Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the biggest Hollywood heartthrobs of all time, but he also definitely has the talent to back up his good looks. From his heartbreaking performance in Titanic to his Oscar winning role in The Revenant, he’s become one of the most important actors of his generation.
You may think you already know everything there is to know about Leo, but below are 14 things you may not have realised about this true acting great. Be sure to post a comment letting us know what your favourite Leonardo DiCaprio film is, and remember to share this post with your friends and family so they too can find out more about this Hollywood legend!
1.He Was Kicked Off A TV Show As A Child
Believe it or not, in 1979 and whilst just 5 years old, Leonardo DiCaprio was kicked off the the set of the children’s TV show ‘Romper Room’ for being disruptive!
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2. He Has Referred To Himself As Half Russian
Whilst being interviewed in Russia, DiCaprio referred to himself as ‘half Russian’, telling the interviewer that two of his grandparents were Russian.
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3. He Is Named After Leonardo Da Vinci
He was given the name Leonardo by his pregnant mum, because she first felt him kicking when she was looking at a Leonardo da Vinci painting in a museum in Italy!
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4. He Appeared In a Number Of TV Commercials
Just like his older step brother Adam Farrar, Leo started his career by appearing in a number of TV commercials, including ones for Matchbox Cars, Kraft Foods, Apple Jacks and Bubble Yum.
5. Robert De Niro Gave Him A Big Break
In 1992, Robert De Niro chose Leonardo out of a group of 400 young actors to play the lead role in ‘This Boy’s Life’, a film in which De Niro himself played Leo’s stepfather.
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6. He’s A Master Of Disguise
DiCaprio is well known for using all manor of disguises to try and escape the clicking finger of the Paparazzi. Most strange of all was when he adorned a rather strange metal black mask which must have made it rather difficult for him to enjoy his lunch!
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7. He Can Speak German And Italian
DiCaprio is able to speak pretty well in both German and Italian. He spent part of his childhood in Germany with his maternal grandparents, and his father is of both Italian and German descent.
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8. He Was Once The Biggest Star On The Planet
During the 1990s, especially after the release of Titanic, DiCaprio was perhaps the biggest entertainment star on the planet, especially among teenage girls. ‘Leo-mania’ saw him appear on the front cover of many teen magazines, and in 1998, out of the top 6 books on The New York Times Best Seller list, 3 were about Leo!
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9. He Was Seriously Injured By A Catwalk Model
In 2005, DiCaprio received severe facial injuries when model Aretha Wilson hit him over the head with a broken bottle at a party, a crime for which she was sentenced to 2 years in prison.
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10. He’s Had A Number Of Oscar Nominations To Back Up His One Win
As well as winning the Best Actor Oscar for The Revenant, Leo was also nominated for his performances in The Wolf of Wall Street, Blood Diamond, The Aviator and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
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11. He Occasionally Clashes With His On-Screen Co-Stars
DiCaprio’s on-set tomfoolery and practical jokes can sometimes rub his co-stars up the wrong way. There were reports that the ‘immature’, practical joker DiCaprio clashed with the ‘uptight’ and professional Claire Danes whilst filming Romeo and Juliet, which we thought was meant to be the most romantic love story of all time!
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12. He Once Dated A Spice Girl
Leo dated Emma ‘Baby Spice’ Bunton in 1997, and has also been linked with the actress Bijou Phillips, as well as models Kristen Zang, Emma Miller, Gisele Bündchen and Bar Refaeli. In 2018 it was reported that he was dating Camila Morrone, a model 23 years his junior.
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13. He Almost Brought Back A Classic 80s Film Franchise
Yes, Leo almost helped The NeverEnding Story film franchise return to our screens, as in 2009 it was reported that Warner Bros and Leonardo DiCaprio’s film production company Appian Way were looking to make another adaptation of the original novel.
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14. He Started A Non Profit Environmental Awareness Organisation
In 1997 and at the height of his success, DiCaprio created the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which is a non profit organisation that promotes environmental awareness.
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