Robert De Niro says he wants his tombstone to read 'I tried my best' after raising seven children

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Robert De Niro, 81, recently opened up about fatherhood and his reflections on raising seven children during a candid interview on 'Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?' as reported by People.

The legendary actor shared with host Chris Wallace that if he had to sum up his parenting journey, he’d want his tombstone to read, “I tried my best.”

Robert De Niro reflects on fatherhood

De Niro, known for his iconic roles in films like 'The Godfather' and 'Goodfellas', has a large and diverse family, ranging from his eldest daughter Drena, 53, to his newborn daughter Gia, whom he welcomed in 2023 with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.

The actor humorously remarked that along with "I tried my best," he'd also like his tombstone to say, “Please forgive me for everything that I’ve done.”

When Wallace asked if De Niro considered himself a good father, the actor responded earnestly, “No! I tried my best. That’s all I can say.”

De Niro admitted that his thriving acting career often made balancing work and family life a challenge but emphasized that his love for his children was never in doubt. “I was busy, of course, but I always loved my kids,” he continued.

In August, De Niro celebrated his 81st birthday, and his eldest daughter, Drena, paid tribute to her father on Instagram. “Happy 81st Bday to my Dad and #1 ride or die. Love you with all my (heart emojis),” she captioned the heartfelt post.

Robert De Niro is a father of seven, including daughter Drena, 53, and son Raphael, 47, from his relationship with Diahnne Abbott; twin sons Julian and Aaron, 28, with Toukie Smith; son Elliot, 26, and daughter Helen Grace, 12, from his former marriage to Grace Hightower; and his youngest, Gia, born in 2023 with current partner Tiffany Chen.

De Niro's reflection on his role as a father comes as he continues to remain active in his film career, with his latest project, 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' keeping him in the spotlight.

Robert De Niro’s parenting comments ignite online debate

Robert De Niro’s lighthearted remarks about fatherhood during his recent interview on 'Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?' have sparked a wave of reactions on Facebook. The 81-year-old actor, who joked about wanting his tombstone to read “I tried my best” after raising seven children, left the internet divided, with some users showing support while others questioned his parenting style.

One user reflected thoughtfully, writing, “There’s still time to right all of your wrongs with the right words and action.”

Another was more critical, commenting, “Having a baby when he is 80 is extremely selfish. He will miss all his child’s milestones. Robert also has major anger issues and a lot of hate in his heart.”

“If his offspring are emotionally handicapped due in any manner to his parenting style, then, yes, he did try his best, but his best wasn’t enough,” another user remarked.

One user noted, “Are you sure HE raised them, or just ‘financed’ them? No attaboys or high fives warranted.”

One user joked, “Omg! He would say that! Best ever!”

"He probably should order that headstone now. You never know," another user wrote.

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