Robert De Niro Wife: Meet His Former Spouses Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower and Partner Tiffany Chen

Robert De Niro continues to attract attention for both his Hollywood career and his family life. The Oscar-winning actor, known for films such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas, has spoken openly about becoming a father again in his eighties. His relationship with Tiffany Chen, with whom he welcomed his youngest daughter, Gia, has also renewed interest in his previous marriages and romantic history.

Robert De Niro has been married twice, first to actress Diahnne Abbott and later to actress and philanthropist Grace Hightower. Both marriages ended in separation and divorce proceedings. He is currently in a relationship with Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor, but the couple have not publicly confirmed a marriage. De Niro is also the father of seven children from several relationships.

Is Robert De Niro Currently Married?

Robert De Niro is not publicly known to be married.

His current partner is Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor who shares a young daughter with him.

The couple have maintained a relatively private relationship, although they occasionally appear together at public events.

De Niro and Chen welcomed their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, in April 2023.

Her arrival attracted considerable attention because De Niro was 79 years old when she was born.

The actor later discussed the experience of raising a young child at an older age, describing fatherhood as a source of happiness.

Although Chen is frequently mentioned in discussions about De Niro’s personal life, she is his partner rather than a publicly confirmed wife.

His two previous marriages were to Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower.

Who Was Robert De Niro’s First Wife Diahnne Abbott?

Diahnne Abbott is an American actress and singer who became Robert De Niro’s first wife.

The couple married in 1976, during a period when De Niro’s Hollywood career was rapidly expanding.

Abbott appeared in several films, including Taxi Driver, New York, New York and The King of Comedy.

Her acting career occasionally overlapped with De Niro’s professional work.

The couple welcomed a son, Raphael De Niro, in 1976.

De Niro also adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, from a previous relationship.

Their family life continued through the late 1970s and 1980s, but the marriage eventually encountered difficulties.

De Niro and Abbott divorced in 1988 after approximately 12 years of marriage.

Following their separation, Abbott largely maintained a private life outside regular Hollywood publicity.

Their children, Drena and Raphael, have pursued careers in entertainment and real estate.

Who Was Robert De Niro’s Second Wife Grace Hightower?

Grace Hightower is an American actress, singer and philanthropist who became Robert De Niro’s second wife.

She was born on April 7, 1955, in Mississippi and worked in several industries before becoming involved in entertainment.

Hightower previously worked as a flight attendant and later pursued acting and business interests.

She appeared in films including Precious and The Paperboy.

Her professional activities have also included philanthropy and entrepreneurship.

Hightower founded Coffee of Grace, a business focused on sourcing coffee from Rwanda.

Her charitable work has supported education, economic development and opportunities for women.

She became widely known through her marriage to De Niro, although she maintained her own professional interests throughout their relationship.

How Did Robert De Niro Meet Grace Hightower?

Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower reportedly met in 1987 while she was working at Mr. Chow, a restaurant in London.

At the time, De Niro was still married to Diahnne Abbott.

Their relationship developed after his first marriage ended.

The couple dated for several years before marrying in June 1997.

Their wedding took place at De Niro’s home in Marbletown, New York.

The ceremony was relatively private, reflecting the actor’s longstanding preference for keeping his personal life away from excessive publicity.

Following their marriage, the couple welcomed a son, Elliot De Niro, in 1998.

However, their relationship later experienced significant difficulties.

De Niro filed for divorce in 1999, and the couple became involved in a custody dispute.

They eventually reconciled and renewed their wedding vows in 2004.

Their relationship continued for several more years before another separation.

Why Did Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower Separate?

Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower separated in 2018 after more than two decades of marriage.

Their relationship had previously experienced a separation in 1999, followed by reconciliation and a renewal of their vows.

The second separation attracted attention because of the couple’s financial arrangements and divorce proceedings.

Disputes over their prenuptial agreement became part of the legal process.

The couple had established a family together and shared two children.

Their son Elliot was born in 1998, while their daughter Helen Grace was born in December 2011 through a surrogate.

Although the marriage ended, both remained connected through their children.

De Niro has generally avoided discussing detailed reasons for the separation publicly.

Hightower has also maintained a relatively private approach to the relationship following their split.

Who Is Robert De Niro’s Current Partner Tiffany Chen?

Tiffany Chen is a martial arts instructor who has been romantically linked to Robert De Niro since the early 2020s.

She has a background in competitive martial arts and has earned recognition for her achievements in the discipline.

Chen appeared in De Niro’s 2015 film The Intern, where she worked as a tai chi instructor.

Their relationship became publicly known several years later.

In April 2023, the couple welcomed their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro.

Chen later discussed experiencing Bell’s palsy after giving birth, a condition that temporarily affected movement in her face.

She spoke publicly about the experience during a television interview.

De Niro has expressed appreciation for Chen’s role in raising their daughter.

The couple have appeared together at film premieres and other public events.

However, there has been no confirmed announcement that they have married.

Did Robert De Niro Date Toukie Smith?

Robert De Niro was in a long-term relationship with actress and former model Toukie Smith.

The couple began dating in 1988, following the end of his marriage to Diahnne Abbott.

Smith had established a successful modeling career and appeared in the NBC sitcom 227.

Their relationship lasted approximately eight years.

In October 1995, they welcomed twin sons, Julian Henry De Niro and Aaron Kendrick De Niro, through a surrogate.

Despite having children together, De Niro and Smith never married.

They separated in 1996.

Julian later pursued acting and appeared in the television series The First Lady, portraying a younger Barack Obama.

Aaron has maintained a more private life.

Smith has also largely avoided public attention since stepping away from regular acting work.

How Many Children Does Robert De Niro Have?

Robert De Niro is the father of seven children.

His eldest daughter, Drena De Niro, was born in 1971 and adopted by the actor during his marriage to Diahnne Abbott.

His son Raphael De Niro was born in 1976.

During his relationship with Toukie Smith, De Niro welcomed twin sons Julian and Aaron in October 1995.

His marriage to Grace Hightower produced two children, Elliot and Helen Grace.

Elliot was born in 1998, while Helen arrived in December 2011.

His youngest daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, was born in April 2023.

De Niro has spoken about how fatherhood has changed throughout different stages of his life.

He has acknowledged that raising a young child in his eighties presents a different experience from parenting earlier in his career.

Despite the age differences among his children, family remains an important part of his personal life.

Robert De Niro’s Relationships and Family Life Today

Robert De Niro has experienced two marriages and several long-term relationships throughout his life.

His first wife, Diahnne Abbott, was married to him from 1976 until 1988.

He later married Grace Hightower in 1997, and the couple separated in 2018.

Between those marriages, De Niro had a long-term relationship with Toukie Smith, with whom he shares twin sons.

His current partner, Tiffany Chen, is the mother of his youngest daughter, Gia.

Although De Niro continues working in film and television, he has increasingly discussed the importance of spending time with his youngest child.

His personal life reflects several generations of family relationships, with seven children ranging from adulthood to early childhood.

For readers wondering who Robert De Niro’s wife is, the actor is not publicly known to be currently married. Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower are his former wives, while Tiffany Chen is his current partner and the mother of his youngest child.