Leonardo DiCaprio Biography - Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio Childhood, Leo Di Caprio Profile

Name: Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio

Born on: November 11, 1974

Born in: Hollywood, California (United States)

Nationality: American

Education: Corinne A. Seeds University Elementary School (Los Angeles, California), Center for Enriched Studies (Los Angeles, California), John Marshall High School (Los Angeles, California)

Career: Actor

An Academy Award-nominated, BAFTA Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning actor, Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most renowned Hollywood actors of his generation. He first stormed Hollywood and earned global recognition for portraying the role of ‘Jack Dawson’ in James Cameron’s movie ‘Titanic’ (1997), one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of cinema. The movie not only brought DiCaprio to the forefront of cinematic wonders, but also gifted him a string of other eventful projects and a huge fan following. Today, some of the most popular Leo flicks include Catch Me if You Can (2002), Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), and The Departed (2006).

Childhood & Education

Leonardo DiCaprio was born as Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio, on November 11, 1974, in Hollywood, California (United States). He is of half Italian and half German descent. His father is a prominent figure in the hippie circle of Los Angeles, and is a distributor of underground comic books. Even though, both his parents got divorced only when he was a year old, they contributed substantially in molding Leo’s life.

Leo spent most of his early years with his mother, shifting to different neighborhoods. He also spent a part of his childhood in Germany, living with his maternal grandparents. Nevertheless, his father always made it a point to visit him every now and then. As a kid, Leo attended Corinne A. Seeds University Elementary School. He also studied at the John Marshall High School for some time, until he went to join the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies.

Early Career

Leonardo’s much-dreamt acting career started in 1989, with his role of ‘Garry Buckman’, on the television version of the movie ‘Parenthood’. It was at its sets that he met his best friend ‘Tobey Maguire’, the American actor of ‘Spiderman’ fame. The same year, DiCaprio bragged the role of ‘Mason Capwell’ on the soap opera ‘Santa Barbara’. In 1991 and 1992, he appeared in the role of ‘Luke Brower’ on ‘Growing Pains’.

However, DiCaprio’s cinematic journey began in 1991, with his debut film, ‘Critters 3’. In 1993, he also got a major break in the movie ‘This Boy's Life’ (1993), starring alongside Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin. The same year, his role as a mentally challenged boy in the movie ‘What's Eating Gilbert Grape’ got him serious applauds, and earned him his first Academy Award nomination, at the mere age of 19.

The year 1995 saw the young DiCaprio in a series of promising roles. He starred in four films, including ‘The Quick and The Dead’, ‘Total Eclipse’, and ‘The Basketball Diaries’. In 1996, he donned himself as ‘Romeo’ in the modern day version of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’, alongside Claire Danes (Juliet). The following year, DiCaprio starred in ‘Marvin's Room’, with popular Hollywood names like Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton.

Superstar Career

DiCaprio’s role as the poor ‘Jack Dawson’ in the 1997-chartbuster ‘Titanic’ was what led to his superstar image. His onscreen tragic romance with the aristocratic ‘Rose’ (Kate Winslet) gave vent to the ‘Leo Mania’ worldwide. He got a nomination in the ‘Best Actor’ category for the Golden Globe Award. From 1998 to 2001, DiCaprio appeared in movies like the ‘Celebrity’, ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’, ‘The Beach’ and the ‘Don's Plum’. Nevertheless, in the year 2002, DiCaprio showcased his versatility by shifting from his regular image, and starred in epic movies like ‘Gangs of New York’ and ‘Catch Me If You Can’.

‘Catch Me If You Can’ brought him another nomination (Best Actor), for the Golden Globe Award of 2003. In the year 2004, for his role as ‘Howard Hughes’ in ‘Aviator’, he was not only nominated, but also won the prestigious Golden Globe Award. In addition, in 2006, his movies ‘The Departed’ and ‘Blood Diamond’ fetched him nominations for both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award in the Best Actor category. The following year, he got involved in his new project, ‘The 11^th Hour’. Some of his upcoming projects include, ‘Revolutionary Road’, ‘Body of Lies’, ‘Ashecliffe’, ‘Akira’, ‘The Chancellor Manuscript’ and ‘The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt’.

Personal Life

Apart from being a celebrated Hollywood personality, Leonardo is also popular as a staunch environmentalist and a philanthropist. His pro-environmental activities have also boosted many other celebrities to follow his line. In 1998, he donated $35,000 dollars for “Leonardo DiCaprio Computer Center” at the Los Feliz branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, where he has spent a part of his childhood. Today, he owns a home in Los Angeles, an apartment in New York, an apartment in Riverhouse, and an island in Belize.

Filmography

1991 - Critters 3 (Josh)

1992 - Poison Ivy (Guy)

1993 - This Boy's Life (Tobias "Toby" Wolff)

1993 - What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Arnie Grape)

1995 - The Quick and The Dead (Fee Herod "The Kid")

1995 - The Basketball Diaries (Jim Carroll)

1995 - Total Eclipse (Arthur Rimbaud)

1996 - Romeo & Juliet (Romeo Montague)

1996 - Marvin's Room (Hank)

1997 - Titanic (Jack Dawson)

1998 - The Man in the Iron Mask (King Louis XIV/Philippe)