De Niro Insisted Kennedy Center Honor Is A Family Affair

The Oscar winner will be toasted at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony this weekend, and he intends to make the event a family affair, with an entourage including his wife Grace Hightower, their ten-year-old son; his 13-year-old twin sons with ex Toukie Smith; his 33 year old son with Diahnne Abbott and their adopted daughter.

And he admits it was a struggle convincing White House staff to allow access to the whole De Niro clan.

The actor explains, "Well it's an honour, of course, and I'm taking all the kids and family.

"I've been going through a lot of problems trying to get them into the White House to meet Obama so I said (to the ceremony officials), 'Just get the kids in.' That's the bottom line."