Robert De Niro Breaks Silence On ‘Difficult’ Split From Wife Grace Hightower

So sad. Last week, Us Weekly confirmed that Robert De Niro and his wife, Grace Hightower, are calling it quits after 21 years of marriage. And now, the A-list actor is breaking his silence on their split.

“Grace and I have two beautiful children together,” the 75-year-old said in a statement to Us on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The duo is parents to a son Elliot, 20, and a daughter Helen, 6. “We are entering a period of transition in our relationship, which is a difficult but constructive process.” He added, “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.”

Page Six was the first to report the news of their breakup. “They are not living together at this time,” a source close to the longtime couple told the outlet. “[Robert] and Grace are breaking up. He’s been at a few [events] since the very end of the summer without her — and rumor has it they are done.”

Robert and Grace, 63, are, unfortunately, no strangers to divorce. The two tied the knot in 1997, and just two years later, the Goodfellas star filed for divorce. The split was followed by a custody battle over their son. They eventually reconciled and renewed their vows in 2004. In 2011, they welcomed their daughter via surrogate.

The Oscar winner has been married before Grace as well. He was previously hitched to actress Diahnne Abbott from 1976 until 1988, and the former couple has two adult children together, daughter Drena De Niro, 47, and son Raphael De Niro, 42. Robert is additionally a father to twin sons Aaron Kendrick De Niro and Julian Henry De Niro from a past relationship with model Toukie Smith.

Here’s hoping Robert and Grace work it out someday! And if they don’t, at least he has his six kids there for support.