Robert De Niro on Fatherhood: 'No Secret' to Balancing Career and Family
Robert De Niro discusses the challenges of balancing his acting career with fatherhood, admitting guilt and emphasizing unconditional support for his seven children.
Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro has candidly discussed the ongoing challenge of balancing his celebrated acting career with his responsibilities as a father of seven. The 83-year-old Hollywood star admits that there is no simple solution to managing these competing demands, and that he still experiences guilt when work takes him away from his children.
"I don't know if there is a secret. It's just managing it all," De Niro said in a recent interview. "And there's no way around not feeling a little guilty about not being there at times you should or you think you should."
De Niro, known for iconic roles in films like 'Raging Bull', reflected on how parenthood remains a fresh experience with each new child. He noted that there are no formal courses for the job, and parents simply "jump in" when a child arrives.
His family includes his eldest daughter Drena, 54, and son Raphael, 49, from his marriage to Diahnne Abbott; twins Julian and Airyn, 30, with Toukie Smith; Elliot, 28, and Helen, 14, with Grace Hightower; and three-year-old Gia with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
Speaking previously about becoming a father later in life, De Niro described the experience as deeply fulfilling. After Gia's birth in 2023, he said, "Everything that I'm consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her. It's wondrous."
While he admits to not having all the answers on work-life balance, De Niro offers clear advice for parents: support your children unconditionally. He emphasizes that parents should stand by their kids as long as they are not harming themselves or acting destructively, even when they may not agree with their choices.
"Even if you don't go with it--you have to support them," he said. "And they have to know that you support them. Always."