A brief biography containing his film history and work for the environment.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a self described actor and environmental activist. At the relatively young age of 32 he has already been nominated for the Academy Award three times and starred in almost twenty films (including the highest grossing movie of all time Titanic). The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has “actively fostered awareness of environmental issues” since it was established in 1998.
Leonardo DiCaprio was born Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio in Hollywood, California on November 11, 1974. His mother chose his first name because she felt him kick for the first time while she was standing in front of a Leonardo da Vinci painting in a museum. His parents divorced while he was still a baby.
Rise to Stardom
Although his first movie was Critters 3 he first gained notoriety for his Academy Award nominated performance of Johnny Depp’s mentally challenged brother in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. In 1995 he was in three films; The Quick and the Dead, Total Eclipse and The Basketball Diaries where he played famed poet and music icon Jim Carroll. DiCaprio was propelled to stardom on a level that is almost incomprehensible when Romeo and Juliet was released in 1996 followed by Titanic in 1997. The media frenzy was dubbed “Leo-Mania.”
DiCaprio as the New De Niro
Since 2003 he has made three pictures with Martin Scorsese. The third film The Departed earned five Oscar nominations and the Movie won Best Picture of 2006. The two are teaming up for a fourth time to make The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt which has led many people to compare Scorsese’s working relationship with DiCaprio to Scorsese and Robert De Niro’s early work together.
Leonardo the Eco Friendly Actor
His environmental work is second to none. His documentary the 11th hour is highly focused on the issue of global warming and other ecological concerns and his foundation (www.leonardodicaprio.org) urges people to take action to combat the catastrophic effects of the current climate crisis. Environment Now gave the foundation the Martin Litton Environmental Warrior Award in 2001.
He has also teamed up with fellow environmental crusader and former Vice President Al Gore to help raise awareness about global warming. They appeared onstage together at the 2006 Academy Awards (where An Inconvenient Truth won 2 Oscars including Best Documentary) and again for the recent Live Earth concerts.
Official Websites
Website: www.leonardodicaprio.com
MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/leonardodicaprio
Foundation: www.leonardodicaprio.org
FILMOGRAPHY
- Blood Diamond (2006)
- The Departed (2006)
- The Aviator (2004)
- Catch Me If You Can (2003)
- Gangs of New York (2003)
- Don's Plum (2001)
- The Beach (2000)
- Celebrity (1998)
- The Man In the Iron Mask (1998)
- Titanic (1997)
- Marvin's Room (1996)
- Romeo and Juliet (1996)
- Total Eclipse (1995)
- The Basketball Diaries (1995)
- The Quick and The Dead (1995)
- What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
- This Boy's Life (1993)
- Poison Ivy (1992)
- Critters 3 (1991)
