Leonardo DiCaprio recently shared a funny and eye-opening story from his early acting days on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce. The 50-year-old star opened up about starting out as a child actor in Hollywood and how his dad saved his real name from getting scrapped.
DiCaprio explained that when he finally landed an agent as a kid, they had some blunt advice. “Your name is too ethnic,” they told him. He shot back, “What do you mean? It’s Leonardo DiCaprio.” But the agent insisted, “No, too ethnic. They’re never going to hire you. Your new name is Lenny Williams.”
DiCaprio laughed as he recalled his confusion: “What is Lenny?” When his father got wind of the name change idea, he shut it down fast. “Over my dead body,” his dad said. Instead, he gave his son some heartfelt encouragement: “You know, someday you’re going to have your time, son. Just keep at it. Keep at it.”
Looking back, DiCaprio points to his role in the 1993 film “This Boy’s Life” alongside Robert De Niro as the big breakthrough moment at age 16. “That was the ‘oh wow’ moment,” he said. Acting grabbed him early—he remembers imitating his parents’ friends at just 4 years old and getting excited to learn he could turn it into a real job.
Fast forward to today, and DiCaprio’s a Hollywood icon, fresh off his 2016 Oscar win for “The Revenant” and forever linked to his unforgettable Jack in “Titanic.” But in a recent chat with People magazine, he revealed he’s easing up on the pace. “I’m slowing down a bit,” DiCaprio said. He’s getting pickier about roles, but he couldn’t pass on teaming up with director Paul Thomas Anderson for the new comedy “One Battle After Another.”
DiCaprio’s been a huge fan of Anderson since catching “Boogie Nights” early in his career. “Ever since I met Paul and saw ‘Boogie Nights,’ I’ve been an obsessive fan,” he shared. “His films ruminate in my mind, and they’re conversation pieces with my friends. They last.” He calls Anderson “the dude of our generation” who creates the kind of lasting art that actors chase—movies people still debate years later, beyond just awards or box office hits.
This marks their first project together, even though DiCaprio regrets turning down a chance to star in “Boogie Nights.” In an August Esquire interview, he admitted, “My biggest regret is not doing ‘Boogie Nights.’ It was a profound movie of my generation. I can’t imagine anyone but Mark Wahlberg in it. When I finally got to see that movie, I just thought it was a masterpiece.”
DiCaprio’s journey from a kid fighting to keep his name to an Oscar-winning star shows the grit it takes in Hollywood. Fans can’t wait to see what he does next in “One Battle After Another.”
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