Tony Goldwyn Says Robert De Niro's Relationship with His Daughter Helen Is 'Beautiful to See' (Exclusive)

Robert De Niro is a great father, according to him Ezra contributor Tony Goldwyn.

Goldwyn, 64, opens up to PEOPLE about directing and starring with De Niro, 80, in the soon-to-be-released comedy/drama and what a legendary actor he is as a dad.

Noting that he didn’t meet De Niro’s youngest child, one-year-old daughter Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, given that “she was born right after he finished filming,” Goldwyn says he did get to meet De Niro’s pre-teen daughter Helen Grace, which he described as “amazing”.

“She was around a lot,” the Scandal alum says. “It was really wonderful to see how Bob was with her. She was, I guess, 10 or 11 when we were filming, and now she’s 12 or 13. But they have the most adorable relationship.”

Goldwyn adds that De Niro’s love for his child carried over to the screen. “It was very interesting because in our story he played the grandfather of the 11-year-old boy Ezra… and so much [his relationship with Helen]I feel, it affected his relationship with Ezra,” he says. “It was a very beautiful thing.”

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Robert De Niro, daughter Helen Grace, Chilina Kennedy as “Carole King” and Grace Hightower De Niro pose backstage at Carole King’s hit Broadway musical “Beautiful” at The Stephen Sondheim Theater on September 2, 2015 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Robert De Niro’s 7 Children: Everything You Need to Know

De Niro and his ex-wife Grace Hightower welcomed Helen via surrogate on December 23, 2011. Together, the couple are parents to son Elliot, 26.

The Taxi driver the star has seven children. He and his first wife Diahnne Abbott are parents to daughter Drena (52) and son Raphael (47). In 1995, he had twin sons Julian and Aaron (28) with his ex-girlfriend, model and actress Toukie Smith. In April 2023, he welcomed his youngest child Gia with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.

Mohammed Badra/Pool/Getty Images

Speaking to PEOPLE in February 2024, De Niro said his favorite thing with his kids is “just being together, going on trips to warm places,” adding, “The fact that they would all be together is everything to me.”

Also a grandfather, De Niro said the best thing a parent or grandparent can do is encourage their children to pursue their dreams.

“For my kids, I tell them, ‘If you want to be an actor or you want to do this or that, that’s fine as long as you’re happy. Just don’t sell yourself short,'” the Oscar winner told PEOPLE in January 2020. “That is the most I would say — work a little harder and go for what you really want to do. Don’t be afraid.”

Ezra it’s in theaters on May 31.

For more on Tony Goldwyn, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.

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