As of October 2026, Robert De Niro is publicly reported to be in a relationship with martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen, but she is not confirmed to be his wife. The two share a daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, born on April 6, 2023. De Niro was previously married to actresses Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower, and both marriages ended in separation or divorce.
Robert De Niro Wife — His Marriage History, Partner Tiffany Chen and Family
Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen at a public appearance. Image reference: Getty Images editorial coverage.
Introduction
Who is Robert De Niro’s wife, and is the legendary Hollywood actor married today? These are common questions about the two-time Academy Award winner, whose personal life has attracted attention throughout his long career.
As of October 27, 2026, De Niro is publicly known to be in a relationship with Tiffany Chen, a martial arts and Tai Chi instructor. However, there has been no reliable public confirmation that the couple has married. His two former wives are actress Diahnne Abbott and philanthropist Grace Hightower.
De Niro and Chen share a daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, who was born in April 2023. Their relationship attracted renewed attention in September 2026, when they appeared together at the opening-night gala for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles.
Understanding who Robert De Niro’s wife is requires looking at his two marriages, his long-term relationships and the family he has raised over several decades.
What Happened? Robert De Niro’s Relationship Status in 2026
The latest publicly reported developments indicate that De Niro and Tiffany Chen remain together. Their appearance at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opening on September 19, 2026, brought fresh attention to their relationship. Entertainment coverage described Chen as his girlfriend and longtime partner, rather than his wife.
This distinction matters because De Niro has been married twice, but his relationship with Chen has not been publicly confirmed as a marriage.
The actor is known for keeping much of his personal life private. Consequently, the most reliable approach is to distinguish between his documented marriages and his publicly reported current partnership instead of assuming that a long-term relationship means the couple has married.
Here are the key facts:
- Current partner: Tiffany Chen.
- First wife: Diahnne Abbott, whom he married in 1976.
- Second wife: Grace Hightower, whom he married in 1997.
- Current relationship: Publicly reported as a relationship with Chen, with no confirmed marriage announcement.
- Youngest child: Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, born April 6, 2023.
- Children: Seven, according to established biographical coverage.
Who Is Tiffany Chen, Robert De Niro’s Current Partner?
Tiffany Chen is a martial arts instructor known for her background in Tai Chi. Although she is not as widely known as De Niro, she has attracted considerable public attention because of their relationship and the birth of their daughter.
Chen and De Niro first crossed paths while working on the 2015 comedy-drama film The Intern, starring De Niro and Anne Hathaway. Chen was involved as a Tai Chi instructor for the film. Their initial connection was professional, and their relationship developed later.
In a 2023 interview with CBS Mornings, Chen explained that their relationship evolved after they reconnected. The interview offered one of the clearest public accounts of how their connection developed.
The couple made public appearances together before and after announcing the arrival of their daughter. Their relationship became more widely discussed in May 2023, when De Niro revealed that he had welcomed another child.
Tiffany Chen and Robert De Niro’s 2026 Public Appearance
On September 19, 2026, De Niro and Chen attended the opening-night gala for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. Their appearance was covered by entertainment publications, which noted the couple’s affectionate interaction at the event.
The appearance is a recent public indication that the pair continue to spend time together. It does not, however, establish that they have married or provide evidence of a wedding announcement.
As of October 2026, no verified public announcement has established that Chen is De Niro’s wife.
Robert De Niro’s First Wife: Diahnne Abbott
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Diahnne Abbott is an actress and singer who became Robert De Niro’s first wife. The couple married in 1976, during the earlier years of De Niro’s rise in the film industry, and their marriage ended in divorce in 1988.
Abbott appeared in several films, including Taxi Driver (1976), in which De Niro also starred. Their relationship developed during a period when De Niro was establishing himself as one of the most prominent actors of his generation.
Did Robert De Niro and Diahnne Abbott Have Children?
Yes. De Niro and Abbott had a son, Raphael De Niro. De Niro also adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, from an earlier relationship, making her part of his family.
Raphael later became associated with New York real estate, while Drena pursued work in entertainment. Their family history is an important part of understanding De Niro’s role as a father beyond his film career.
Why Did Robert De Niro and Diahnne Abbott Divorce?
The marriage ended in 1988. Although biographical sources document the marriage and divorce, a definitive, detailed public explanation of every factor behind their separation is not established by the sources cited here.
It is therefore more accurate to report the confirmed dates than to attribute their divorce to a specific cause without reliable evidence.
Robert De Niro’s Second Wife: Grace Hightower
Grace Hightower is Robert De Niro’s second wife. She is known for her philanthropic and business activities and for her long relationship with the actor.
The couple met in 1987 and married on June 17, 1997. Their relationship experienced difficulties, including an earlier separation, but they reconciled and renewed their wedding vows in 2004.
They had two children together: a son, Elliot, born in 1998, and a daughter, Helen Grace, born in 2011.
Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower’s Separation
In November 2018, news outlets reported that De Niro and Hightower had separated after more than two decades together as a married couple.
De Niro publicly acknowledged the difficult transition in their relationship and emphasized their shared responsibility as parents. In a statement reported by TheWrap, he described Hightower as a wonderful mother and requested privacy as they continued developing their roles as parenting partners.
Their separation marked the end of their public life as a couple, although they continued to share family responsibilities.
It is important to distinguish separation from the precise legal status of a divorce. Reports at the time noted that an earlier divorce had not been finalized before their reconciliation. The publicly established fact is that they separated in 2018; this article does not claim a specific later legal divorce date without verified documentation.
Did Grace Hightower and Robert De Niro Have Children?
Yes. They have two children:
- Elliot De Niro: Their son, born in 1998.
- Helen Grace De Niro: Their daughter, born in 2011.
Although their marriage ended as a public relationship, their shared parenting remains part of their family history.
Robert De Niro’s Relationship Timeline
The following timeline summarizes the major publicly documented milestones in De Niro’s personal life.
1976
Marriage to Diahnne Abbott
De Niro married Abbott, his first wife. Their family included son Raphael and adopted daughter Drena.
1988
First marriage ends
De Niro and Abbott divorced.
1997
Marriage to Grace Hightower
De Niro married Hightower on June 17, beginning his second marriage.
2004
Reconciliation
After an earlier separation, De Niro and Hightower renewed their wedding vows.
2015
Meeting Tiffany Chen
De Niro and Chen crossed paths while working on The Intern.
2018
Separation from Hightower
The couple’s separation became public in November.
2023
Birth of Gia
De Niro and Chen welcomed their daughter on April 6.
2026
Latest public appearance
The couple attended the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opening-night gala in Los Angeles on September 19.
Sources: Biography.com, CBS News, TheWrap, CBS Mornings and September 2026 entertainment coverage.
How Many Children Does Robert De Niro Have?
Robert De Niro has seven children. His family includes children from his marriage to Diahnne Abbott, his relationship with former partner Toukie Smith, his marriage to Grace Hightower and his current publicly reported relationship with Tiffany Chen.
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Tiffany Chen and daughter Gia were featured in a 2023 CBS Mornings interview. Photo coverage: CBS News.
Here is a summary of his children and their family backgrounds.
| Child | Family connection |
|---|---|
| Drena De Niro | Abbott’s daughter, adopted by De Niro |
| Raphael De Niro | Son with Diahnne Abbott |
| Julian De Niro | Twin son with Toukie Smith |
| Aaron De Niro | Twin son with Toukie Smith |
| Elliot De Niro | Son with Grace Hightower |
| Helen Grace De Niro | Daughter with Grace Hightower |
| Gia Virginia Chen De Niro | Daughter with Tiffany Chen |
De Niro’s family spans several generations, and he has also become a grandfather. His children have pursued different paths, including acting, real estate and other personal interests.
Who Is Gia, Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen’s Daughter?
Gia Virginia Chen De Niro was born on April 6, 2023. Her birth was announced publicly the following month, when De Niro corrected an interviewer who had described him as the father of six children. He explained that he had recently welcomed his seventh child.
In May 2023, De Niro shared an early photograph of Gia through an interview with CBS Mornings host Gayle King. In July that year, Chen appeared on the programme with their daughter and spoke about becoming a mother.
Chen also discussed a health complication she experienced after childbirth: Bell’s palsy, a condition that can cause facial weakness or paralysis. Her account helped explain why she had faced difficulties during the postpartum period and addressed public speculation about her appearance.
De Niro has spoken positively about being a father again later in life. In a 2024 interview with AARP, he described the experience of spending time with Gia as a source of joy.
What Have Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen Said About Their Relationship?
Both De Niro and Chen generally keep their private lives out of the spotlight. However, Chen offered a rare account of their relationship during her 2023 interview with CBS Mornings.
She explained that they initially met professionally on The Intern and reconnected later. She also spoke warmly about De Niro’s devotion to his family. The interview focused on their relationship, the birth of Gia and Chen’s postpartum health experience.
De Niro has also acknowledged Chen’s role in raising their daughter. In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, he credited Chen with doing much of the day-to-day childcare while describing his own role as supportive.
These comments provide a glimpse into their family life, but they do not establish a marriage. The publicly available evidence continues to identify Chen as his partner or girlfriend.
Why Robert De Niro’s Wife and Relationship History Attract Attention
Robert De Niro is among the most recognizable actors in American cinema. His performances in films such as The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas have made him a major figure in film history.
His professional reputation and long career mean that audiences often remain interested in his life outside acting.
Several factors explain why searches for “Robert De Niro wife” remain popular:
- Two high-profile marriages: His relationships with Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower cover several decades of his life.
- A growing family: The birth of Gia in 2023 renewed interest in his personal circumstances.
- A private relationship: De Niro and Chen rarely discuss their relationship in detail, making their public appearances particularly newsworthy.
- Recent appearances: Their September 2026 appearance at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art brought their relationship back into entertainment coverage.
Interest in a celebrity’s marital status does not mean every rumour is true. In this case, the clearest distinction is between De Niro’s two documented marriages and his publicly reported relationship with Chen.
What Happens Next?
As of October 27, 2026, there is no verified public announcement that Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen have married or that they plan to marry.
Their September 2026 appearance confirms that they continue to appear together publicly, but it does not establish any change in their marital status. Unless either person or a reliable representative confirms a wedding, claims that Chen has become De Niro’s wife should be treated as unverified.
Readers should also distinguish newly published entertainment coverage from genuinely new developments. A recent article about an older relationship does not necessarily mean that the couple has announced a major change.
The most accurate current description is that Robert De Niro has two former wives and is publicly reported to be in a relationship with Tiffany Chen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Robert De Niro’s wife in 2026?
Robert De Niro is not publicly confirmed to be married in 2026. His two former wives are Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower. His current publicly reported partner is Tiffany Chen.
2. Is Robert De Niro married to Tiffany Chen?
There is no verified public confirmation that Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen are married. They are publicly reported to be partners and share a daughter, Gia, born in April 2023.
3. Who was Robert De Niro’s first wife?
His first wife was Diahnne Abbott, an actress and singer. They married in 1976 and divorced in 1988. Their family includes son Raphael and Abbott’s daughter Drena, whom De Niro adopted.
4. Who was Robert De Niro’s second wife?
His second wife was Grace Hightower. They married in 1997, reconciled after an earlier separation and renewed their vows in 2004. Their separation was publicly reported in November 2018.
5. How did Robert De Niro meet Tiffany Chen?
De Niro and Chen met while working on the 2015 film The Intern. Chen worked as a Tai Chi instructor for the production. She explained in a 2023 CBS Mornings interview that their relationship developed after they reconnected later.
6. How many children does Robert De Niro have?
Robert De Niro has seven children: Drena, Raphael, Julian, Aaron, Elliot, Helen and Gia. They are from different relationships, and Drena was adopted by De Niro.
7. When was Robert De Niro’s youngest daughter born?
His youngest daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, was born on April 6, 2023. She is his daughter with Tiffany Chen.
8. Did Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower divorce?
They separated publicly in 2018. Their relationship had included an earlier separation and reconciliation, and contemporary reporting noted that their earlier divorce had not been finalized before they renewed their vows. Without verified later legal documentation, it is best to distinguish their confirmed separation from a specific final divorce date
