Leonardo DiCaprio – biography, photos, facts, family, affairs, height and weight 2019

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Biography

A bohemian child, the favourite of Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino, Oscar-winner in the category «Best Actor» and Golden Raspberry winner in «Worst Actor», an actor, a producer, the idol of millions of women and an eligible bachelor - Leonardo DiCaprio.

Childhood in Los Angeles

Leonardo is the only child of Irmelin Indenbirken and George DiCaprio. Even before the future star was born, he showed a love of the arts. The baby kicked in his mother’s womb when she was enjoying Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings. The boy was born on November 11, 1974. He was given a rare name: Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio.

Leonardo’s parents divorced when he was one year old. He was brought up mainly by his mother, a legal secretary. She took him to a prestigious primary school at a university, spending 4 hours on the road every day. That was followed by 4 years at a school for gifted children, although the boy struggled to focus on academic studies.

Whether the explosive mix of Italian (on the father’s side), German and Russian (on the mother’s side) blood or the future actor’s participation in a children’s TV-show at the age of 2 influenced his choice of profession, at the age of 14 he already knew he would be an actor.

Leonardo’s last place of education was John Marshall High School. Despite the fact that his parents got divorced so early, Leonardo has always received support from his father, who was a comic illustrator. The parents encouraged and developed their son’s artistic skills and welcomed his early interest in acting.

«I loved imitating people... I enjoyed making jokes with my parents and creating different characters.»

Childhood Roles

By the early ‘90s the boy was regularly acting on television shows. He played in «Santa Barbara», «The New Lassie» and the comedy series «Parents». 1991 brought the breakthrough in the rising star’s career. First was the role in the sitcom «Growing Pains» and the acquaintance with Kirk Cameron and Alan Thicke. Later that year, Leonardo got his debut movie role in the low-budget but popular horror movie «Critters 3».

Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in «This Boy’s Life»

Two year later, Leo got a chance to demonstrate his talent as a serious actor. He got his first dramatic role as a teenager in a difficult family situation in the movie «This Boy’s Life». Legendary Robert De Niro played his malicious stepfather. Leo’s friend in the movie was the future Spiderman Tobey Maguire. They have remained friends ever since.

Up the Career Ladder

In 1993, after «This Boy’s Life» got high praise from the critics, the drama «What's Eating Gilbert Grape» followed, starring Johnny Depp. Leonardo so vividly portrayed a mentally-handicapped boy in the movie, that he was nominated for an Academy Award.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp in «What’s Eating Gilbert Grape»

DiCaprio continued to act in interesting movies. In 1995 he played in the drama «The Basketball Diaries». Then he worked with Russell Crowe, Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman in «The Quick and the Dead». He co-starred with Claire Danes in «Romeo + Juliet» (1996). This modernized love story, written by Baz Luhrmann and based on William Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy, turned out to be extremely moving. The movie grossed $147 million worldwide.

Lenardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in «Romeo + Juliet»

Another, just as tragic, love story with Kate Winslet, filmed against the background of the «Titanic» wreck, transformed DiCaprio into a superstar. The movie became a historic record holder: it won 11 Oscars; its budget amounted to an enormous (in those days) $200 million; it grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, and Leo became the idol of millions of people, especially women.

Soundtrack to ‘Titanic» with Leonardo DiCaprio

James Cameron didn’t make a mistake in how he chose his actors. The movie’s success proved that Leonardo could handle customary Hollywood roles. He became a world celebrity and was included in the People Magazine’s «50 most beautiful people» in 1997-1998.

Scorsese’s and Spielberg's Muse

After «Titanic» there was a slight dip in DiCaprio’s career, as «The Man in the Iron Mask» (1998) and «The Beach» (2000) weren’t successful financially or artistically. «The Man in the Iron Mask» couldn’t be redeemed, even by the stellar trio: Jeremy Irons, Gerard Depardieu and John Malkovich. However, Leo soon recovered his reputation.

Tom Hanks{/ab} in «Catch Me If You Can»} He demonstrated his talent in two remarkable movies. In 2002 he co-starred with Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg’s «Catch Me If You Can». «Gangs of New York», starring DiCaprio, was also released that year, and was DiCaprio’s first project together with Hollywood’s legend, director Martin Scorsese.

«The Aviator» trailer, starring Leonardo DiCaprio

In «The Aviator», (2004) DiCaprio played the role of one of America’s most famous businessmen. Cate Blanchett played his girlfriend. In 2006 two iconic movies starring Leonardo were released: «Blood Diamond» and «The Departed». In the latter, he was one of a brilliant trio with Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.

Subsequent Hallmarks

In 2008 Leonardo reunited with Kate Winslet in «Revolutionary Road», an intense drama about a married couple who live in the mid-20th century and face personal problems. Later, in 2010, he explored the fantastic future in «Inception» by Christopher Nolan, where technology allows people to enter other people’s dreams and their subconscious.

In the same year, DiCaprio played in the thriller «Shutter Island», with its unpredictable ending. Mark Ruffalo played his partner.

Leonardo DiCaprio in the thriller «Shutter Island»

«J. Edgar» is another drama, filmed in 2011 by Clint Eastwood, where DiCaprio transforms into John Edgar Hoover, the FBI head for almost 50 years. The preparatory work didn’t come easily for the actor, because the movie was an autobiography and the people who had witnessed the events were still alive.

In 2013 Leonardo worked with Quentin Tarantino in the historical movie «Django Unchained», where he co-starred with Kerry Washington, Jamie Foxx and Christoff Waltz.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s best roles

In that same year, he went back to Scorsese and played in his drama «The Wolf of Wall Street», based on memoirs by Jordan Belfort, who was a famous financial launderer who fooled his investors in the ‘90s. The movie later caused legal trouble with Belfort’s ex-assistant. Andrew Greene sued for defamation and insult, claiming that his ex-boss was "portrayed as a criminal, drug user, degenerate, depraved, and devoid of any morality or ethics».

Oscar for «The Revenant»

Towards the end of 2015 DiCaprio starred in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s movie, «The Revenant»,where he plays a hunter, forced to survive a cold winter in inhuman conditions in the Wild West of the early 1800’s.

Only in 2016, after 4 Academy Award nominations, did Leonardo receive his long-awaited Oscar – the highest award for acting skills – for his role in «The Revenant». In his acceptance speech for the Best Actor award, the actor spoke about climate change and the real threat that humanity poses to the planet.

Leonardo DiCaprio at Academy Awards 2016

The Environmentalist

DiCaprio constantly draws public attention to environmental problems. He is the founder of the non-commercial fund, the «Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation», as well as its main sponsor, having donated over $30 million towards environmental protection in 40 countries.

In 2007 the actor even made a documentary, «The 11th Hour». In 2016 he also took part in producing the movie «Before the Flood». Both movies are dedicated to the climate change problem. The actor was named a Messenger of Peace by the UN for his contribution towards saving our planet.

Leonardo DiCaprio: «We simply cannot allow the corporate greed of the coal, oil and gas industries to determine the future of humanity»

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Personal Life

Although the actor has reached a mature age, he has never been married. His personal life at the moment can be described as «Actively seeking».

His relationship with Gisele Bündchen, the Brazilian model, was quite a long-lasting one, but the five-year affair eventually came to an end, and DiCaprio went on with his bachelor lifestyle.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Bar Refaeli on a beach

In 2006 he met Bar Refaeli, the Israeli model. The couple dated for 3 years and gave the impression that they planned to get married. However, they split up in 2011.

Gisele was only 6 years younger than Leo; Bar was 11 years younger. Nowadays, the actor dates girls half his age. His passions follow each other rather rapidly. His preferred stereotype seems to be long-legged blond models. In 2014 he was expected to marry the German model Toni Garrn, and in 2016, the actress and model Kelly Rohrbach.

In the summer of 2018 paparazzi spotted him on a vacation in Italy with Al Pacino’s adopted daughter, actress Camila Morrone, who is known for her role in «Death Wish», where she co-starred with Bruce Willis and for which she was praised by cinema critics.

Leonardo DiCaprio Today

Leonardo is the owner of an island in the Caribbean Sea; he bought it in 2008. He is working on restoring the island’s coastline, which has eroded as a result of fishermen’s activities. Leonardo is building a futuristic eco-resort, which will be 100 % environmentally friendly.

In 2008 Leonardo DiCaprio bought an island in the Caribbean Sea

In addition, DiCaprio invests money in the «Love The Wild» company, which produces only sustainable seafood.

On the set of the criminal drama «Once Upon a Time in Hollywood»

In 2018 Leonardo again worked with Scorsese on the set of «The Devil in the White City», where he plays a serial killer. The same year, Quentin Tarantino brought together an impressive group of Hollywood stars for his criminal drama «Once Upon a Time in Hollywood». The actors working together with Leonardo in this movie are: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Dakota Fanning, legendary Kurt Russell and Al Pacino. The director also invited Maya Hawke, Uma Thurman’s daughter.