Robert De Niro and producer Jane Rosenthal made their annual visit to the Today Show this morning to promote the Tribeca Film Festival and, when asked about being a new father at 79-years old, De Niro chose the art of deflection and commented on Al Pacino instead.
Hoda Kotb conducted the interview and commented on De Niro and Rosenthal’s long-running partnership that has included Rosenthal producing nearly 20 of De Niro’s films.
Rosenthal, who is also the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, praised De Niro, saying, “Robert De Niro asked me to come and build something with him. Neither one of us knew where that was going to go. He always said ‘You can move back to L.A. if it doesn’t work out.’ 34 years later we’re still together.”
Hoda Kotb then took the time to congratulate De Niro on his newborn baby and followed it up by asking him, “How is fatherhood at this moment?”
De Niro, knowing she was referring to his age, said, “This stage and age?”
After lightening up the question, De Niro took to the art of deflection and said, “Listen, Al Pacino just had a baby.”
Just when you think De Niro was about to joke about Pacino having a newborn at 83-years old, he instead offered his blessings, saying, “He’s a few years older than me. God bless him. I’m very happy for him.”
Kotb asked him about how it feels being a new father to which De Niro answered, “It feels great.”
De Niro explained he feels more aware as a father today than he was decades ago thanks to experience, adding, “When you’re older, you have awareness of certain things in life.”
Kotb and producers then gave Robert De Niro a baby gift, which was a Today Show onesie. Robert De Niro looked at the camera and held up the onesie, and referred to his newborn — Gia Virginia — by saying, “Gia, this is for you, honey,” noting that she sleeps great.
The Tribeca Film Festival will be held this year form June 7-18 in it’s usual place in downtown Manhattan, specifically in the neighborhood known as, you guessed it, Tribeca.