Leonardo DiCaprio

Born: 1974

Actor

Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio was born in 1974 in Hollywood, CA. His mother Irmelin Indenbirken is German, while his father George DiCaprio is of Italian and German descent. DiCaprio’s grandparents emigrated to the U.S. in 1955. They returned to Germany in 1985, tying DiCaprio to their new home in the city of Oer-Erkenschwick in Western Germany.

Growing up in Hollywood, DiCaprio aspired from an early age to enter the movie business. Starring in two lesser known films, he made his breakthrough in “This Boy's Life” (1993), starring Robert DeNiro and Ellen Barkin. His role as a mentally handicapped boy in “What's Eating Gilbert Grape” earned the then 19-year-old his first Academy Award Nomination.

After several other well-acclaimed movies, it was with the 1997 mega blockbuster “Titanic” also starring Kate Winslet that DiCaprio became a superstar. The movie would win a grand total of eleven Oscars. DiCaprio has held the leading role in Martin Scorcese’s past three movies: “Gangs of New York,” “The Aviator” and “The Departed.” “Blood Diamond” got him his third Oscar Nomination.

DiCaprio is known for supporting John Kerry as presidential candidate in 2004 and for being a committed environmentalist.

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