Who Are Robert De Niro's Ex-Wives?
When it comes to celebrity marriages, fans are never sure what to expect. Some celebrity couples seem to go the distance, and stars like Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, David and Victoria Beckham, and Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have stood the test of time, proving that lasting love is possible in Hollywood. However, not all stars are so lucky. Hollywood pairings like Jim Carrey and Lauren Holly, Drew Barrymore and Tom Green, and Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries failed to stand the test of time.
Another famous face who struggled with matrimonial bliss is Robert De Niro. The iconic actor is widely known for his roles in hit films like "The Godfather," "Taxi Driver," and "Cape Fear," with two Academy Awards to show for it. What's more, he's widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time. However, when it comes to playing the role of husband — the actor hasn't had much success.
While De Niro has enjoyed great success throughout his career, his personal life has been a different story. The actor has married twice, both of which ended in divorce. Here's a look at the women who tied the knot with Robert De Niro.
Robert De Niro married Diahnne Abbott in 1976
Robert De Niro met his first wife, Diahnne Abbott, while they worked together on the film "Taxi Driver." The pair soon began dating and tied the knot in 1976, per Hollywood Life. Abbott is best known for appearing in flicks like "Welcome To L.A.," "The Big Fix," and "The King of Comedy," but her acting career looks to have petered out in the late '80s. The two welcomed a son, Raphael, the same year they married. In addition to their son, De Niro adopted Abbott's daughter, Drena, from a previous relationship when they married. Drena De Niro followed in her famous family's footsteps and pursued a career in showbiz. She's appeared in a string of recent films, from "A Star Is Born" to "The Intern." She also appeared in the
After over a decade together, De Niro and Abbott called it quits in 1988. Althought the actor has remained tight-lipped about his separation from Abbott, it's obvious the experience taught the actor a thing or two. "The only thing I would say is that if you get married, it's easier probably not to have children if you're going to split up – it makes life simpler," he told the Belfast Telegraph in 2014 (via Huff Post).
De Niro ended his second marriage in 2018
Robert De Niro's second wife was Grace Hightower. Although Hightower has done a bit of acting, she's focused her career mainly on her business, Grace Hightower & Coffees. De Niro and Hightower first met in a London nightclub in the 1980s. As noted by Hollywood Life, the two dated for nearly a decade before finally making their love official. The couple married in 1997 and welcomed their son Elliot in March 1998. However, De Niro filed for divorce the following year. While the couple initally co-parented their son, in 2001, something changed, and a nasty custody battle ensued. Hightower accused De Niro of drug and alcohol abuse, and the actor claimed his estranged wife could get violent, according to People Magazine.
By 2004, Hightower and De Niro had worked things out and even renewed their wedding vows. They welcomed a daughter named Helen via surrogate in 2011. However, in 2018 their marriage fell on hard times again, and they filed for divorce for a second time. "Grace and I have two beautiful children together. We are entering a period of transition in our relationship which is a difficult but constructive process. I honor Grace as a wonderful mother and ask for privacy and respect from all as we proceed to develop our roles as partners in parenting," De Niro said at the time, per Closer.
The couple was said to have had a messy divorce before finally closing the chapter on their marriage for good.