Robert De Niro on Grandson’s Overdose Death: ‘It Shouldn’t Have Happened’

Robert De Niro said he was in “disbelief” after the death of his grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.

Rodriguez died at the age of 19 on, July 3. According to the New York City chief medical examiner’s office, his death was from the “toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine.”

Speaking to People in an interview published on Wednesday, De Niro said, “And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him,” he told the outlet. “I don’t know if that would’ve made a difference. And so that’s always playing through my mind.” He added, “It shouldn’t have happened.”

His grandson appeared in three films over the course of his life, always alongside his mother Drena De Niro, who is the daughter of De Niro. Drena had been working with filmmaker Bruno de Almeida on his 2005 feature, The Collection, and a young Rodriguez made an appearance as “Kid in Cableman.” Drena and Rodriguez also appeared in Bradley Cooper’s 2018 remake of A Star Is Born.

Following his death, his mother shared a post on Instagram alongside a photo of her son. “None of this is right or fair and my heart hurts in a way I never knew possible, while still breathing and barely functioning,” she wrote. “You were kindness acceptance and love and I can’t believe any of this is real YOU made everything bearable and every burden lighter. You didn’t deserve to die like this but I can only believe that God needed a strong powerful angel in their army. I’m holding you every second of every moment I’m my heart and memories until I’m with you again.”