Robert De Niro ‘not surprised’ he had a baby at 79: ‘How can you not plan this kind of thing’

Actor shocked fans on Tuesday when he unexpectedly announced he had become a father of seven

News that Robert De Niro has become a father to his seventh child has stunned fans, but the actor has said it was planned.

In an interview for ET Canada published on Tuesday (9 May), the 79-year-old Godfather star opened up about parenthood while promoting the upcoming comedy film About My Father.

Interviewer Brittnee Blair started asking a question, stating: “I know you have six kids,” to which the actor corrected her, replying: “Seven, actually.”

“I just had a baby,” he revealed.

A representative for De Niro later confirmed to the publication that the actor is now a father of seven, though it’s still unconfirmed who the mother is.

The Meet the Fockers star also told American publication Page Six that the pregnancy was planned.

He said: “How you could not plan that kind of thing?”

Shortly after De Niro subtly announced the news, About My Father co-star Kim Cattrall appeared to reveal the identity of the child’s mother during the film’s premiere.

De Niro’s eldest child is 51 years old (Getty Images)

The Canadian actor congratulated De Niro and his “significant other”, rumoured girlfriend Tiffany Chen at the New York premiere of the film. The Independent has contacted the representatives for further comment.

The pair reportedly met on the set of the 2015 film The Intern, with Chen working as a martial arts instructor on the movie, according to People.

Neither Chen nor De Niro have publicly addressed any relationship between them.

De Niro has six other children with previous partners. The actor and his first wife, American actor Diahnne Abbott, are parents to daughter Drena, 51, and son Raphael, 46. The pair were married from 1976 to 1988.

In 1995, he welcomed twin sons Julian and Aaron, 27, with his former girlfriend, model Toukie Smith.

De Niro also shares son Elliot, 25, and daughter Helen Grace, 11, with his ex-wife Grace Hightower.