed that Grace and Robert had separated; this time, there was no reconciliation or renewal of vows. The couple divorced in 2019 after an ugly court battle over money and the children.

Grace Hightower and Helen Grace De Niro at the 2016 US Open in New York. | Source: Getty News

Helen Grace de Niro Does Not Often Appear in Public

Even though her father is one of Hollywood's greatest stars, Helen Grace is seldom seen in public, although lucky New Yorkers sometimes glimpse Robert and the family on the streets of Tribeca. In 2021, he was seen with his alleged new love, Tiffany Chen, and his children.

The following year, Robert was seen shopping with Helen Grace on the Upper East Side. Helen Grace has sometimes attended public events with her parents. In 2015 she was at the Steven Sondheim Theater, where she watched the Carol King musical "Beautiful" and met the cast backstage.

In 2016, Helen Grace was photographed watching the US Open in a private box with her mother in New York City, but sightings of the De Niro children are rare.

Helen Grace de Niro's Parents Fought for Her Custody

The divorce between Robert and Grace after twenty years of marriage was anything but amicable. The custody of their youngest child, Helen Grace, was at the center of their dispute.

Also in question was the division of Robert's assets worth over $500 million. The former couple avoided a custody trial, worked out a custody deal, and agreed to raise their daughter together.

Before their split became public knowledge, the couple no longer lived together, and the actor attended some events without Grace. After reaching a custody agreement, he reportedly felt great about the deal, while Helen Grace's mother did not comment.

Robert De Niro at the premiere of "About My Father" on May 09, 2023, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Helen Grace de Niro's Father Advises His Kids to Reach Their Dreams

In May 2023, Robert welcomed his seventh child at the age of 79, and besides the new baby, and Helen Grace, he has five other children. Helen Grace and her brother Elliot were Robert's youngest children until the birth of his new baby.

Her father was once married to Diahnne Abbott, and they had two children, Drena and Raphael. He was later in a relationship with Toukie Smith, and they welcomed twins Aaron and Julian.

Robert De Niro at the NAN 2023 Convention Keepers of the Dream gala on April 12, 2023, in New York | Source: Getty Images

In an interview, Robert once revealed he encourages his children to take risks and follow their dreams as that is one of the best parenting advice he could offer. He explained:

"I tell them, 'If you want to be an actor or you want to do this or that, that's fine as long as you're happy. Just don't sell yourself short.' That's the most I would say — push yourself a little more and reach for what you really think it is you want to do."

To date, the father of seven is also the grandfather of four, and he revels in his role as parent and grandparent. Robert De Niro's parenting journey still has a long way to go.