Robert De Niro's grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez was reportedly "found dead sitting in a chair".
His mother, Drena De Niro, announced that her son had tragically died in a statement shared on Instagram on July 2.
The 19-year-old is said to have been found by a friend inside a $950,000 (£750,000) apartment in the Cipriani Club Residences on Wall Street in New York City.
Leandro's pal decided to check in on the actor when they hadn't heard from him in a few days. Leandro's cause of death is yet to be revealed.
He's said to have been found with "a white powdery substance on a plate near his body."
A police source told the Daily Mail the substance was found near his body and there were no signs of trauma.
A spokesperson for New York City Police told The Mirror: "On Sunday, July 2, 2023, at approximately 1423 hours, police received a 911 call of an aided at 55 Wall Street, in the confines of the 1 Precinct.
"Upon arrival, an 18-year-old male was found unconscious, unresponsive and was pronounced deceased by EMS on scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death."
Leandro's mother paid tribute to her son on social media as she remembered him as a "sweet angel".
Alongside a picture of her son, the 51-year-old 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. 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 I'm so sorry my baby, I'm so sorry @carlosmare. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy."
Carlos Mare, Leandro's father, commented on Drena's post, writing: "My dear Drena… words aren’t enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends.
"He is Godschild now. On this full moon his spirit luminates what could not be seen in the dark. You can’t spell LOVE without LEO."
Leandro had followed in his family's footsteps and acted in films such as A Star is Born in 2018. He also appeared in 2005's The Collection and 2018's Cabaret Maxime.
Leandro's mother Drena is the adopted daughter of Robert De Niro after his marriage to actress Diahnne Abbott. The former couple also share son Raphael.
* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
