Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Evolving Role in Killers of the Flower Moon

Leonardo DiCaprio’s collaboration with director Martin Scorsese reaches a remarkable milestone with Killers of the Flower Moon, marking their seventh partnership. The film, currently in theaters, also features Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro and is based on the true story of a series of murders on the Osage Nation Reservation in Oklahoma during the 1920s. DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart, a man entangled in a murderous conspiracy who marries Mollie Kyle (played by Gladstone) in a bid to gain her trust. Initially, DiCaprio was cast as the heroic FBI agent Tom White, but during the development phase, he requested a shift to the morally complex role of Burkhart, prompting significant script revisions. The role of White was ultimately filled by actor Jesse Plemons.

Leonardo DiCaprio: A Hollywood Icon

Leonardo DiCaprio, born November 11, 1974, in Los Angeles, gained worldwide recognition for his role in James Cameron’s 1997 epic, Titanic. This performance cemented his place among Hollywood’s leading men. DiCaprio’s career spans decades, and he has worked extensively with director Martin Scorsese on films such as Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, and The Wolf of Wall Street. He has also starred in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, alongside other iconic films like Blood Diamond, Revolutionary Road, Inception, and The Great Gatsby. DiCaprio’s acting prowess earned him six Academy Award nominations, with his first nomination for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and his Oscar win for Best Actor for The Revenant (2015).

Early Life and Beginnings in Acting

DiCaprio’s early life in Los Angeles shaped his path toward acting. The only child of Irmelin, a legal secretary from Germany, and George DiCaprio, a comic book artist, Leonardo’s name was inspired by an incident during his mother’s pregnancy in Florence, where she felt him kick while viewing a Leonardo da Vinci painting at the Uffizi Gallery.

After his parents’ divorce, DiCaprio was primarily raised by his mother but remained close to his father. Encouraged by his parents, he pursued his interest in acting from an early age. DiCaprio’s passion for creating characters and imitating people led him to drop out of high school in favor of pursuing acting full-time, later earning his general equivalency diploma.

From TV Roles to Film Stardom

DiCaprio’s early career began with television commercials and guest spots on shows like The New Lassie and Roseanne. His breakthrough came with the 1990s television series Parenthood, where he earned a nomination for a Young Artist Award. DiCaprio’s role as Luke Brower, a homeless boy in Growing Pains, further cemented his place in Hollywood, earning him another Young Artist Award nomination.

In 1991, DiCaprio made his film debut in the low-budget horror movie Critters 3, which earned him yet another Young Artist Award nomination. By the early 1990s, DiCaprio had established himself as a rising talent, showcasing his versatility and laying the groundwork for a remarkable career in both television and film.

Early Career: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? and Romeo + Juliet

Leonardo DiCaprio’s early career proved that he was more than just a handsome face. His breakout performance came in This Boy’s Life (1993), where he starred alongside Robert De Niro. The film, an adaptation of Tobias Wolff’s memoir, depicted the fraught relationship between a young boy and his abusive stepfather. De Niro, impressed by DiCaprio’s audition, commented, “I like the blond kid. He’s quite good.” Though DiCaprio was still learning the ropes of acting on set, director Michael Caton-Jones helped him refine his craft. After shaking off early bad habits, DiCaprio’s performance received critical acclaim, with Roger Ebert noting that the film succeeded “largely because he is a good enough actor to hold his own in his scenes with De Niro.”

DiCaprio’s next major project, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993), showcased his ability to tackle complex roles. Co-starring with Johnny Depp, DiCaprio portrayed a child with mental disabilities. Director Lasse Hallström initially hesitated to cast him, feeling he was too good-looking for the part, but DiCaprio’s impressive audition won him the role. To prepare, DiCaprio spent several days with mentally disabled teenagers, studying their behaviors for authenticity. His performance was so compelling that director Martin Scorsese remarked that it was hard to believe DiCaprio wasn’t actually mentally challenged. The role earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

In 1995, DiCaprio continued to diversify his filmography, starring in the coming-of-age drama The Basketball Diaries and the western The Quick and the Dead. Although Sony Pictures was initially reluctant to cast him in the latter, actress Sharon Stone believed in his talent so strongly that she personally paid his salary. In 1996, DiCaprio’s portrayal of Romeo in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet solidified his status as a rising star in Hollywood. Despite initial reservations about playing the iconic Shakespearean character, DiCaprio’s father encouraged him to take the role, which marked a pivotal moment in his career.

Titanic and A-List Stardom

In 1997, DiCaprio’s career soared to new heights with his role in Titanic, James Cameron’s epic about the ill-fated voyage of the RMS Titanic. DiCaprio portrayed Jack, a poor artist who falls in love with the wealthy Rose (Kate Winslet). Despite initial doubts from Cameron about DiCaprio’s suitability for the role, Winslet, who was already cast, advocated for him. The film became a monumental success, winning 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It was the first film to gross over a billion dollars worldwide, and DiCaprio’s portrayal of Jack cemented his status as one of Hollywood’s leading men.

Following the massive success of Titanic, DiCaprio experienced a brief career slump with The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) and The Beach (2000), both of which underperformed both financially and critically. However, DiCaprio rebounded in 2002 with two standout roles: first as Frank Abagnale Jr. in Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me if You Can, alongside Tom Hanks, and then in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, where he starred opposite Daniel Day-Lewis. These performances demonstrated DiCaprio’s versatility and marked the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration with Scorsese.

The Aviator, The Departed, and Inception

In 2004, DiCaprio worked again with Scorsese in The Aviator, portraying the eccentric aviation mogul Howard Hughes. His meticulous preparation for the role, which included researching Hughes’ life and obsessive-compulsive disorder, earned DiCaprio widespread acclaim. He won his first Golden Globe Award and received another Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. In 2006, DiCaprio starred in The Departed, a gritty crime thriller that earned the Academy Award for Best Picture. DiCaprio’s portrayal of an undercover cop infiltrating a mobster’s crew earned him further praise.

That same year, DiCaprio also starred in Blood Diamond, a political thriller set during the Sierra Leone Civil War. His performance as a diamond smuggler navigating the conflict earned him yet another Academy Award nomination.

In 2008, DiCaprio reunited with Titanic co-star Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road, which delves into the emotional struggles of a 1950s suburban couple. The following year, DiCaprio starred in two major films: Scorsese’s Shutter Island and Christopher Nolan’s Inception. In Inception, DiCaprio portrayed a thief who enters the subconscious of others to steal secrets, a role that earned him a substantial pay cut in exchange for a percentage of the film’s profits. The gamble paid off when Inception grossed over $800 million, making it DiCaprio’s highest-grossing film to date.

J. Edgar and Continued Success

In 2011, DiCaprio took on the challenging role of J. Edgar Hoover in Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar, a biographical film about the controversial head of the FBI. DiCaprio’s portrayal involved extensive research into Hoover’s life, demonstrating his commitment to bringing historical figures to life on screen.

DiCaprio’s career continued to evolve, with each role adding new layers to his already impressive range. His collaborations with Scorsese, his ability to tackle complex and diverse characters, and his dedication to his craft have solidified his place as one of Hollywood’s most respected and versatile actors.

Django Unchained and The Wolf of Wall Street

In 2012, Leonardo DiCaprio teamed up with director Quentin Tarantino for his first collaboration in Django Unchained, starring alongside Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, and Christoph Waltz. DiCaprio took on the role of Calvin J. Candie, a ruthless plantation owner in the 1850s who forces his slaves to engage in deadly combat. One notable moment occurred during a tense dinner scene where DiCaprio accidentally cut his hand on a glass while slamming his fist onto the table. Despite the injury, he remained in character, and the scene was ultimately used in the film. DiCaprio recalled, “My hand started really pouring blood all over the table. I’m glad Quentin kept it in.”

The following year, DiCaprio rejoined Baz Luhrmann to portray the enigmatic Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby (2013), based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel. In the same year, DiCaprio also reunited with Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street, playing the infamous Jordan Belfort, an investment banker notorious for defrauding clients in the 1990s. The film stirred controversy for its portrayal of Belfort’s unethical lifestyle, though DiCaprio clarified, “I hope people understand we’re not condoning this behavior, that we’re indicting it.” His portrayal earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, along with Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Picture. Co-stars included Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Matthew McConaughey.

Oscar Win

Despite his remarkable three-decade career, DiCaprio had not won an Academy Award until 2016. That year, he starred in The Revenant, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, playing Hugh Glass, a frontiersman left for dead in the 1820s wilderness. The physically demanding role saw DiCaprio endure extreme conditions, including eating raw bison and sleeping in an animal carcass. The film garnered significant awards attention and ultimately earned him his first Oscar. In his acceptance speech, DiCaprio highlighted the pressing issue of climate change, stating, “Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species.”

Newest Movies: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Killers of the Flower Moon

In 2019, DiCaprio reunited with Quentin Tarantino for Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, a film set in 1969 Hollywood that presents an alternate take on the infamous Charles Manson murders. DiCaprio played Rick Dalton, a struggling actor, alongside Brad Pitt, who portrayed his loyal stunt double. The role earned DiCaprio his sixth Academy Award nomination. Despite the substantial pay cut he took to work with Tarantino again, DiCaprio accepted a share of the film’s box office profits, as he had done with Inception (2010).

Later in 2023, DiCaprio collaborated once more with Scorsese on Killers of the Flower Moon. Set in the 1920s, the film dramatizes a series of murders in the Osage Nation, with DiCaprio portraying Ernest Burkhart, a conspirator who marries into the Osage community to gain their wealth. DiCaprio initially was cast as the heroic FBI agent Tom White but insisted on switching to the morally complex Burkhart, leading to significant script revisions. The film earned critical acclaim for the performances of DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, with some critics highlighting the palpable tension between their characters.

Personal Life and Relationships

DiCaprio’s romantic relationships have often been in the media spotlight. His long-term relationship with supermodel Gisele Bündchen, from 2000 to 2005, was widely covered by tabloids. After that, he dated model Bar Refaeli for several years and briefly had a relationship with actress Blake Lively in 2011. In recent years, DiCaprio has reportedly dated various models, including supermodel Gigi Hadid.

Net Worth

As of 2024, DiCaprio’s net worth is estimated to be around $300 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter (2019), DiCaprio typically earns about $20 million per film role, though his salary can vary. For Inception (2010), he earned a reported $50 million, as he agreed to take a pay cut in exchange for a percentage of the film’s gross profits. DiCaprio followed a similar model for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, with a reported initial payment of $15 million. Additionally, DiCaprio has successfully ventured into producing films, backing major projects such as Orphan (2009), The Ides of March (2011), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).

Environmental Advocacy

An outspoken environmental advocate, DiCaprio has long been involved in global environmental efforts. In 2000, he hosted an Earth Day celebration, interviewing former President Bill Clinton on climate change. He also produced and narrated the 2007 environmental documentary The 11th Hour and was heavily involved in Before the Flood (2016), which focuses on climate change. As the founder of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF), he supports a variety of environmental causes. Additionally, he has served on the boards of the World Wildlife Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. In 2018, DiCaprio executive produced The Frontiersman, an eight-part docuseries on iconic American pioneers.