|
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio was born to George and Irmalin DiCaprio on November 11, 1974 in Los Angeles, California. His parents chose the name Leonardo while on their honeymoon
in Italy when Irmalin felt a swift kick from her unborn son while admiring a painting by Leonardo DaVinci. Although his parents had been together since the 1960s, their marriage only lasted a few short
years although they remained friends afterwards.
Leonardo attended John Marshall High School in Los Feliz, California, but his formal education there was cut short after he began acting full
time. He eventually received a high school diploma through home school. With his baby face and wholesome good looks, DiCaprio's mother began to take him to auditions for television commercials at the age
of 13. He signed with an agent at the age of 14, and worked in various commercials and educational films, including "Mickey's Safety Club" and "How to Deal With a Parent Who Takes
Drugs".
The tall, slender, handsome young actor proved engaging in TV family sitcoms ("Parenthood", "Growing Pains") and even in the low budget horror sequel
("Critters 3" 1991). He won out over 400 others to win the role of Tobias Wolff in "This Boy's Life" (1993) after a four-month casting search. The film depicted a boy's dramatic
coming-of-age in the 1950s. Young DiCaprio walked away with stronger reviews than his costars Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin. As a result, DiCaprio's career was off and running.
DiCaprio was next
cast alongside Johnny Depp in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" (1993). While his good looks nearly lost him the part of the autistic Arnie, Gilbert's mentally challenged but cheerful younger
brother, the 19-year-old actor again collected the best reviews not to mention a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his performance.
DiCaprio's next film roles, The Quick and the Dead, The
Basketball Diaries and Total Eclipse, were box-office disappointments. So he decided to take the more commercial, mainstream route in an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, costarring Claire Danes. As the
leading man, DiCaprio graced the covers of numerous teen magazines and became the darling of the teen set. He followed this by starring in the 1996 tearjerker Marvin's Room.
DiCaprio then gained
immense attention, as the wayward bohemian artist, Jack Dawson, in the mega-hit Titanic (1997). The special effects-laden Titanic, written and directed by James Cameron, cost close to $200 million to
produce and featured Kate Winslet in the co-starring (and Oscar-nominated) role as DiCaprio's love interest, Rose DeWitt. It was the highest grossing film of all time. Dicaprio is reported to have been
peeved at not receiving a nomination himself.
In 2000 he teamed up with director Danny Boyle for "The Beach" where DiCaprio gave a good performance in a flawed storyline. On a more
positive note, the actor was cast in director Martin Scorsese's 19th Century drama "Gangs of New York," playing Irish-American immigrant Amsterdam Vallon. Production issues delayed the film by
nearly a year to the 2002 holiday season. DiCaprio found himself competing with himself in director Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can," in which he played real-life con artist Frank W.
Abagnale Jr. Perfectly cast, DiCaprio delivered a very charming and mature performance, proving himself again as talented actor.
As a result of his immense success, Leonardo now has the
opportunity to be picky about his roles and to lend his voice to social awareness causes that interest him.
|
