Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter, and documentarian. He is considered one of the most popular and influential actors of his generation. DiCaprio began his film career by playing Josh in Critters 3 (1991) and gained worldwide fame for his role as Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997). He has since become known for his work in biographical and period films, earning numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards.
Early Life
Leonardo DiCaprio was born in Los Angeles, California. He is the only child of George DiCaprio, an underground comix writer, publisher, and distributor, and Irmelin Indenbirken, a legal secretary. DiCaprio’s parents separated when he was a year old, and he was primarily raised by his mother. He attended the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies and later John Marshall High School, although he dropped out before graduating.
Career
DiCaprio’s early acting career included roles in television series such as Growing Pains and Santa Barbara. His breakthrough came with his performance in This Boy’s Life (1993), followed by a critically acclaimed role in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), for which he received his first Academy Award nomination.
In 1997, DiCaprio starred in James Cameron’s epic romance Titanic, which became the highest-grossing film at the time and solidified his status as a leading actor. He continued to work with renowned directors, including Martin Scorsese, with whom he collaborated on films such as Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), Shutter Island (2010), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
DiCaprio’s other notable films include Inception (2010), Django Unchained (2012), The Great Gatsby (2013), The Revenant (2015), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
Personal Life
DiCaprio is known for his environmental activism and has established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which focuses on global warming, preserving Earth’s biodiversity, and supporting renewable energy. He is also a supporter of the Democratic Party and has been involved in various political campaigns.
Filmography
- Critters 3 (1991) as Josh
- This Boy’s Life (1993) as Tobias “Toby” Wolff
- What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) as Arnie Grape
- Romeo + Juliet (1996) as Romeo Montague
- Titanic (1997) as Jack Dawson
- The Beach (2000) as Richard
- Gangs of New York (2002) as Amsterdam Vallon
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) as Frank Abagnale Jr.
- The Aviator (2004) as Howard Hughes
- The Departed (2006) as Billy Costigan
- Blood Diamond (2006) as Danny Archer
- Inception (2010) as Dom Cobb
- Shutter Island (2010) as Teddy Daniels
- The Great Gatsby (2013) as Jay Gatsby
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) as Jordan Belfort
- The Revenant (2015) as Hugh Glass
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) as Rick Dalton
Awards and Nominations
DiCaprio has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for The Revenant, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. He continues to be a prominent figure in Hollywood and a dedicated environmental activist.
