Robert De Niro is pushing back against the “nepo baby” idea that having a famous parent makes an acting career easy.
The 83-year-old actor supports his children following him into entertainment, but he says talent alone is not enough. The Oscar winner says his children can actually face more pressure because of his success.
Robert De Niro has seven children he shares with different women. Some of his children have followed his path into the entertainment industry while others have built careers elsewhere.
De Niro supports his children pursuing acting, but he knows firsthand that the industry is difficult. He said opportunities have increased now, unlike when he was young, yet getting acting jobs remains just as challenging. The actor explained that children of famous performers can face added pressure to prove themselves.
People may watch them more closely and expect them to demonstrate that they are serious about the craft. “If you don’t look like you’re really sincere about it and busting your ass and working hard, it’ll have a negative impact,” De Niro said. He added that genuine commitment can eventually work in their favor.
De Niro currently stars alongside Adam Scott in Netflix’s “The Whisper Man.” In the film, Scott plays a man with a subconscious desire to be like his estranged father, reflecting a dynamic both actors have experienced as their children consider acting.
De Niro’s daughter Drena has more than 45 acting credits, including “A Star Is Born” and “Joy.” His son Julian also acted in “In Dubious Battle” and played a young Barack Obama in “The First Lady.” PEOPLE reported that De Niro’s main advice remains straightforward: work hard because you genuinely want the career.
De Niro’s Daughter Rejected The ‘Nepo Baby’ Label
Airyn has strongly rejected the idea that her father’s fame handed her an entertainment career. Her comments came after media outlets reported on her transition without contacting her first.
Airyn was photographed visiting her father at The Greenwich Hotel, after which reports focused heavily on her appearance and labeled her a “nepo baby.”
The model said the coverage got information about her wrong and reminded her that people knew very little about her. She explained that her parents deliberately kept her childhood private.
“I wasn’t brought up having a side part in one of Dad’s movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres. My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path. I would want [success] to happen on my own merit,” Airyn said.
In 2025, she also revealed that she had spent seven years pursuing voice acting and modeling. She said she was often rejected or ghosted by casting directors and refused to rely on her father’s influence to get ahead.
Airyn also said being transgender made that process more difficult. She described struggling with body dysmorphia and conflicting expectations about her appearance, saying she was repeatedly made to feel either “too much” or “not enough.”
Airyn began hormone therapy in November 2024. She said she hoped her experience could inspire other Black, queer women who do not fit narrow beauty standards. The Blast reported that Airyn wanted any success she achieved to be on her own merit.
Robert De Niro Supports His Daughter’s Transition
“The Wizard of Lies” actor did not treat his daughter’s transition as something that changed his relationship with her. He publicly made clear that his love and support remained intact.
“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter,” he said. De Niro also questioned why her transition was being treated as such a major issue, adding that he loves all his children.
Airyn said she was grateful that both of her parents had protected her from the spotlight while she was growing up. She credited that privacy with giving her a childhood that was as normal as possible.
After her story became public, Airyn thanked people who supported her. She admitted that she was not accustomed to having so many eyes on her and appreciated those who responded kindly.
She also addressed questions about whether she had talent representation. Airyn explained that she was essentially handling things herself, saying she was “literally just a girl with a phone” and might miss some messages. Her experience also showed why she wanted control over her own story.
After being exposed without her consent, she chose to speak publicly on her own terms and explain who she was beyond being the famous actor’s daughter, as shared by The Blast.
The Oscar-Winning Actor’s Guilt As A Father
De Niro revealed the difficulties of being a father while maintaining such a demanding career. As a father of seven, he acknowledged that he has some self-doubt when it comes to being a present father. He said there is no secret formula for balancing work and family. The Hollywood actor said it comes down to managing everything and accepting that some moments will inevitably be difficult.
The actor shares seven children with four different women. He adopted Drena after marrying her mother, Diahnne Abbott, in 1976, and later welcomed Raphael with Abbott before they divorced in 1988.
The Blast revealed that De Niro also shares twins Julian and Airyn with former partner Toukie Smith. He later welcomed Elliot and Helen with Grace Hightower, before having his youngest child, Gia, with Tiffany Chen in 2023.
De Niro has maintained that he has always loved his children. He has also said that he does not believe he put his career above them, even though his work kept him extremely busy. “I was busy, of course, but I always loved my kids,” he revealed in a 2024 interview on “The Chris Wallace Show.”
His approach to parenting has been to support his children while allowing them to find their own way. That philosophy appears to extend beyond acting, as his children have pursued very different paths.
Robert De Niro’s Children Have Built Lives Beyond His Shadow
Raphael’s career offers another example of De Niro’s approach to raising children under the weight of a famous surname. Despite having an A-list father, Raphael worked several jobs before entering the real estate industry. He worked folding rugs at a store, served as a production assistant for his father, and worked as a busboy at Nobu.
The experience gave him responsibility and helped him avoid becoming what his parents feared would be a typical Hollywood child. Raphael eventually entered luxury real estate and also became his father’s business partner—the two co-own The Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca with other partners.
Airyn’s experience has followed a different route. She has emphasized that she wants her career and identity to exist independently from her father’s fame, while still recognizing the support he has given her.
She has described De Niro’s support as “nonstop” and said he has been accepting of her identity and choices. Airyn even said he “should be the standard” when it comes to fatherhood.
Robert De Niro being a famous father does not remove every obstacle from his children’s path.
