Leonardo Dicaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio (born 11.11.1974)

Leonardo DiCaprio is an American, Oscar-nominated actor.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Childhood

Leonardo DiCaprio was born in Los Angeles, California. He is an only child and his parents are Irmelin, a former legal secretary and George, a comic book artist and distributor of comic books. He was named Leonardo because Irmelin was stood in front of a Leonardo da Vinci painting when he first kicked in her womb.

DiCaprio's parents divorced when he was just one year old. Although he lived with his mother, he did maintain contact with his father.

It was DiCaprio's stepbrother Adam Farrar that inspired Leonardo to become an actor. Farrar is an actor and a film producer.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Acting Career

Leonardo DiCaprio began his acting career with a string of television commercials. In 1990, he got a break in the TV series Parenthood, based on the film of the same name. Tobey Maguire also starred in the show and the pair became friends.

DiCaprio's debut film role came in Critters 3, a low-budget horror sequel. In 1991, he was cast in a recurring role in Growing Pains, playing a homeless boy, taken in by the Seavers family.

In 1992, Leonardo DiCaprio was cast in the role of Toby Wolff in This Boy's Life, which co-starred Ellen Barkin and Robert De Niro. His performance grabbed the attention of movie critics and DiCaprio quickly became one to watch in Hollywood.

DiCaprio then went on to star as Johnny Depp's character's handicapped brother in 1993's What's Eating Gilbert Grape. His performance earned him an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

In 1995, DiCaprio starred in four major movies. The first was The Quick and the Dead, with Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe and Sharon Stone. Next was Total Eclipse, the film about Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud's homosexual relationship. River Pheonix had originally been cast as Rimbaud but died before filming commenced. His third film of 1995 was Don's Plum, which saw him teal up with Tobey Maguire once more. Finally, DiCaprio starred in The Basketball Diaries, the cult classic story of drugs and prostitution, in which he starred as Jim Carroll.

1996 saw DiCaprio star in Baz Luhrmann's modernized version of Romeo + Juliet, alongside Clare Danes. The same year, he also starred in Marvin's Room, with Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro.

The next year, DiCaprio's career and status took a huge leap with the release of Titanic. Leonardo played the role of Jack Dawson, opposite Kate Winslet's portrayal of Rose DeWitt Bukater. The film won 11 Oscars and is one of the best selling films of all time.

DiCaprio went on star in Danny Boyle's adaptation of Alex Garland's novel, The Beach. Although the film found moderate box office success, it was largely disliked by the media and the production team were criticised for their attempts to physically alter the environment of Ko Phi Phi island, were the film was shot.

In 2002, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York and Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. DiCaprio's performances in both films were revered by film critics and the public alike.

DiCaprio went on to earn himself a second Oscar nomination for Best Actor, this time for his performance in the biopic of Howard Hughes in The Aviator.

In 2006 Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese in The Departed, which also starred Mark Wahlberg and Ray Winstone. Later that year, Blood Diamond was also released. Leonardo was widely praised for his mastery of the South African Afrikaner accent for the film.

In 2008, DiCaprio starred in Body of Lies, directed by Ridley Scott. The film also starred Russell Crowe. 2008 also saw DiCaprio team up with his Titanic co-stars, Kate Winslet and Kath Bates in Revolutionary Road.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Personal Life

Between 2001 and 2005, DiCaprio was in an on-off relationship with the model Gisele Bundchen. He is now dating the Israeli model Bar Rafaeli.

In June 2005 Leonardo DiCaprio was seriously injured with a broken bottle at a party. His attacker, Aretha Wilson is undergoing an extradition process, after she escaped to Canada to escape prosecution.