Robert De Niro revels in the joy of being an 80-year-old dad

Hollywood legend Robert De Niro has opened up about the joys and challenges of being a father at the age of 80.

The Oscar-winning actor, renowned for his iconic roles in films such as Taxi Driver and The Godfather Part II confirmed the arrival of his newest bundle of joy with martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen in May of 2023.

In an emotional interview with AARP The Magazine, the 80-year-old actor expressed the profound impact of fatherhood on his life, particularly as he welcomed his daughter, Gia.

The seasoned actor, who has enthralled audiences for decades with his incredible performances, appeared visibly moved as he spoke about his latest addition to the family.

“I’m an 80-year-old dad and it’s great,” he said.

“Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about or this and that just goes away when I look at her so that in itself is wondrous.

“She has a very sweet kind of way of looking at you and just taking you in and my other daughter Helen had that too.

“(They) just look at you and take it in so I don’t know where it’s going with her later when she gets older.

“But she’s thinking and she’s observing everything and watching. It’s really interesting. I (want to) be around for as long as I can to enjoy it, enjoy her.”

The actor previously shared that he loves being a father, explaining in a recent interview with ET Canada that his approach to parenthood is to be “loving with [his] kids” while knowing when to be “stern about stuff”.

“I mean, there’s no way around it with kids. I don’t like to have to lay down the law and stuff like that. But, [sometimes] you just have no choice,” he explained.

“And any parent, I think, would say the same thing. You always want to do the right thing by the children and give them the benefit of the doubt but sometimes you can’t.

“You know, my kids disagree with me at times, and they’re respectful. My daughter, she’s 11, she gives me grief sometimes and I argue with her. I adore her, but, you know. And my youngest now, that’ll be more to come. But, that’s what it is.”

De Niro has a rich family history, with six other children stemming from past relationships with three different women.

Among his offspring is Raphael De Niro, who made his mark alongside his father in the classic film Raging Bull alongside actress and singer Diahnne Abbott.

In addition to his biological children, De Niro embraced fatherhood by adopting Abbott’s daughter from a previous relationship. Furthermore, he is a proud father of twin sons, born to actress Toukie Smith, and has also welcomed a son and daughter into the world with socialite and actress Grace Hightower.

-with PA.