JUST IN: Grandson of Robert De Niro Found Dead

Actor Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, grandson of Robert De Niro, was found dead inside a New York City apartment Sunday afternoon, according to TMZ.

Law enforcement officials are investigating the 19-year-old’s death as a potential overdose.

Drugs and drug paraphernalia were reportedly found near his body.

“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,” Robert De Niro said in a statement Monday.

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the grandson of Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, has died, his mother announced on social media.https://t.co/CqLHVrhc47

— CNN (@CNN) July 3, 2023

TMZ reports:

The 19-year-old was found dead sitting in a chair, inside a New York City apartment Sunday afternoon, law enforcement tells TMZ. We’re told there were no obvious signs that led to his death. He was found by a friend who hadn’t heard from him in a few days and was checking in on him.

His mother, Drena De Niro, confirmed her son’s passing on Instagram Sunday night.

“My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life. I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you. I don’t know how to live without you but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama. You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you. 😞 Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.”

In a statement, Robert De Niro said, “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.” https://t.co/RLfE5zceNm

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) July 3, 2023

Rolling Stone added:

Rodriguez appeared in three films over the course of his life, always alongside his mother. His first part came when he was likely just one or two: Drena had been working with filmmaker Bruno de Almeida on his 2005 feature, The Collection, a collaborative project that was made between 2001 and 2005. Drena played multiple characters in the movie, and baby Rodriguez made an appearance credited as “Kid In Cableman.”

Thirteen years later, Rodriguez joined his mother on screen again in two more films. The first was another collaboration with de Almeida, with Rodriguez playing “The Kid” in Cabaret Maxime, a movie that featured his mother, Michael Imperioli, and Ana Padrão, and John Ventimiglia.

That same year, Drena and Rodriguez appeared in Bradley Cooper’s remake of A Star Is Born. Drena was cast as Paulette Stone, the wife of Dave Chappelle’s character, Noodles (a longtime friend of Cooper’s Jackson Maine), while Rodriguez played their son, Leo.

No cause of death has currently been reported.