Robert De Niro Says He Chooses to 'Embrace' Aging at 81 Years Old: 'I Have No Choice'

"Things just change," the two-time Oscar winner told Chris Wallace in a new interview

Age is just a number for Robert De Niro — and even if it wasn't, he knows there's nothing he can do about it.

The legendary actor opened up about aging and how it has affected him in an interview for the latest episode of Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?, now streaming on Max.

"I'm older, you know, I'm 81," said De Niro. "Things just change."

Asked by CNN anchor Chris Wallace if he "hate(s)" the process of getting older, the two-time Academy Award winner replied, "I have no choice."

"Embrace it. Embrace whatever you've been given," he added.

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De Niro previously opened up about aging in an October 2023 interview with The Guardian, saying he is "aware of it" and he "think(s) more about time" now that he's older — specifically, how "each thing becomes more important" in life.

"Everything I do, time-wise, is important," he explained. "Whatever I’m thinking about doing in two years, I’d better think about doing it now.”

During his more recent interview with Wallace, De Niro also talked about how he'd describe himself as a dad to his seven kids: Drena, 53, Raphael, 47, twins Julian and Aaron, 28, Elliot, 26, and Helen, 12, as well as his baby girl Gia, whom he welcomed in April 2023 with girlfriend Tiffany Chen.

"I'm trying my best," he candidly shared during the episode. "I'm going to put on my gravestone, 'I tried my best.' "

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"Really?" replied the host, 76, clearly surprised by De Niro's frank response.

"I was thinking about that the other day," the About My Father actor recalled with a laugh, adding that he would also put, "Please forgive me for everything that I've done" on his grave.

"Why, were you not a good father?" Wallace asked.

"No! I tried my best. That's all I can say," De Niro said, noting that his bustling acting career may have gotten in the way.

"I was busy, of course, but I always loved my kids," he continued.

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