PROFILEName : Leonardo DiCaprio
Born : 11 November 1974 (Age: 36)
Birth Place : Los Angeles, California, USA
Height : 5' 11"
Occupation : Actor, film producer
Nationality : American
Years active : 1989–present
Awards : Won 1 Golden Globe, 3 Oscar, 2 BAFTA nominations
BIOGRAPHY
The Nineties saw the rise of some big, big stars. At different points Brad Pitt, Nicolas Cage, Jim Carrey, Will Smith and Adam Sandler stormed the Hollywood firmament, each other them carrying a string of massive hits. But none of them enjoyed (endured?) the kind of enormo-fame achieved by Leonardo DiCaprio. Beginning the decade as a heavily tipped newcomer, he ended it with Titanic, the biggest hit in cinema history, and a worldwide army of teenage fans so crazed and committed to their idol they had critics recalling the manic days of Beatlemania.
So, DiCaprio could be viewed as a phenomenon, a lucky actor in the right place at the right time, who with one role reached the pinnacle of his industry. But this would be to seriously underestimate the man. The action-packed romance of Titanic may have made him a superstar, but it was hardly a challenge for a kid who'd already stood toe to toe with De Niro and Streep, convincingly played a junkie, a gunslinger, a whore and a bisexual poet AND been Oscar-nominated for the finest portrayal of a mental retard ever filmed (yes, that's RIGHT, Mr Hoffman). If Titanic had never happened, DiCaprio would still have been seen as the finest and most versatile actor of his generation.
He was born Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio on the 11th of November, 1974, in Hollywood, to Italian-American comic distributor George DiCaprio and his German-American wife Irmalin, a legal secretary who'd go on to become Leonardo's manager. The boy's unusual name was chosen when he kicked his pregnant mother from the inside while she was viewing a Da Vinci in the Uffizi, the Wilhelm coming from a German relative - and not some dubious tribute to the Kaiser.
George and Irmalin would divorce the year after Leonardo's birth but, the split being amicable, the pair would both be involved in the child's rearing. Hence young Leo would enjoy a peculiarly bohemian upbringing (not unlike Winona Ryder's). George being a prime mover in the comic underground of the Sixties and Seventies, visitors to the family home included Robert Crumb, Charles Bukowski and Hubert Selby Jr. The family would knock up outrageous costumes and attend numerous Californian festivals, one of Leo's earliest memories being of tap-dancing onstage in front of an audience of thousands - his stage fright thus being eliminated at a very
early age.
So, DiCaprio could be viewed as a phenomenon, a lucky actor in the right place at the right time, who with one role reached the pinnacle of his industry. But this would be to seriously underestimate the man. The action-packed romance of Titanic may have made him a superstar, but it was hardly a challenge for a kid who'd already stood toe to toe with De Niro and Streep, convincingly played a junkie, a gunslinger, a whore and a bisexual poet AND been Oscar-nominated for the finest portrayal of a mental retard ever filmed (yes, that's RIGHT, Mr Hoffman). If Titanic had never happened, DiCaprio would still have been seen as the finest and most versatile actor of his generation.
He was born Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio on the 11th of November, 1974, in Hollywood, to Italian-American comic distributor George DiCaprio and his German-American wife Irmalin, a legal secretary who'd go on to become Leonardo's manager. The boy's unusual name was chosen when he kicked his pregnant mother from the inside while she was viewing a Da Vinci in the Uffizi, the Wilhelm coming from a German relative - and not some dubious tribute to the Kaiser.
George and Irmalin would divorce the year after Leonardo's birth but, the split being amicable, the pair would both be involved in the child's rearing. Hence young Leo would enjoy a peculiarly bohemian upbringing (not unlike Winona Ryder's). George being a prime mover in the comic underground of the Sixties and Seventies, visitors to the family home included Robert Crumb, Charles Bukowski and Hubert Selby Jr. The family would knock up outrageous costumes and attend numerous Californian festivals, one of Leo's earliest memories being of tap-dancing onstage in front of an audience of thousands - his stage fright thus being eliminated at a very
early age.
CAREER
Honestly, who would have thought that a young actor who made his big-screen debut in Critters 3: You Are What They Eat would go on to become the next so-called muse of Martin Scorsese? Together, Leonardo DiCaprio and Scorsese have teamed up for Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, and, finally, this weekend’s Shutter Island. This love affair ain’t over yet, for there are two more possible projects — with Wall Street corruption and Viking adventure themes — under consideration by the pair. Yet another possibility lies within the rumor that Scorsese has DiCaprio earmarked for a Frank Sinatra biopic. And since Scorsese made nine films with Robert De Niro (over a period of twenty-three years), his long-running fascination with an actor shouldn’t come as terribly surprising news. Yet, in the long run, is this really the best career move for DiCaprio?
First, let’s reflect upon how this all happened… it seems that, at a relatively early age and shortly after the aforementioned Critters 3, DiCaprio caught the eye of Robert De Niro himself during an audition for This Boy’s LIfe, in which DiCaprio won the role of De Niro’s son. The young bloke went on, shortly thereafter, to give such an outstanding performance in the quirky-as-hell What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? that he received his first Oscar nomination at age 19. A few years later, DiCaprio had sufficiently diversified his resume; but then made a decision he later regretted by turning down the lead role in Boogie Nights (yes, Dirk Diggler) to play Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s Titanic, a sprawling epic that caused “Leomania” to reach a worldwide frenzy of swooning teenage girls. Titanic, along with Romeo + Juliet, sealed his fate as a reliable and dashing leading man, not to mention a bankable one who has settled at around $20 million per film. However, the commercial success of Titanic overshadowed DiCaprio’s former critical acclaim and left him facing a future as a romantic leading man. Rather than quit the acting business, which was his initial reaction, DiCaprio took a few tentative steps with The Man in the Iron Mask (a commercial and critical success) and The Beach (a bare-chested failure on both ends) but then found himself without a clue as to where his career was headed.
It was then that De Niro convinced Scorsese to cast DiCaprio in Gangs of New York, and, from that point on, this actor-director bond has predominated most discussion of DiCaprio’s legacy thus far. And, yes, these two have created some pretty great films. However, despite a brief respite in Steven Spielberg’s relatively light-hearted Catch Me If You Can, the past decade of DiCaprio’s career has been painted in monochromatic shades of darkly dramatic roles — from characters disillusioned with suburbia to hardened law enforcement types to those with serious mental illness — one ultimately realizes that a DiCaprio film won’t be a carefree, exuberant romp. Although this period in his career has remained financially lucrative, and he has earned two more Oscar nominations for The Aviator and Blood Diamond (under director Edward Zwick), it’s quite easy to believe that the almighty pursuit of the Oscar is now driving DiCaprio’s choice of roles. As Leo throws himself headlong into each movie, he emotes as if his very essence depends upon playing a role while maintaining a sense of artificiality about it all. One never really forgets that it is Leonardo DiCaprio, actor, who graces the celluloid screen, rather than the characters that he should embody. Of course, the fact that DiCaprio makes a habit of appearing alongside actors such as Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York) and Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road) — who both consistently deliver remarkably subtle and nuanced performances — the difference of abilities is quite obvious. Perhaps, to gain some perspective, DiCaprio needs to step away from the Scorsese’s virtual umbilical cord for more than just a movie at a time.
Look, I know that Leonardo DiCaprio has essentially crawled up Scorsese’s ass and awaits further instructions to do as he pleases. Leo seems to fancy himself the next Robert De Niro, but does he really know what he’s asking for? Sure, it’s a respectable career, but it’s going to be followed by a sharp decline. One day, DiCaprio may wake up to find himself starring in a remake of Meet the Fockers and appearing with Kate Winslet in Righteous Kill 2: Worst Twist Ending Since M. Night Shyamalan. And it won’t be nearly as pretty a spectacle as Titanic fangirls would like to believe.
Prognosis: With no less than twenty-seven “In Development” credits on IMDb, DiCaprio has no future financial worries of which to speak. However, he’s reached the point where all this seriousness puts him in jeopardy of unintentional self-parody. Just as Christian Bale has become known for his intensity and periodic bursts of shouting at the camera, DiCaprio has become a mass of furrowed eyebrows, random facial hair, and mislaid Bostonian accents. If his early career is any indication, Leonardo DiCaprio is capable of much more than that.
First, let’s reflect upon how this all happened… it seems that, at a relatively early age and shortly after the aforementioned Critters 3, DiCaprio caught the eye of Robert De Niro himself during an audition for This Boy’s LIfe, in which DiCaprio won the role of De Niro’s son. The young bloke went on, shortly thereafter, to give such an outstanding performance in the quirky-as-hell What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? that he received his first Oscar nomination at age 19. A few years later, DiCaprio had sufficiently diversified his resume; but then made a decision he later regretted by turning down the lead role in Boogie Nights (yes, Dirk Diggler) to play Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s Titanic, a sprawling epic that caused “Leomania” to reach a worldwide frenzy of swooning teenage girls. Titanic, along with Romeo + Juliet, sealed his fate as a reliable and dashing leading man, not to mention a bankable one who has settled at around $20 million per film. However, the commercial success of Titanic overshadowed DiCaprio’s former critical acclaim and left him facing a future as a romantic leading man. Rather than quit the acting business, which was his initial reaction, DiCaprio took a few tentative steps with The Man in the Iron Mask (a commercial and critical success) and The Beach (a bare-chested failure on both ends) but then found himself without a clue as to where his career was headed.
It was then that De Niro convinced Scorsese to cast DiCaprio in Gangs of New York, and, from that point on, this actor-director bond has predominated most discussion of DiCaprio’s legacy thus far. And, yes, these two have created some pretty great films. However, despite a brief respite in Steven Spielberg’s relatively light-hearted Catch Me If You Can, the past decade of DiCaprio’s career has been painted in monochromatic shades of darkly dramatic roles — from characters disillusioned with suburbia to hardened law enforcement types to those with serious mental illness — one ultimately realizes that a DiCaprio film won’t be a carefree, exuberant romp. Although this period in his career has remained financially lucrative, and he has earned two more Oscar nominations for The Aviator and Blood Diamond (under director Edward Zwick), it’s quite easy to believe that the almighty pursuit of the Oscar is now driving DiCaprio’s choice of roles. As Leo throws himself headlong into each movie, he emotes as if his very essence depends upon playing a role while maintaining a sense of artificiality about it all. One never really forgets that it is Leonardo DiCaprio, actor, who graces the celluloid screen, rather than the characters that he should embody. Of course, the fact that DiCaprio makes a habit of appearing alongside actors such as Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York) and Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road) — who both consistently deliver remarkably subtle and nuanced performances — the difference of abilities is quite obvious. Perhaps, to gain some perspective, DiCaprio needs to step away from the Scorsese’s virtual umbilical cord for more than just a movie at a time.
Look, I know that Leonardo DiCaprio has essentially crawled up Scorsese’s ass and awaits further instructions to do as he pleases. Leo seems to fancy himself the next Robert De Niro, but does he really know what he’s asking for? Sure, it’s a respectable career, but it’s going to be followed by a sharp decline. One day, DiCaprio may wake up to find himself starring in a remake of Meet the Fockers and appearing with Kate Winslet in Righteous Kill 2: Worst Twist Ending Since M. Night Shyamalan. And it won’t be nearly as pretty a spectacle as Titanic fangirls would like to believe.
Prognosis: With no less than twenty-seven “In Development” credits on IMDb, DiCaprio has no future financial worries of which to speak. However, he’s reached the point where all this seriousness puts him in jeopardy of unintentional self-parody. Just as Christian Bale has become known for his intensity and periodic bursts of shouting at the camera, DiCaprio has become a mass of furrowed eyebrows, random facial hair, and mislaid Bostonian accents. If his early career is any indication, Leonardo DiCaprio is capable of much more than that.
MOVIES & AWARDS LIST
Critters 3 (1991)
Poison Ivy (1992)
This Boy's Life (1993)
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Emerging Actor
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Emerging Actor
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Emerging Actor
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Emerging Actor
National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
The Foot Shooting Party (1994)
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Total Eclipse (1995)
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - Romance
The Foot Shooting Party (1994)
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Total Eclipse (1995)
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - Romance
Silver Bear for Best Actor
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo shared with Claire Danes
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss shared with Claire Danes
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Performance
Marvin's Room (1996)
Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor
Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast - Motion Picture
Titanic (1997)
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - Drama
Titanic (1997)
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - Drama
MTV Movie Award for Best Performance
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo shared with Kate Winslet
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss shared with Kate Winslet
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
Celebrity (1998)
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Hissy Fit — Fil
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Hissy Fit — Fil
The Beach (2000)
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Actor — Film
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Chemistry shared with Virginie Ledoyen
Don's Plum (2001)
filmed in 1995 released in 2001
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liar
Don's Plum (2001)
filmed in 1995 released in 2001
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liar
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — IOMA Award for Best Actor
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Performance
Gangs of New York (2002)
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss shared with Cameron Diaz
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss shared with Cameron Diaz
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liplock shared with
The Aviator (2004)
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
MTV Movie Award for Best Performance
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actor
Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated — IOMA Award for Best Actor
Nominated — London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor — Drama
Nominated — Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor or Actress in a Visual Effects Film
Blood Diamond (2006)
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actor
Blood Diamond (2006)
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Actor of the Year also for The Departed
Nominated — Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated — St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association for Best Actor
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor — Drama
The Departed (2006)
Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Irish Film and Television Audience Award for Best International Actor
Gransito Movie Award Best Actor
IOMA Award for Best Actor
National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture
Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Actor of the Year also for Blood Diamond
Nominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Empire Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated — People's Choice Award for Best On-Screen Match-Up shared with Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated — Teen Choice Awards - Choice Movie Actor: Drama
Nominated — Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
The 11th Hour (2007)
Body of Lies (2008)
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Palm Springs International Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Performance
The 11th Hour (2007)
Body of Lies (2008)
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Palm Springs International Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Performance
Nominated — Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association for Best Actor
Shutter Island (2010)
IOMA Award for Best Actor
Shutter Island (2010)
IOMA Award for Best Actor
Teen Choice Awards – Choice Movie Actor: Horror/Thriller
Nominated — People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor
Nominated — Scream Awards for Best Horror Actor
Hubble 3D (2010)
Inception (2010)
Scream Awards for Best Science Fiction Actor
Inception (2010)
Scream Awards for Best Science Fiction Actor
Nominated — People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor
Nominated — People's Choice Award for Favorite On Screen Team
Nominated — Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble
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