Leonardo DiCaprio

Photo of Leonardo DiCaprio

Biography

Ever since he emerged with a stunning performance as an abused stepson in "This Boy's Life" (1993), actor Leonardo DiCaprio was expected to achieve greatness by critics and the public alike. DiCaprio met these expectations, thanks to an Oscar-worthy performance as a mentally challenged teenager in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993) and as a troubled teen in "Marvin's Room" (1996). While he became a bona fide star, nothing prepared him for …
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Job Title

Actor, Producer

Born

Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio on November 11, 1974 in Los Angeles, California, USA

Career Milestones

2012

Offered villainous turn as slave owner Calvin Candie opposite Jamie Foxx in "Django Unchained," a Western drama set in Mississippi; film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino

2011

Portrayed FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover in Clint Eastwood directed biopic "J. Edgar"

2011

Executive produced "The Ides of March," which starred George Clooney who also directed, co-wrote and produced

2010

Starred in the sci-fi thriller "Inception," directed by Christopher Nolan

2010

Fourth collaboration with Martin Scorsese, the psychological thriller "Shutter Island"

2008

Re-teamed with Kate Winslet for "Revolutionary Road," an adaptation of Richard Yates' critically-lauded 1961 novel; directed by Winslet's husband Sam Mendes; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor

2008

Played a CIA operative in Ridley Scott's screen adaptation of "Body of Lies"

2007

Narrated (also co-wrote and co-produced) the environmental documentary "The 11th Hour"

2006

Cast in Edward Zwick's "Blood Diamond" as a South African mercenary; received second of two Golden Globe nominations that year for Best Actor; also received SAG and Oscar nominations for Best Actor

2006

Played an undercover cop posing as a gangster in Martin Scorsese's Mob drama, "The Departed"; received first of two Golden Globe nominations that year for Best Actor; earned a SAG nomination for Supporting Actor

2004

Portrayed legendary mogul Howard Hughes in the "Aviator"; second collaboration with Scorsese; also served as executive producer; earned Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Picture

2002

Portrayed Frank Abagnale Jr., the youngest man ever to make the FBI's ten most wanted list in Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can"; earned a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination

2002

First collaboration with director Martin Scorsese, the period drama "Gangs of New York"

2000

Headlined Danny Boyle's feature adaptation of Alex Garland's backpacker cult classic "The Beach"

1998

Played the dual roles of King Louis XIV and his secret twin brother Philippe in "The Man in the Iron Mask"

1997

Co-starred with Kate Winslet in James Cameron's Oscar-winning blockbuster "Titanic"; received a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination

1996

Played Meryl Streep's emotionally disturbed son in "Marvin's Room"

1996

Cast as the male lead, with Claire Danes as Juliet in Baz Luhrmann's modern-day production of "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet"

1995

Portrayed writer Jim Caroll in "The Basketball Diaries," which was based on Caroll's book of the same name

1995

Played Gene Hackman's alleged son in "The Quick and the Dead"

1993

Portrayed the mentally handicapped brother to Johnny Depp in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"; earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Supporting Actor

1993

Breakthrough role playing the lead role of Toby Wolff in "This Boy's Life," co-starring Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin

1991

Cast in a recurring role as Luke, a homeless boy taken in by the Seavers on the ABC sitcom "Growing Pains"

1991

Debut film role in the straight to video "Critters 3"

1990

Cast in the short-lived NBC series based on the movie "Parenthood"

1990

Played a teenaged alcoholic on the NBC daytime soap "Santa Barbara"

1990

Made TV acting debut on the syndicated Saturday morning revival "The New Lassie"

Appeared in the educational film "How to Deal With a Parent Who Takes Drugs"

1988

Signed by an agent at the age of 14

Was urged by an agent at age nine to change name to Lenny Williams, which DiCaprio rejected

1981

Went on first commercial audition at age six

Grew up in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles, CA

Awards

2012

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Django Unchained

2012

National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor in Django Unchained

2011

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in J. Edgar

2011

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in J. Edgar

2009

Palm Springs International Film Festival for Ensemble Cast Award in Revolutionary Road

2008

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Revolutionary Road

2007

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in Blood Diamond

2007

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Departed

2007

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in The Departed

2006

Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Blood Diamond

2006

Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in Blood Diamond

2006

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Blood Diamond

2006

BAFTA Award for Actor In a Leading Role in The Departed

2006

Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in The Departed

2006

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Departed

2005

MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in The Aviator

2005

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Aviator

2005

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in The Aviator

2004

Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in The Aviator

2004

BAFTA Award for Actor In a Leading Role in The Aviator

2004

Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in The Aviator

2004

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Aviator

2003

MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in Catch Me If You Can

2003

MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in Gangs of New York

2002

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Catch Me If You Can

1998

MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in Titanic

1998

MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in Titanic

1998

MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo in Titanic

1998

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Titanic

1997

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Marvin's Room

1997

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Titanic

1997

MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

1997

MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

1997

MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

1997

Berlin International Film Festival for Silver Bear for Best Actor in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

1993

Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape

1993

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in What's Eating Gilbert Grape

1993

National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor in What's Eating Gilbert Grape

1993

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for New Generation Award in What's Eating Gilbert Grape