DiCaprio is the founder ofAppian Way Productions—a production company that has made some of his films and the documentary seriesGreensburg (2008–2010)—and Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting environmental awareness. AUnited Nations Messenger of Peace, he regularly supports charitable causes. In 2005, he was named a Commander of theOrder of Arts and Letters for his contributions to the arts, and in 2016, he appeared inTime magazine's100 most influential people in the world. DiCaprio was voted one of the 50 greatest actors of all time in a 2022 readers' poll byEmpire magazine.
Early life and acting background
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio was born on November 11, 1974, inLos Angeles, California.[2] He is the only child of Irmelin Indenbirken, a German[3] legal secretary, andGeorge DiCaprio, an Americanunderground comix artist and distributor. The couple met while attending college and moved to Los Angeles after graduating.[4][5] George's paternal grandparents, Salvatore Di Caprio and Rosina Cassella, were Italian,[6][7][8] while his mother, Olga Anne Jacobs, was of German descent. Irmelin's father, Wilhelm Indenbirken, was German,[9] while her mother, Helene Indenbirken, was a Russian immigrant living in Germany.[10] Some sources have falsely claimed that Helene was born inOdesa, Ukraine; there is no evidence that DiCaprio has any relatives of Ukrainian birth or heritage.[11]
DiCaprio got his name because a pregnant Irmelin first felt himkick while she was looking at aLeonardo da Vinci painting in theUffizi museum inFlorence, Italy.[12] When he was one year old, Irmelin and George divorced after the latter fell in love with another woman and moved out.[13][14] To raise DiCaprio together, Irmelin and George moved into twin cottages with a shared garden inEcho Park, Los Angeles.[13][15] George lived with his girlfriend and her son, Adam Farrar, with whom DiCaprio developed a close bond.[16] DiCaprio and Irmelin later moved to other neighborhoods, such asLos Feliz.[17] He has described Irmelin and George as "bohemian in every sense of the word" and as "the people I trust the most in the world".[18] DiCaprio has mentioned growing up poor in a neighborhood plagued with prostitution, crime and violence.[19] He was raisedCatholic.[20] Attending theLos Angeles Center for Enriched Studies for four years and laterSeeds Elementary School, DiCaprio later enrolled atJohn Marshall High School.[21][22] He disliked public school and wanted to audition for acting jobs instead.[19] He dropped out of high school later, eventually earning ageneral equivalency diploma.[23]
As a child, DiCaprio wanted to become either amarine biologist or an actor. He eventually favored the latter; he liked impersonating characters and imitating people, and enjoyed seeing their reactions to his acting.[24] According to DiCaprio, his interest in performing began at the age of two when he went onto the stage at a performance festival and danced spontaneously to a positive response from the crowd.[25] He was also motivated to learn acting when Farrar's appearance in a television commercial earned him $50,000.[26] DiCaprio has said in interviews that his first television appearance was in the children's seriesRomper Room, and that he was dismissed from the show for being disruptive. The show's host has denied that any children were removed from the show in this way.[27][28] At the age of 11, DiCaprio almost quit acting in order to pursuebreakdancing, having gotten second place in a competition in Irmelin's native Germany.[29] At the age of 14, he began appearing in several commercials forMatchbox cars, which he calls his first role.[27] DiCaprio later appeared in commercials forKraft Singles,Bubble Yum, andApple Jacks.[30] In 1989, he played the role of Glen in two episodes of the television showThe New Lassie.[31]
At the beginning of his career, DiCaprio had difficulty finding an agent. When he found one, the agent suggested DiCaprio change his name to Lenny Williams to appeal to American audiences, which he declined to do.[32][33] DiCaprio remained jobless for a year and a half, although he had 100auditions. Following this lack of success, DiCaprio was going to give up acting but George persuaded him to persevere. Motivated by George and by the prospect of financial security, DiCaprio continued to audition. After a talent agent, who knew Irmelin's friend, recommended him to casting directors, DiCaprio secured roles in about 20commercials.[34]
By the early1990s, DiCaprio began acting regularly on television, starting with a role in the pilot ofThe Outsiders (1990) and one episode of the soap operaSanta Barbara (1990), in which he played a teenage alcoholic.[35] DiCaprio's career prospects improved when he was cast inParenthood, a series based on the1989 comedy film of the same name. To prepare for the role of Garry Buckman, a troubled teenager, he analyzedJoaquin Phoenix's performance in the original film.[36] His work that year earned him two nominations at the12th Youth in Film Awards—Best Young Actor in a Daytime Series forSanta Barbara and Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series forParenthood.[37] Around this time, he was a contestant on the children's game showFun House, on which he performed several stunts, including catching the fish inside a small pool using only his teeth.[38][39]
Career
1991–1996: Early work and breakthrough
DiCaprio made his film debut in 1991 as the stepson of an unscrupulous landlord in the low-budget horror sequelCritters 3—a part he later described as "your average, no-depth, standard kid with blond hair".[40] DiCaprio has stated that he prefers not to rememberCritters 3, viewing it as "possibly one of the worst films of all time" and the kind of role he wanted to avoid in the future.[41] Later in 1991, he became a recurring cast member on the sitcomGrowing Pains, playing Luke Brower, a homeless boy who is taken in by the show's central family.[42] Co-starJoanna Kerns recalls DiCaprio being "especially intelligent and disarming for his age" but she noted that he was also mischievous and jocular on set, and often made fun of his co-stars.[43] DiCaprio was cast by the producers to appeal to young female audience, but his arrival did not improve the show's ratings and he left before the end of its run.[44] He was nominated for aYoung Artist Award for Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series.[45] DiCaprio also had an uncredited role in 1991 in one episode ofRoseanne.[46]
In 1992, DiCaprio had a brief role inthe first installment of thePoison Ivy film series,[47] and was handpicked byRobert De Niro from a shortlist of 400 young actors to co-star with him inThis Boy's Life. Adapted from the memoir byTobias Wolff, the film focuses on the relationship between a rebellious teenager, Toby (DiCaprio), and his mother (Ellen Barkin) and abusive stepfather (De Niro).[27][48][49] DirectorMichael Caton-Jones said that DiCaprio did not know how to behave on set; accordingly, Caton-Jones used a strict mentoring style, after which DiCaprio's behavior began to improve.[43]Bilge Ebiri ofRolling Stone found that the powerful bond between Barkin and DiCaprio elevated the film, praising DiCaprio's portrayal of his character's complex growth from a rebellious teen to an independent young man.[47]This Boy's Life was the first film that gained him recognition.[50]
DiCaprio played the developmentally disabled brother ofJohnny Depp's character inWhat's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), a comedy-drama about a dysfunctionalIowa family. Caton-Jones recommended DiCaprio to directorLasse Hallström who was initially skeptical, as he considered DiCaprio too good-looking for the part. Hallström cast DiCaprio after he emerged as "the most observant" auditionee.[40][43] To ensure authenticity in his portrayal, DiCaprio studied similarly impaired children and their mannerisms, and Hallström allowed him to create the character using his own researched attributes.[51] The film became a critical success.[52] At 19, DiCaprio earned aNational Board of Review Award, as well as nominations for aGolden Globe Award and anAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor, making him theseventh-youngest Oscar nominee in the category.[53][54] "The film's real show-stopping turn comes from Mr. DiCaprio," wroteThe New York Times criticJanet Maslin, "who makes Arnie's many tics so startling and vivid that at first he is difficult to watch. The performance has a sharp, desperate intensity from beginning to end."[55]Caryn James, also writing forThe New York Times, said of his performances inThis Boy's Life andWhat's Eating Gilbert Grape: "He made the raw, emotional neediness of those boys completely natural and powerful."[56]
DiCaprio's first role of 1995 was inSam Raimi's WesternThe Quick and the Dead. WhenSony Pictures became dubious over DiCaprio's casting, co-starSharon Stone paid his salary herself.[57] The film was released to dismal box office performance and mixed reviews from critics.[58][59] DiCaprio next starred as a teenageJim Carroll, a drug-addicted high school basketball player and budding writer, in the biopicThe Basketball Diaries.[60] He starred in the erotic dramaTotal Eclipse (1995), driven by the desire to showcase an exceptional performance, which would focus on his acting talent rather than his much-discussed physical appeal.[61] Directed byAgnieszka Holland, it is a fictionalized account of the same-sex relationship betweenArthur Rimbaud (DiCaprio) andPaul Verlaine (David Thewlis). DiCaprio was cast whenRiver Phoenix died before filming began.[13] Although the film failed commercially,[62] it has been included in the catalog of theWarner Archive Collection, which releases classic and cult films fromWarner Bros.' library on home video.[63] A review in theSan Francisco Chronicle called DiCaprio "his generation's great acting promise" but criticized the mismatch between Thewlis's "cultivated" British accent and DiCaprio's "Southern California twang".[64]
DiCaprio next starred oppositeClaire Danes inBaz Luhrmann'sRomeo + Juliet (1996), an abridged modernization ofWilliam Shakespeare'sromantic tragedy, which retained the original Shakespearean dialogue. DiCaprio was initially unsure about another Romeo and Juliet adaptation, but at his father's suggestion, he agreed to examine Luhrmann's work more closely. DiCaprio and Luhrmann then spent a two-week workshop exchanging ideas, which led to the collaboration.[65]Romeo + Juliet established DiCaprio as a leading Hollywood actor; according to film scholarMurray Pomerance, DiCaprio's newfound popularity helped the film become profitable only days after its release.[66][67] Reviewing DiCaprio's early works,David Thomson ofThe Guardian called DiCaprio "a revelation" inWhat's Eating Gilbert Grape, "very moving" inThis Boy's Life, "suitably desperate" inThe Basketball Diaries and "a vital spark" inRomeo + Juliet.[68] The latter earned DiCaprio aSilver Bear for Best Actor at the1997 Berlin International Film Festival.[69] He then portrayed a young man who has been committed to a mental asylum inMarvin's Room (1996), a family drama about two estranged sisters, played byMeryl Streep andDiane Keaton, who are reunited through tragedy. He played Hank, the troubled son of Streep's character.[70]Lisa Schwarzbaum ofEntertainment Weekly praised "the deeply gifted DiCaprio" for holding his own against veteran actresses Keaton and Streep, describing the three as "full-bodied and so powerfully affecting that you're carried along on the pleasure of being in the presence of their extraordinary talent".[71]
1997–2001:Titanic and worldwide recognition
"Leo-mania" redirects here.
DiCaprio rejected a role inBoogie Nights (1997) to star oppositeKate Winslet inJames Cameron'sTitanic as members of different social classes who fall in love aboardRMSTitanic.[72] DiCaprio had doubts, but was encouraged by Cameron to pursue the part.[73] With a production budget of more than $200 million,[74][75]Titanic was the most expensive in history at the time.[76] It became the highest-grossing film at the time, earning more than $2.1 billion in box-office receipts worldwide.[a] It won 11 Academy Awards—the most wins for any film—includingBest Picture; DiCaprio's failure to gain a nomination led to a protest against theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by more than 200fans.[79][80] He was nominated for other high-profile awards, including aGolden Globe Award for Best Actor.[81]
DiCaprio at a press conference forThe Beach in 2000
Titanic transformed DiCaprio into a superstar, drawing adoration among teenage girls and young women that became known as "Leo-mania".[82][83] The success bolstered DiCaprio's standing as ateen idol and romantic lead, an image from which he sought to dissociate himself.[83] He reduced his workload "to learn to hear [his] own voice in choosing the roles" that he wanted to pursue.[84] He said in 2000: "I have no connection with me during that wholeTitanic phenomenon and what my face became around the world[...] I'll never reach that state of popularity again, and I don't expect to[...] It's not something I'm going to try to achieve either."[85] In 2025, DiCaprio said he regretted the decision to turn downBoogie Nights, saying it was "a profound movie of my generation".[86]
In his 2015Rolling Stone article, Ebiri called theTitanic role DiCaprio's best, writing that he and Winslet "infuse their earnest back-and-forth with so much genuine emotion that it's hard not to get swept up in their doomed love affair".[47] A writer forVanity Fair in 2008 labeled them "Hollywood's most iconic screen couple" sinceHumphrey Bogart andIngrid Bergman.[87] Writing about her first viewing ofTitanic in 2017,Vox contributor Alissa Wilkinson described DiCaprio's "boyish charm" and found his performance "natural and unaffected".[88]
DiCaprio had a brief featured role inWoody Allen's 1998 satire of fame,Celebrity. Ebiri labeled DiCaprio "the best thing in the film".[47][89] That year, he also took on the dual roles of villainousKing Louis XIV and his secret, sympathetic twin brother Philippe inRandall Wallace'sThe Man in the Iron Mask, with common elements fromthe 1939 film and a1929 film withDouglas Fairbanks.[90] It received mixed reviews,[91] but grossed $180 million against a budget of $35 million.[92][93]Entertainment Weekly criticOwen Gleiberman wrote that DiCaprio did not look old enough to play the part, but praised him as "a fluid and instinctive actor, with the face of a mischievous angel".[94]The Guardian's Alex von Tunzelmann was similarly impressed with the actor's performance but found his talent wasted in the film.[95] DiCaprio won aGolden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple for the dual roles in 1999.[96]
Also in 1998, DiCaprio was cast to star inAmerican Psycho (2000) for a reported salary of $20 million; after disagreements withOliver Stone on the film's direction, DiCaprio left the project, taking the lead role inThe Beach instead.[97] Adapted fromAlex Garland's1996 novel, the film saw him play a backpacking American tourist who ends up in a secret island commune in theGulf of Thailand.[98] Budgeted at $50 million, the film earned almost three times that at the box office,[99] but was negatively reviewed by critics, and earned him a nomination for theGolden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor.[100][101]Todd McCarthy ofVariety thought DiCaprio gave a compelling performance but his character lacked defining qualities.[102] The film received criticism for damaging the filming location in Thailand, after which DiCaprio worked to restore the area.[103]
In the mid-1990s, DiCaprio agreed to be in the mostly improvised black-and-white short filmDon's Plum as a favor to aspiring directorR. D. Robb.[27] When Robb expanded it to a full-length film, DiCaprio and co-starTobey Maguire had its release blocked in the US and Canada by court order, arguing they never intended to make a feature film. The film premiered at the2001 Berlin International Film Festival but remains obscure.[104]
2002–2009: Work with Martin Scorsese and film production
DiCaprio turned down the role ofAnakin Skywalker inStar Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), feeling unprepared to "take that dive" at the time.[105] His first film that year was the biopicCatch Me If You Can, based on the life ofFrank Abagnale Jr., who before his 19th birthday committedcheck fraud to make millions in the 1960s.[106] Directed bySteven Spielberg, the film was shot across 147 different locations in 52 days, making it "the most adventurous, super-charged movie-making" DiCaprio had experienced yet.[107] The film received critical acclaim and grossed $355 million against a budget of $52 million, becoming his second highest-grossing release afterTitanic.[108][109]Roger Ebert praised his departure from dark and troubled characters,[106] and twoEntertainment Weekly critics in 2018 called it DiCaprio's best role, labeling him "delightfully persuasive, deceptive, flirtatious, and sometimes tragic—and we dare you to find a better role, if you can".[110] DiCaprio received his third Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the film.[111]
Also in 2002, DiCaprio starred inMartin Scorsese'sGangs of New York, a historical drama set in the mid-19th century in theFive Points district of New York City. Scorsese initially struggled selling his idea of realizing the film until DiCaprio became interested in starring in the film, and thusMiramax Films got involved with financing the project. Nonetheless, production on the film was plagued by overshooting of budgets and producer-director disagreements, resulting in an eight-month shoot. With a budget of $103 million, the film was the most expensive Scorsese had ever made. DiCaprio was drawn to playing Amsterdam Vallon, the young leader of an Irish-American street gang, as it marked a shift from "boyish" roles to a mature leading man.[112]Gangs of New York earned $193 million worldwide and received positive critical response.[113][114] Anne Thompson ofThe Observer took note of DiCaprio's "low-key, sturdy performance", but felt that co-starDaniel Day-Lewis overshadowed him.[115]
In 2004, DiCaprio founded the production companyAppian Way Productions, a namesake ofthe Italian road.[116] He was interested in finding unique source material and preserving its essence during development, citing previous experiences where the involvement of too many people influenced the final product in a negative way.[117] DiCaprio first executive-producedThe Assassination of Richard Nixon, which starredSean Penn asSamuel Byck,[46] and was screened at the2004 Cannes Film Festival.[118] DiCaprio and Scorsese reunited for a biopic ofHoward Hughes, an American film director and aviation pioneer suffering fromobsessive–compulsive disorder, inThe Aviator (2004), which DiCaprio also co-produced under Appian Way. He initially developed the project withMichael Mann who was eventually replaced by Scorsese.[119][120]The Aviator became a critical and financial success, grossing $213million against its budget of $110million.[121][122] Simond Braund ofEmpire thought DiCaprio convincingly played a complex role and highlighted the scenes depicting Hughes's paranoia and obsession.[123] He received his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor — Motion Picture Drama and nominations for anAcademy Award, aBAFTA Award and aScreen Actors Guild Award.[124]
In 2006, DiCaprio starred in the crime filmThe Departed and the political war thrillerBlood Diamond. In Scorsese'sThe Departed, DiCaprio played the role of Billy Costigan, a state trooper working undercover in theIrish Mob in Boston, someone he characterizes as being in a "constant 24-hour panic attack". DiCaprio especially liked the experience of working with co-starJack Nicholson, describing a scene with him as "one of the most memorable moments" of his life as an actor.[125] In preparation, he visited Boston to interact with people associated with the Irish Mob and gained 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of muscle.[126] Critically acclaimed,[127] the film grossed $291 million against a budget of $90 million, becoming DiCaprio and Scorsese's highest-grossing collaboration to that point.[128][109]Peter Travers ofRolling Stone praised DiCaprio's and co-starMatt Damon's performances as "explosive, emotionally complex", but felt that Nicholson overshadowed the two.[129] Despite DiCaprio's leading role inThe Departed, the film's distributorWarner Bros. Pictures submitted his performance for a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the AMPAS to avoid internal conflict with his part inBlood Diamond.[130] Instead, his co-starMark Wahlberg was nominated, though DiCaprio earned other accolades forThe Departed, including aSatellite Award for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor nominations at the Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards.[131]
InBlood Diamond, DiCaprio starred as a diamond smuggler fromRhodesia who is involved in theSierra Leone Civil War. While filming, he worked with 24 orphaned children from theSOS Children's Village inMaputo,Mozambique, and said he was touched by his interactions with them.[132] To prepare, he spent six months in Africa, learned about camouflage from people in South African military and interviewed and recorded people in the country to improve his accent.[133] The film received generally favorable reviews,[134] and DiCaprio was noted for his South African accent, which is generally known as difficult to imitate.[135] Claudia Puig of theUSA Today approvingly highlighted DiCaprio's transition from a boy to a man on screen,[136] andAnn Hornaday ofThe Washington Post similarly noted his growth as an actor sinceThe Departed.[137] DiCaprio received nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe forBlood Diamond.[131]
In 2007, DiCaprio produced the comedy dramaGardener of Eden, which according toThe Hollywood Reporter's Frank Scheck "lack[ed] the necessary dramatic urgency or black humor to connect with audiences".[138] Later that year, he produced, co-wrote and narratedThe 11th Hour, a documentary on the state of thenatural environment that won theEarthwatch Environmental Film Award in 2008.[139] DiCaprio's Appian Way producedPlanet Green'sGreensburg (2008–2010), which ran for three seasons. Set inGreensburg, Kansas, it is about rebuilding the town in asustainable way after being hit by the2007 Greensburg tornado.[140] Also in 2008, DiCaprio starred inBody of Lies, a spy film based on thenovel of the same name. He played one of three agents battling a terrorist organization in the Middle East.[141] Considering the film to be a throwback to political features of the 1970s likeThe Parallax View (1974) andThree Days of the Condor (1975), DiCaprio dyed his hair brown and wore brown contacts for the role.[141] The film received mixed reviews from critics,[142] and grossed $118 million against a budget of $67.5 million.[143]
Later in 2008, DiCaprio collaborated with Kate Winslet for the dramaRevolutionary Road, directed by her then-husbandSam Mendes. As both actors had been reluctant to make romantic films similar toTitanic, it was Winslet who suggested that they both work with her on a film adaptation of the1961 eponymous novel byRichard Yates. She found that the script, byJustin Haythe, had little in common with the 1997 blockbuster.[144] Playing a couple in a failing marriage in the 1950s, DiCaprio and Winslet spent some time together in preparation, and DiCaprio felt claustrophobic on the small set they used.[87][145] He saw his character as "unheroic", "slightly cowardly" and someone "willing to be just a product of his environment".[146] Peter Travers liked DiCaprio's pairing with Winslet and his multi-layered portrayal of an overwhelmed character,[147] and Marshall Sella ofGQ called it the "most mature and memorable performance of his lifetime".[145] DiCaprio earned his seventh Golden Globes nomination for the film.[148]Revolutionary Road grossed $75.9million against its budget of $35million.[149] He ended the 2000s by producing directorJaume Collet-Serra's psychological horror thriller filmOrphan (2009), starringVera Farmiga,Peter Sarsgaard andIsabelle Fuhrman. Although the film received mixed reviews, it was a commercial success.[150]
2010–2013: Films with high-profile directors
DiCaprio continued to collaborate with Scorsese in the 2010 psychological thriller filmShutter Island, based onthe 2003 novel of the same name byDennis Lehane. He played Edward "Teddy" Daniels, a U.S. Marshal investigating a psychiatric facility located on an island, who comes to question his own sanity. DiCaprio and Scorsese became interested in the project in 2007, and the former co-produced the film under Appian Way withPhoenix Pictures.[151] Because of the film's disturbing scenes, DiCaprio had nightmares of mass murder during production and considered relaxing with his friends a form of therapy.[152] The film was released to mixed reviews;[153]Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian praised Scorsese's direction and the acting but criticized its twist ending.[154] Peter Travers called it DiCaprio's "most haunting and emotionally complex performance yet", and particularly liked his cave scene with co-starPatricia Clarkson.[155] The film was a commercial success, grossing $294 million worldwide against a budget of $80 million.[156]
DiCaprio (first from the right) with the cast ofInception at the film's premiere in 2010
DiCaprio's second role in 2010 was inChristopher Nolan's critically acclaimed ensemble science-fiction filmInception.[157] Inspired by the experience oflucid dreaming anddream incubation,[158] the film features Dom Cobb (DiCaprio), an "extractor" who enters the dreams of others to obtain information that is otherwise inaccessible. Cobb is promised a chance to regain his old life in exchange for planting an idea in a corporate target's mind.[159] DiCaprio was fascinated with the idea of a "dream-heist" and the potential for his character to manipulate his dreamworld and impact his real life.[160] Made on a budget of $160 million, the film grossed $836 million worldwide to become DiCaprio's second highest-grossing film.[109][161] To star in this film, DiCaprio agreed to a pay cut from his $20 million fee and opted for a share infirst-dollar gross points, which entitled him to a percentage of the cinema ticket sales. The risk proved fruitful, as DiCaprio earned $50 million from the film, becoming his highest payday yet.[162]
DiCaprio starred asJ. Edgar Hoover inClint Eastwood'sJ. Edgar (2011). A biopic about Hoover, the film focuses on his career as anFBI director, including an examination of his private life as an allegedcloseted homosexual.[163] Critics felt that the film lacked coherence overall but commended DiCaprio's performance.[164][165] Roger Ebert praised DiCaprio's ability to bring depth and nuance to the character, suggesting that his performance conveyed aspects of Hoover's personality that were possibly even unknown to the man himself.[166] Also in 2011, he producedCatherine Hardwicke's romantic horror filmRed Riding Hood. Though it was named one of the ten worst films of 2011 byTime magazine,[167] it had moderate box-office returns.[168] Also that year, DiCaprio's Appian Way producedGeorge Clooney's political dramaThe Ides of March, an adaptation ofBeau Willimon's 2008 playFarragut North.[169]
In 2012, DiCaprio starred as plantation owner Calvin Candie inQuentin Tarantino'sSpaghetti Western,Django Unchained. After reading the script, DiCaprio felt uncomfortable with the extent of racism portrayed in the film, but his co-stars and Tarantino convinced him not to sugarcoat it.[170] While filming, DiCaprio accidentally cut his hand on glass, but continued filming, and Tarantino elected to use the take in the final product.[171] The film received critical acclaim;[172] a writer forWired magazine commended him for playing a villainous role and found his performance "blood-chilling".[173] The film earned DiCaprio a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.[174]Django Unchained grossed $425 million worldwide on a production budget of $100 million.[175]
In January 2013, DiCaprio said he would take a long break from acting to "fly around the world doing good for the environment".[176] That year, he had four releases as an actor and a producer. His first was in the role of millionaireJay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann'sThe Great Gatsby, an adaptation ofF. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925novel of the same name, co-starringCarey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire.[177] The film received mixed reviews from critics, but DiCaprio's performance was praised and earned him theAACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[178][179] Critic Rafer Guzman ofNewsday wrote that DiCaprio was not only "tough[...] but also vulnerable, touching, funny, a faker, a human. It's a tremendous, hard-won performance."[180] Matt Zoller Seitz of Roger Ebert's website described his performance as "the movie's greatest and simplest special effect", and "iconic—maybe his career best".[181] The film grossed $353 million worldwide, more than three times its budget.[182] Three films were produced by DiCaprio under Appian Way in 2013—the ensemble crime thrillerRunner Runner, whichThe Guardian's Xan Brooks described as "a lazy, trashy film that barely goes through the motions";[183] the commercially failed thrillerOut of the Furnace; and the black comedy-dramaThe Wolf of Wall Street.[184][185]
DiCaprio reunited with Scorsese for the fifth time inThe Wolf of the Wall Street, a film based on the life of stockbrokerJordan Belfort (played by DiCaprio), who was arrested in the late 1990s for securities fraud and money laundering.[186][187] DiCaprio wanted to play Belfort ever since he had readhis autobiography and won a bidding war with Warner Bros. againstBrad Pitt andParamount Pictures for the rights to Belfort's memoir in 2007.[188][189] He was fond of Belfort's honest and unapologetic portrayal of his actual experiences in the book, and was inspired by the2008 financial crisis to make the film.[117]The Wolf of Wall Street received positive reviews for Scorsese's and DiCaprio's work together.[190]The Hollywood Reporter's Todd McCarthy lauded DiCaprio for fully realizing his character's potential with a carefree performance.[191] Jonathan Romney ofFilm Comment wrote that DiCaprio displays a great deal of comedic talent, excelling in "rubber-limbedslapstick" humor.[192] The film earned him theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and nominations for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, as well as Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Picture.[193][194]
2014–present: Environmental documentaries and awards success
In 2015, DiCaprio produced and playedfur trapperHugh Glass inAlejandro G. Iñárritu's survival dramaThe Revenant. DiCaprio found his role in the film difficult; he had to eat a raw slab of bison's liver and sleep in animal carcasses.[200][201] He also learned to shoot a musket, build a fire, speak two Native American languages (Pawnee andArikara) and apply ancient healing techniques.[200] Built on a budget of $135 million, the film earned $533 million worldwide.[202] The film received positive reviews with particular praise for DiCaprio's acting.[203]Mark Kermode ofThe Guardian wrote that DiCaprio shone with a performance that prioritizes physicality over speech,[204] and Nick De Semlyen ofEmpire noted that he uplifted the film.[205] The film earned him numerous awards, including the Academy Award, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Actor.[206][207][208] For the next three years, DiCaprio narrated documentaries and served as a producer for films. In 2016, he was an executive producer forThe Ivory Game andCatching the Sun;[185] he also produced, hosted and narrated the documentaryBefore the Flood aboutclimate change.[209] He produced the crime dramaLive by Night (2016), which received unenthusiastic reviews and failed to recoup its $65 million production budget.[185][210] His next production ventures were in 2018—the psychological horrorDelirium and the commercially failed action–adventureRobin Hood.[211][212]
After producing and narrating the 2019 global warming documentaryIce on Fire,[213] DiCaprio returned to acting following a four-year break in Quentin Tarantino's comedy-dramaOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, which traces the relationship betweenRick Dalton (DiCaprio), an aging television actor and hisstuntman, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt).[214] To help the film's financing, DiCaprio and Pitt agreed to take a pay cut, and they each received $10 million.[215] DiCaprio liked working with Pitt, and Tarantino described the pair as the most exciting sinceRobert Redford andPaul Newman.[216][217] DiCaprio was fascinated with the film'shomage to Hollywood and focus on the friendship between his and Pitt's characters. He drew from real-life experience of witnessing the struggles and rejections of his actor friends in the industry.[217] The film premiered at the2019 Cannes Film Festival, where critics praised his and Pitt's performances.[218] A writer forBusiness Insider called it one of the best performances of DiCaprio's career,[219] and Ian Sandwell ofDigital Spy particularly liked the duo's chemistry, believing their scenes together to be some of the film's strongest parts.[220] DiCaprio received nominations for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.[221] The film earned $374 million against a budget of $90 million.[222]
In 2020, DiCaprio served as an executive producer forThe Right Stuff, a television series adaption of the1973 namesake book. After being in development at National Geographic, it was released onDisney+.[223] That May, DiCaprio briefly featured in the finale of the miniseriesThe Last Dance.[224] In 2021, DiCaprio appeared inAdam McKay's satirical comedyDon't Look Up. He spent five months changing the film's script with McKay before agreeing to the part.[225] Starring alongsideJennifer Lawrence as two astronomers attempting to warn humanity about an extinction-level comet, DiCaprio saw this film as an analogy of the world's indifference to theclimate crisis. As a frequent supporter of environmentalism, DiCaprio said he has often looked to star in and make films tackling issues related to it, something he found hard due to people's inability to listen. He praised McKay for envisioning a project on how humans would react to a serious issue from a political, social and scientific standpoint.[226] While reviews for the film were mixed, most critics praised DiCaprio's and Lawrence's performances;[227] journalists from Digital Spy andNDTV lauded their pairing.[228][229] DiCaprio earned nominations for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for the film.[230][231] It broke the record for the most views (152 million hours) in a single week in Netflix history.[232]
Early in his career, DiCaprio gained a reputation for his reckless behavior and intense partying with a group of male celebrities dubbed "the Pussy Posse" in the 1990s.[43][240] In an infamous article published byNew York Magazine in 1998, journalistNancy Jo Sales criticized the group as men whose pursuit was to "chase girls, pick fights and not tip the waitress".[241] During an unknown activity, DiCaprio got himself and friendJustin Herwick almost killed when his parachute failed to open, after which his instructor released an emergency core. In response, DiCaprio said he is fond of doing things that scare him.John McCain, who was aUnited States Senator for Arizona, called him "an androgynous wimp".[240] DiCaprio found people's perception of him exaggerated, adding, "They want you miserable, just like them. They don't want heroes; what they want is to see you fall."[13]Steven Spielberg, who directed him inCatch Me If You Can, defended DiCaprio's reputation as a "party boy", believing it is a common behavior for young people and describing him as a family-oriented person during the film's production.[242] Considering DiCaprio to be conscious of his public reputation,The New York Times' Caryn James credited him as one of the few actors to use his stardom to further social causes.[56] Carole Cadwalladr ofThe Guardian said DiCaprio is "polite, charming, makes jokes, engages eye contact. And manages[...] to give almost no hint whatsoever of his actual personality."[243]
Life can get pretty monotonous. Acting is like living multiple lives. When you make a movie, you go off to different places, live different cultures, investigate somebody else's reality, and you try to manifest that to the best of your ability. It is incredibly eye-opening. That's why I love acting. There's nothing as transformative as what a film, a documentary, can do to get people to care about something else besides their own lives.
DiCaprio is regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation.[b] In a 2022 readers' poll byEmpire, he was voted one of the 50 greatest actors of all time. The magazine praised his willingness to "go to the ends of the earth (often literally) to get under his characters' skin".[248] Colin Covert ofThe Seattle Times similarly believed DiCaprio "redefines film stardom" through his willingness to take on challenging roles that few of his contemporaries are capable of performing.[249]
Since his international stardom withTitanic (1997), he has admitted feeling nervous about starring in big-budget studio films because of their hype and marketing campaigns. As an actor, he views film as a "relevant art form, like a painting or sculpture. A hundred years from now, people will still be watching that movie."[4] He often plays roles based on real-life people and stories told in specific periods.[24][250] According to Caryn James, DiCaprio is unafraid of working with established directors on unconventional projects; taking such risks has led him to star in failed films likeThe Beach (2000),[56] but also his successful collaborations with Martin Scorsese.[251][252] DiCaprio has described his relationship with Scorsese as dreamlike and admires his knowledge of film, crediting the director with having taught him its history and importance.[243] Scorsese has commented on DiCaprio's ability to repeatedly demonstrate emotion on screen.[253] Jesse Hassenger ofThe A.V. Club considers the duo's collaborations—which earned them the 2013 National Board of Review (Spotlight Award)[254]—to be career-defining moments for both of them and as vital asScorsese's acclaimed collaborations with Robert De Niro.[255]
Author Michael K. Hammond wrote that DiCaprio built his star reputation by demonstrating his acting ability, and praised him for "revealing a character while concealing the actor" and "disappearing into [his] roles".[256] According to Agnieszka Holland, who directed DiCaprio inTotal Eclipse (1995), DiCaprio is "one of the most mature actors" she has worked with and is "courageous" in his choice of roles.[257] Holland remarked that he does not rely onmethod acting but rather on a trick that allows him to truly "become the character".[257]Meryl Streep, who co-starred with DiCaprio inMarvin's Room, said he possesses the kind of unpredictability that makes his career difficult to classify, his life precarious and his work thrilling.[66] Writing forThe Observer, film criticPhilip French has asserted that many characters portrayed by DiCaprio are in the process of becoming men. He wrote that DiCaprio's inclination toward films about dysfunctional families and characters seeking father figures may allude to his own troubled childhood.[243] DiCaprio often plays characters who themselves are playing roles, which Caryn James says looks simple on screen but requires sophisticated acting.[56] He tends to playantiheroes and characters who lose their mental stability as the narrative progresses.[258][259] Derek Thompson ofThe Atlantic argued that DiCaprio gives his best performances when playing "frauds and cheats and double-crossing liars and mercenaries".[258]
Several media publications, such asPeople,[260]Empire[261] andHarper's Bazaar,[262] have included DiCaprio in their listings of the most attractive actors. In 1998, he suedPlaygirl magazine over plans to publish a fully nude picture of him.[263] He has said he does not believe in focusing on appearance—as this is only temporary and can negatively affect one's profession in the industry—and looks for career longevity instead.[264] In 2005, DiCaprio was made a commander of theOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by theFrench Minister of Culture for his contributions to the arts.[265] In 2016, he was named one of the100most influential people in the world byTime magazine.[266] He was included onForbes' annual list ofthe world's highest-paid actors in 2008 and from 2010 to 2016 with respective earnings of $45 million, $28 million, $77 million, $37 million, $39 million, $39 million, $29 million and $27 million, topping the list in 2011. The magazine has commended DiCaprio's ability to star in risky,R-rated films that become box office successes.[267]The Hollywood Reporter listed him as one of the 100 most powerful people in entertainment from 2016 to 2019.[268] A writer for the same magazine credits DiCaprio as the rare actor to have a successful career "without ever having made a comic book movie, family film or pre-branded franchise. Leo is the franchise."[269] Stacey Wilson Hunt, analyzing his career inNew York Magazine in 2016, opined DiCaprio, unlike most of his contemporaries, had not starred in a bad film in the previous ten years.[257] Of his success, DiCaprio says, "My attitude is the same as when I started. I feel very connected to that fifteen-year-old kid who got his first movie."[217]
DiCaprio has namedRobert De Niro andJames Dean as two of his favorite and most influential actors, stating "There were a lot of great actors I really fell in love with, but if I were to pick two, from different generations, it would be De Niro and James Dean".[214] When asked about a performance that stayed with him the most, DiCaprio responded, "I remember being incredibly moved by Jimmy Dean, inEast of Eden. There was something so raw and powerful about that performance. His vulnerability [...] his confusion about his entire history, his identity, his desperation to be loved. That performance just broke my heart."[270]
Other ventures
Activism
Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating. We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people out there who would be most affected by this. For our children's children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed.
An active celebrity in theclimate change movement,[272] DiCaprio believesglobal warming is the world's "number-one environmental challenge".[273] Eager to learn about ecology from an early age, he would watch documentaries onrainforest depletion and theloss of species and habitats.[274] In 1998, he established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting environmental awareness.[275] It supports organizations and campaigns committed to ensuring a viable future for planet Earth, and produced the short web documentariesWater Planet andGlobal Warning.[276] The foundation has also fundeddebt-for-nature swaps.[277] By 2018, the foundation had funded more than 200 projects, providing $100 million in support.[278] He has been an active supporter of numerous environmental organizations and sat on the board of theWorld Wildlife Fund andInternational Fund for Animal Welfare.[276][279]
DiCaprio has owned environment-friendlyelectric-hybrid vehicles.[280] His use ofprivate jets and largeyachts have been criticized as hypocritical due to their largecarbon footprints.[281][282] DiCaprio chaired the nationalEarth Day celebration in 2000 where he interviewedBill Clinton and they discussed plans to deal with global warming and the environment.[283] He presented at the 2007American leg ofLive Earth.[284] DiCaprio donated $1 million to theWildlife Conservation Society at Russia's Tiger Summit. DiCaprio's persistence in reaching the event after encountering two plane delays caused then Prime MinisterVladimir Putin to describe him as a "muzhik" or "real man".[285][286] In 2013, he organized a benefit fine art auction, "11th Hour", which raised nearly $38.8 million for his foundation.[287] In September 2014, United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon designated DiCaprio as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a focus on climate change.[288][289] Later that month, he made an opening statement to members of theUN Climate Summit; his speech reached an estimated one billion people worldwide.[290][291] In 2015, he announced his intention todivest from fossil fuels.[292] He again spoke at the UN in April 2016 prior to the signing of theParis Climate Change Agreement.[293]
U.S. Secretary of StateJohn Kerry and DiCaprio at the Our Ocean Conference in 2016
At a 2016 meeting withPope Francis, DiCaprio donated to charity and discussed environmental issues with him. A few days later, possibly influenced by this meeting, the Pope said he would act in a charity film.[c] DiCaprio traveled to Indonesia in early 2016 where he criticized the government's palm oil industry'sslash-and-burn forest clearing methods.[295] In July 2016, his foundation donated $15.6 million to help protect wildlife and therights of Native Americans, along withmitigating climate change.[296] That October, DiCaprio joinedMark Ruffalo in support of the Standing Rock tribe's opposition to theDakota Access Pipeline.[297]
In April 2017, DiCaprio protested against PresidentDonald Trump's inaction on climate change by attending thePeople's Climate March.[298] In July, a charity auction and celebrity concert arranged by DiCaprio's foundation had raised over $30 million in one night.[299] The DiCaprio foundation donated $100 million in December 2018 to fight climate change.[300] In May 2021, DiCaprio pledged $43million to enact conservation operations across theGalápagos Islands.[301]
Political views
DiCaprio endorsedHillary Clinton for the2016 presidential election.[302] In March 2020, DiCaprio attended a fundraiser forJoe Biden at the home of Paramount Pictures executive Sherry Lansing.[303] Prior to the 2020 election, DiCaprio narrated a Netflix documentary series about voting rights, stating, "All of us may have been created equal. But we'll never actually be equal until we all vote. So don't wait."[304] On social media, DiCaprio urged voters to make a plan to cast their ballots[305] and to draw attention tovoter suppression[306] and restrictivevoter ID laws, citingVoteRiders as a source of information and assistance.[307] In 2023, DiCaprio testified during the trial againstPrakazrel Michel, who is being accused of participating in a foreign influence campaign that was aimed at the Obama and Trump administrations.[308] During October 2024, DiCaprio formally endorsed Democratic nomineeKamala Harris for president due to her policies onclimate change mitigation, and criticized her Republican opponentDonald Trump.[309]
Philanthropy
In 1998, DiCaprio and his mother donated $35,000 for a "Leonardo DiCaprio Computer Center" at a library in Los Feliz.[310] In May 2009, DiCaprio joined Kate Winslet, director James Cameron and Canadian singerCeline Dion, in a campaign to raise money to financially support the fees of the nursing home whereMillvina Dean, a survivor of the RMSTitanic, was residing. DiCaprio and Winslet donated $20,000 to support Dean.[311] In 2010, he donated $1 million to relief efforts in Haiti afterthe earthquake.[312] In 2011, DiCaprio joined theAnimal Legal Defense Fund's campaign to release Tony, a tiger that had spent the last decade at a truck stop inGrosse Tête, Louisiana.[313] DiCaprio donated $61,000 to the gay rights groupGLAAD in 2013.[314]
DiCaprio isagnostic.[320] His personal life is the subject of widespread media attention,[321] though he rarely grants interviews and is reluctant to discuss his private life.[257][322] Since his 40s, DiCaprio has been the focus of various reports detailing his involvement with women aged 25 or younger, and has faced criticism for theage disparity of those relationships.[e][f][329] In 1999, DiCaprio met Brazilian modelGisele Bündchen, whom he dated until 2005.[330] He was romantically involved with Israeli modelBar Refaeli from 2005 to 2011. He later dated German fashion modelToni Garrn from 2013 to 2014 and later in 2017.[331] DiCaprio was briefly romantically linked with Barbadian singerRihanna, with the pair attendingCoachella together in 2016.[332] DiCaprio successfully sued FrenchtabloidOops [fr] after it made claims that DiCaprio had got Rihanna pregnant.[333] DiCaprio was in a relationship with American model and actressCamila Morrone from 2017 until 2022.[334] He has been dating Italian modelVittoria Ceretti since August 2023.[335]
In 2005, DiCaprio's face was severely injured when model Aretha Wilson hit him over the head with a broken bottle at a Hollywood party. As a result, he required seventeen stitches to his face and neck.[340] Wilson pleaded guilty to the assault and was sentenced in 2010 to two years in prison.[341]
On December 30, 2019, while vacationing near St. Barts, DiCaprio agreed to divert the boat he was on to search for a man who had fallen overboard. As the only vessel to respond to the mayday call, his crew rescued the man, who had been treading water for 11 hours, shortly before a storm hit.[345][346]
In June2025, DiCaprio drew criticism by attending thewedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez. Amazon has facedcriticism for its impact on the environment. People questioned DiCaprio's decision, considering his activism regarding environmental and humanitarian causes. A photo of DiCaprio at the event showed him hiding his face with his baseball cap.[347] In July2025, DiCaprio received backlash from activists for co-financing a luxury hotel project nearTel Aviv inIsrael despite the ongoingGaza–Israel conflict, on which he has not commented.[348][349]
^Titanic grossed $1.84 billion at the time of its release. After a re-release in3D in 2012, it earned an additional $343.6 million worldwide, totaling up to $2.18 billion.[77][78]
^In 2019, Camila Morrone addressed the criticism as follows: "There's so many relationships in Hollywood – and in the history of the world – where people have large age gaps [...] I just think anyone should be able to date who they want to date".[328]
^"Titanic (1997)".Box Office Mojo.Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. RetrievedApril 11, 2022. Click on the drop-down menu to see the gross at the time of its original release and 3D re-release.
^Honeycutt, Kirk (October 14, 2010)."Inception – Film Review".The Hollywood Reporter.Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. RetrievedAugust 11, 2015.
^"Inception".Empire. No. 253. July 2010. pp. 93–94.
^"Inception (2010)". Box Office Mojo.Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. RetrievedApril 11, 2022.
^Hiatt, Brian (August 5, 2010)."Leonardo DiCaprio Faces His Demons".Rolling Stone.Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. RetrievedJuly 29, 2023.I'm not an atheist, I'm agnostic. What I honestly think about is the planet, not my specific spiritual soul floating around. I know that sounds slightly eco-boy, but I think about the idea that there's going to be a mass extinction, and then something else is going to evolve.
Hammond, Michael K. (2012). "Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn: Acting Authentic". In Pomerance, Murray (ed.).Shining in Shadows: Movie Stars of the 2000s.Rutgers University Press. pp. 166–181.ISBN978-0-81355-216-3.
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