In a world of cinematic universes and ensemble casts, the box-office-busting superstar actor seems like a thing of the past.
Today, there are still celebrities whose top billing could help drum up some interest, but they mostly hail from the cinematic golden age of the 80s and 90s, when names like Tom Cruise exploded and could sell a movie—any movie—just by being attached to it.
One of the greatest actors from that generation of actors is Leonardo DiCaprio, whose career is unmatched by any other in terms of acting diversity and meteoric rise. Even today his name can still make tickets fly out of the booth.
Young Leo
Born on November 11, 1974, to legal secretary Irmelin and comic book producer George DiCaprio, Leo is of German and Italian descent, and takes his name from legendary Renaissance Man Leonardo da Vinci. His complete name, Leonardo DiCaprio, was seemingly destined for greatness, with a certain musicality and grandeur to it that already makes it a perfect screen name without modification.
Where Is Leonardo DiCaprio From?
Leo was born in Los Angeles, with an early childhood that wasn’t exactly the ideal environment for a budding young actor.
At the tender age of one, his parents separated, and he went on to live with his mother in various places around LA. He attended Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, moving on to Seeds Elementary School and John Marshall High School, before dropping out in his third year of high school.
He also spent a year in Germany with his maternal grandparents, before returning to LA.
Onscreen Beginnings
Leonardo’s first ever appearance onscreen is said to have been on the set of children’s television show Romper Room, from which he was fired at the age of five due to disruptiveness.
His career truly began with his work in television ads, with appearances in Matchbox toy car commercials, Bubble Yum ads, and spots for Kraft Foods.
Television Star
In 1990, at age 16, he appeared in the pilot episode of The Outsiders, and in the series Santa Barbara.
His big break was when he was cast in Parenthood, which was based on a 1989 Ron Howard comedy. Both his roles in Parenthood and Santa Barbara gave him Young Artist nods for Best Young Actor in a Daytime Series and Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series.
Hollywood Stardom
Leonardo’s first ever film role was the direct-to-video Critters 3 in 1991.
He also had a supporting role in the 1992 award-winning erotic thriller Poison Ivy, and then had his true breakout role later that year in This Boy’s Life, in which he was personally chosen by co-star Robert De Niro from a pool of more than 400 actors.
Leonardo DiCaprio, young as he was, would go on to star in progressively larger pictures, including What’s Eating Gilbert Grape in 1993 where he co-starred alongside Johnny Depp.
In 1996, he starred in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, a modern adaptation of the Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet which made a huge $147.5 million, landing him the biggest win of his career so far. But nothing could prepare him for the success that was to come.
