Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the grandson of actor Robert De Niro, has died at the age of 19, family members announced on Monday.
De Niro’s eldest daughter, Drena, posted on Instagram to say her son had died. She said the family had lost a “sweet angel”.
The 51-year-old mother wrote: “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.”
The post further said: “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.”
She closed by adding that she was sorry and urged her son to rest in peace and eternal paradise.
Drena De Niro is the oldest of Robert De Niro’s seven children. Her son acted alongside her in three projects, including the 2018 hit A Star Is Born. In Bradley Cooper’s remake, the mother and son played mother and son, wife and child to Dave Chappelle’s character.
Robert De Niro said in a statement on Monday that he was “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.”
Messages to a representative for Drena De Niro was not immediately returned.
Later on Monday, a publicist shared another statement from Drena De Niro.
“It is with immeasurable shock and and sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo,” she said. “We thank you for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we are given privacy at this time to process this inconsolable grief.”
In response to a request to confirm a TMZ report that Leandro was found in a New York apartment, New York City police wrote that “an 18-year-old male was found unconscious, unresponsive and was pronounced deceased by EMS on scene” at a Wall Street address that houses the Cipriani Club Residences. Leandro only recently turned 19, news outlets report.
The medical examiner’s office will determine the cause of death.
Drena De Niro has had roles in Joy, The Intern and Mozart in the Jungle, among a long list of credits.
Leandro had acting credits to his name, with roles in 2005’s The Collection, and 2018’s Cabaret Maxime, also alongside his mother.
Drena De Niro had previously made joyous posts on sharing Mothers Day with Leandro last month.
The family has not released any details about the cause of death. Leandro’s father, Carlos Mare, had not made any comment by Monday afternoon, although he posted an image of a black square on Instagram, without adding any words.
Among names sharing condolences were the director Lee Daniels, who wrote: “Drena may GOD keep you in his arms” and the actor Rosie Perez, who wrote: “Shocked! I’m so sorry! We are all here for you !!! I love you too much!”
The Associated Press contributed reporting
