Leo DiCaprio

Leo DiCaprio is a real actor and I am a big fan. He may have begun as a teen heartthrob, but he has emerged to become a true actor. I feel the same way about Matt Dillon. He started out as a shirtless idol but is now a respected actor. I admire Leo as an actor, but not so much as the cute little boy who was on the cover of Tiger Beat magazine in the 1990’s. Read on…..

Leonardo DiCaprio was born in Los Angeles on November 11, 1974. He was named after Leonardo da Vinci. One of my favorite quotes by that guy is: “Nothing can be loved or hated unless it is first understood.” Something like that. Anyway, Leo’s mom was pregnant with him and was looking at a da Vinci painting in a museum in Italy when Leo first kicked. So there you have it.

Leo grew up in the ghettos of Hollywood. He and his mom lived at Hollywood and Western which was basically a drug dealer and prostitute corner. Leo said he saw people have sex in the alleys and how he was cornered (when he was only 5) by a guy in a trench coat with needles and crack. He knew early on that drugs were bad. He says he’s never tried anything and is completely clean. I’d like to believe this is true.

Growing Pains

Leo started early on doing commercials and bit parts here and there. He had roles on Parenthood, Roseanne, and Santa Barbara. I first remember him when he came on to try and save the show Growing Pains. They brought him on when the show started to suck, but not even the great Leo could save the show and it was canceled in 1992. Leo started showing up in the teen magazines when he got that role of Luke Brower on Growing Pains. He really exploded on the scene when he was cast as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. He then became like the biggest thing since sliced bread when he starred in Titanic. Leo was everywhere. It was Leo mania.

I remember when a morning radio show that I used to always listen to interviewed Alan Thicke. The DJ tried to throw Leo under the bus and get Alan to say negative things about how Leo was spoiled and not deserving of any of his success. Alan said that he thought Leo deserved every single success he had and how hard working this young boy was. Props and new respect for Alan Thicke after hearing that interview.

I absolutely loved the movie Catch Me If You Can and got to see it on my birthday in a theater in Vegas. I thought Leo did a great job in the movie, but I would have loved it with or without him. I’m a fan of Frank Abagnale, Jr. who the filmed was based on. I got to see Frank in a lecture type setting about ten years ago. I’m not a fan of him ripping people off, but I find him fascinating. He’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever been in the same room with. You know that question people ask about who you would choose (dead or alive) to spend time with if you could? I think my choice would be Frank Abagnale, Jr.

Trivia

• Leo was childhood friends with Tobey Maguire and the late Christopher Pettiet.
• He’s good friends with Lukas Haas and Mark Wahlberg.
• He was offered the role of porn star Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights around the same time he was offered his role in Titanic. The Dirk Diggler role eventually went to Mark Wahlberg. Bow chick a bow wow.
• Leo was set to star in American Psycho but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Christian Bale took the part instead.
• He won the role of Rimbaud in Total Eclipse after the death of actor River Phoenix in 1993.
• He campaigned for the role of John Dillinger in Public Enemies, but Johnny Depp was cast in the part instead.
• Leo was considered for the role of Anakin Skywalker for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, but the role went to Hayden Christensen instead.
• Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson are his favorite actors.
• He appeared in the television series Parenthood in the role originally played by Joaquin Phoenix.
• He was thanked by Blink 182 in the liner notes of their album “Enema of the State”.

 

Leo has been quoted as saying Everywhere I go, somebody is staring at me. I don’t know if people are staring because they recognize me or because they think I’m a weirdo. Wow. I feel the same way. I’m thinking in my case it’s because I’m a weirdo, but I don’t know for sure. I’m a middle school teacher and I think a lot of parents recognize me when I’m out in public. It freaks me out that people know who I am but I have no clue who they are. I could never be famous.

I look forward to many more great movies from Leo DiCaprio. He’s done quite a lot for someone who’s only 45. He could retire since he’s a billionaire, but I hope he keeps acting. I’m a big fan. Go Leo!