Robert De Niro's grandson Leandro has died at age 19: 'You were so deeply loved,' says the teen's mother, Drena De Niro

• Robert De Niro's grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez has died at 19.

• De Niro's elder daughter, Drena, announced her son's death.

• Leandro followed in his grandfather's footsteps as an actor

Robert De Niro's grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez has died at age 19, the teen's mother announced in an Instagram post on Sunday night.

Leandro was the son of De Niro's elder daughter, Drena, and the artist Carlos Rodriguez.

Drena wrote in an Instagram caption that Leandro was "my beautiful sweet angel" — but she did not reveal the cause of his death.

"I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly," she wrote alongside a photo of Leandro. "You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life. I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you."

The post continued: "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 I'm so sorry my baby, I'm so sorry @carlosmare," she added, tagging Leandro's father.

"Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy," she concluded the post, followed by several dove and broken-heart emojis.

Leandro was following in the footsteps of his grandfather by pursuing a career in acting before his death. He had credits in the films "A Star Is Born," "Cabaret Maxime," and "The Collection."

Several stars commented on Drena's post to express their condolences.

The director Lee Daniels wrote, "Drena may GOD keep you in his arms."

The actor Rosie Perez commented: "Shocked! I'm so sorry! We are all here for you! I love you too much."

Leandro's father shared a blacked-out image on his Instagram, which was likewise met with sympathies.

De Niro has not yet commented on the news.

Representatives for Robert De Niro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Drena is the oldest of De Niro's seven children. The star of "The Godfather: Part II," "Raging Bull," "Heat," and "Meet the Parents" adopted Drena during his first marriage to the actor Diahnne Abbott, with whom he also shares a son Raphael, 46. Drena was Abbott's daughter from her previous marriage.

De Niro fathered the twin sons, Julian and Aaron, 27, during a relationship with the model Toukie Smith, and has a 24-year-old son, Elliot, and an 11-year-old daughter, Helen, with his second wife, Grace Hightower.

De Niro has three other grandchildren through Raphael, according to People.

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