Robert De Niro is 82. It sounds weird to say it out loud. Most people at that age are strictly in "relaxing on a porch" mode, but Bob—as his friends call him—is currently busy balancing a newborn baby and a film schedule that would crush a 30-year-old. He was born on August 17, 1943. Think about that for a second. When he was born, World War II was still raging.
The guy has lived through everything.
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Honestly, the fascination with the age Robert De Niro reached recently isn't just about the number. It's about the audacity of it. You’ve probably seen the headlines about him becoming a father again at 79. His daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, was born in April 2023. By the time she’s ten, he’ll be nearly 90. That is a heavy reality to wrap your head around, and he’s been surprisingly candid about it. He told AARP The Magazine that when he looks at her, everything else just disappears. It’s sweet, but also kinda wild.
Why the Age Robert De Niro Matters in 2026
We’re sitting here in 2026, and De Niro isn't just a "legacy" actor anymore. He's a working one. The age Robert De Niro hit hasn't slowed his output, though the industry is changing around him. Just last year, in 2025, we saw him take on a dual role in The Alto Knights. He played two different mob bosses, Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. Playing one character is hard enough at 81; playing two is just showing off.
The movie actually had a rough start. It bombed at the box office, making only about $9 million against a $50 million budget. People were saying he was "washed." But then something funny happened. Once it hit HBO Max in early 2026, it blew up. It became a global streaming hit. It turns out people still want to see De Niro do "the face" and be the tough guy, even if they aren't going to the theater for it.
He’s not just about the movies, though. You’ve probably eaten at a Nobu. He co-founded that empire with chef Nobu Matsuhisa back in 1994. Today, that business is worth hundreds of millions. When you look at his life, he’s basically built a world where he doesn't need to work, yet he chooses to.
The Physicality of Aging in Hollywood
He's been open about the toll time takes. During the filming of Killers of the Flower Moon, he actually tore his quadriceps muscle. It wasn't even during a stunt; he just stepped wrong. That’s the reality of being an octogenarian on a film set. You’re fragile, even if you’re playing a guy who orders hits.
But he manages. He uses his age. In The Irishman, they used CGI to make him look younger, which was... let's be real, a bit hit or miss. The "de-aging" tech made him look 30, but he still moved like a man in his 70s. You can't fake the way a body carries weight after eight decades. Recently, he seems to have embraced the "old man" roles more authentically. He’s stopped trying to hide the wrinkles.
Starting a Family at 80
This is the part that gets everyone talking. Gia is his seventh child. His oldest daughter, Drena, is in her 50s. That is a massive gap. Some people think it's selfish; others think it's inspiring. De Niro himself basically says, "It is what it is." He’s a guy who lives in the moment.
He lost his grandson, Leandro, in 2023, which was a devastating blow. It happened right around his 80th birthday. Life and death were literally sitting at the same table for him. It’s that contrast that makes his current path so interesting. He’s grieving and celebrating at the same time.
What We Get Wrong About Him
People think he’s this scary, quiet guy. And sure, his interviews can be awkward because he doesn't like small talk. But at his 80th birthday bash at Locanda Verde in New York, the guest list was a "who’s who" of history. Scorsese, Coppola, George Lucas, even Paul McCartney was there. You don't get that kind of turnout if you're just a cranky old actor.
He’s a New Yorker through and through. He stayed in the city when everyone else was fleeing to the Hamptons or LA. He started the Tribeca Film Festival to help downtown Manhattan recover after 9/11. That’s his real legacy.
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- Born: August 17, 1943.
- Current Status: Father of seven.
- Net Worth: Estimated around $500 million.
- Key Business: Nobu Hospitality and Tribeca Grill.
If you’re looking at the age Robert De Niro is today and wondering how he does it, the answer is simple: he doesn't stop moving. He’s got the "Zero Day" series on Netflix and more projects in the pipeline. He’s proof that "retirement" is a choice, not a requirement.
If you want to keep up with his work, focus on his smaller, character-driven projects. The big blockbusters might be behind him, but his ability to command a scene hasn't faded. Pay attention to his upcoming production credits through TriBeCa Productions; he's increasingly moving behind the camera to secure the future of independent film in New York.
Support the Tribeca Film Festival if you're in the city. It's the best way to see the version of De Niro that isn't just a face on a poster, but a guy trying to keep his home town's culture alive.