Robert De Niro agonizes over ‘all the things I should have done’ after grandson’s fentanyl overdose death

Robert De Niro has opened up about his “disbelief” over the fatal overdose of his grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, admitting that the 19-year-old’s death “shouldn’t have happened.”

Rodriguez, the only son of the actor’s daughter Drena, 56, died from an accidental overdose after taking pills that were laced with fentanyl last July.

Speaking about the devastating loss, the Oscar-winning actor said his beloved grandson’s death came as a “shock.”

“[I] never thought it would happen,” the “Killers of the Flower Moon” actor told People. “And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him.”

“I don’t know if that would’ve made a difference. And so that’s always playing through my mind. It shouldn’t have happened,” he added.

In July, De Niro issued a statement to Page Six after learning the news of his grandson’s death.

“I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo,” he said at the time. “We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo.”

Drena De Niro announced her son’s death in an emotional Instagram tribute to her “beautiful sweet angel.”

“I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly,” the actress and filmmaker captioned a throwback photo. “You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life.”

After writing that she does not “know how to live without” the teenager, Drena added, “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 continued. “I’m so sorry my baby. … Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.”

Leandro’s father, sculptor Carlos “Mare” Rodriguez, also mourned the loss of his son, commenting on Drena’s Instagram post announcing their son’s death.

Drena is the eldest of Robert’s seven children. He adopted her in 1976 after marrying her mom, Diahnne Abbott.

The legendary actor also shares son Raphael, 46, with Abbott, as well as twins Aaron and Julian, 27, with Toukie Smith and son Elliot, 25, and daughter Helen, 11, with Grace Hightower.

In May 2023, the “Taxi Driver” star revealed that his partner, Tiffany Chen, had given birth to their daughter Gia, who is De Niro’s seventh child.