Benjamin Ashford|Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, Robert De Niro's grandson, dies at age 19

Actor Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez,Benjamin Ashford Robert De Niro's grandson, has died, his family announced Monday. He was 19.

De Niro-Rodriguez's mother Drena De Niro mourned her son in an Instagram post Monday, calling him "my beautiful sweet angel" who she loved "beyond words or description."

"You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life," she said. "I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you . I don't know how to live without you but I'll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama . You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you."

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In a statement provided to CBS News, Drena De Niro expressed gratitude for the "outpouring of love and support" the family has received while processing "this inconsolable grief."

"It is with immeasurable shock and sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo," she said.

De Niro-Rodriguez's father, artist Carlos Mare, posted a black image on his Instagram pages, and he reacted to his son's death in a response to De Niro's post.

"Words aren't enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends," Mare said. "He is Godschild now. On this full moon his spirit luminates what could not be seen in the dark. You can't spell LOVE without LEO."

Robert De Niro said he was "deeply distressed" by the death of "my beloved grandson Leo," in a statement provided to CBS News.

"We're greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo," De Niro said.

Asked about De Niro-Rodriguez's death, a New York City Police Department spokesperson told CBS News police went to a building in lower Manhattan on Sunday afternoon in response to a 911 call. A man was found unconscious and unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead by emergency medical services, according to a statement provided to CBS News. The police spokesperson said the man was 18, but a family spokesman confirmed to CBS News that De Niro-Rodriguez was 19.

The city's Office of Chief Medical Examiner would determine the cause of death, the police spokesperson said.

De Niro-Rodriguez and his mother appeared in the 2018 movies "A Star Is Born" and "Cabaret Maxime." He was also credited with an appearance in 2005's "The Collection."

In:
• Robert de Niro
• Death
• Obituary

Alex Sundby

Alex Sundby is a senior editor for CBSNews.com

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