There’s not much that parents wouldn’t do to make their kids happy, especially if those kids are toddlers, who can often find joy in the little things. Sometimes it’s as simple as listening to the same song on repeat or making dinner less spicy than usual. Other times, it’s something big, like going to see “Disney on Ice.”
For Robert De Niro, 81, it’s about taking his youngest daughter to see the Australian children’s band, The Wiggles. The legendary actor also made sure two-year-old Gia got lots of pictures with mom, dad, and all the band members.
John Nacion/Getty Images
John Nacion/Getty ImagesDe Niro Graciously Took Photos With Everyone
As the father of seven kids, Robert De Niro has had a lot of practice in the fatherhood category. So he knows that when your child’s favorite band is coming to town, you have to take them. And the “Taxi Driver” star got extra dad points for bringing Gia backstage to hang out with The Wiggles before the show.
John Nacion/Getty ImagesDe Niro and his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, brought Gia to see the New York City concert, and The Wiggles posted tons of Instagram videos showing all the band members interacting with the Academy Award winner. “What an honour it was to meet the legendary Robert De Niro and his family before our concert in New York City tonight,” read the caption.
De Niro could be seen hugging, shaking hands, and talking with Evie Ferris, Anthony Field, and the others. He also graciously took photos with everyone who wanted one.
Photo by John Nacion/Getty ImagesGia was fascinated with the bubbles, which she helped make with her bubble wand. De Niro and Chen chatted with the other parents in the room, as well, and at one point Chen could be seen happily holding someone’s baby.
The “Godfather” star said on BBC Radio 2’s “The Scott Mills Breakfast” (via ABC) that he watches both “The Wiggles” and “Ms. Rachel” with Gia. “I didn’t know of them until I started seeing them, and my daughter loves to watch them,” he admitted. “But they’re great… They have a lot of energy.”
Robert De Niro Follows One Parenting Rule: ‘The Main Thing is to Support Your Kids’
Besides Gia, his only child with Chen, De Niro is the father of six other children. His oldest daughter is Drena, 57, whom he adopted in 1976. Her mother is Diahnne Abbott, to whom the actor was married from 1976 to 1988. The couple also had a son, Raphael, who is now 48 years old.
After he and Abbott divorced, he began a relationship with Toukie Smith. The couple welcomed twins, Airyn and Julian, into the world in October 1995, before splitting up in 1996.
De Niro didn’t stay single long, as he married Grace Hightower in 1997. Their son, Elliot, was born in March 1998, and their daughter, Helen, was born via surrogate in 2011. He and Hightower divorced in 2018.
The actor told “Entertainment Tonight” in June 2025 that there’s one main parenting rule that he follows.
“The main thing is to support your kids,” he said. “As long as they’re not hurting themselves, doing anything destructive or anything like that, you have to support them.”
Comments
Robert De Niro Brings Adorable Daughter to Meet The Wiggles: See the Photos