Leonardo DiCaprio
Early Life
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio was born on November 11, 1974, in Los Angeles, California, the only child of Irmelin (née Indenbirken), a legal secretary, and George DiCaprio, an underground comix writer, publisher, and distributor of comic books. His father is of Italian and German descent, and his mother, who is German, was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany during World War II. DiCaprio's parents divorced when he was a year old, and he lived mostly with his mother. The two lived in several Los Angeles neighborhoods, such as Echo Park, and at one point, lived in a Hollywood apartment where they were neighbors with budding actress Sharon Stone.
Career Beginnings
DiCaprio began his career by appearing in television commercials in the late 1980s. He had recurring roles in various television series, such as the soap opera Santa Barbara and the sitcom Growing Pains. In 1991, he played an un-credited role in one episode of Roseanne. He made his film debut later that year, in the low-budget horror direct-to-video film Critters 3. He played the lead role in the film adaptation of the memoir This Boy's Life in 1993, alongside Robert De Niro.
Breakthrough and Stardom
DiCaprio's breakthrough film role came in 1993, when he was handpicked by Steven Spielberg to star in the drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside Johnny Depp and Juliette Lewis. His performance as a mentally handicapped boy was critically lauded, earning him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He gained further recognition with leading roles in The Basketball Diaries (1995) and the romantic drama Romeo + Juliet (1996).
In 1997, DiCaprio starred in James Cameron's Titanic, which became the highest grossing film to that point. His portrayal of Jack Dawson brought him international fame and earned him his second Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actor.
Continued Success
In the 2000s, DiCaprio took on a more diverse range of roles. He starred in the epic drama Gangs of New York (2002), which marked his first of many collaborations with director Martin Scorsese. He also starred in the biographical crime drama Catch Me If You Can (2002), the historical drama The Aviator (2004), for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, and the crime drama The Departed (2006).
In the 2010s, DiCaprio continued his collaboration with Scorsese in the psychological thriller Shutter Island (2010) and the biographical black comedy The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), which earned him another Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He also starred in the western Django Unchained (2012), the period drama The Great Gatsby (2013), and the survival drama The Revenant (2015), which won him his first Academy Award for Best Actor.
Personal Life
DiCaprio is known for his environmental activism. He established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting environmental awareness. He has been romantically involved with several high-profile actresses and models, including Gisele Bündchen and Bar Refaeli. He is also known for his friendships with actors Tobey Maguire, Lukas Haas, and Kevin Connolly.
Filmography
DiCaprio's filmography includes over 30 films. His most critically acclaimed films include What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Titanic (1997), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), Inception (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and The Revenant (2015).
Awards and Nominations
Throughout his career, DiCaprio has received numerous awards and nominations, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Revenant (2015), and three Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor for his performances in The Aviator (2004), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and The Revenant (2015).