Leonardo DiCaprio at 52: Ten surprising facts

Leonardo DiCaprio turns 52 today (Wednesday), and most of us know him for the big films, the unforgettable role in "Titanic" and the Oscar that took quite a few years to arrive. But behind one of the world's most famous actors lie an unusual childhood, surprising career decisions and stories not everyone knows. On his birthday, here are ten things you may not have known about him.

1. He was named after Leonardo da Vinci

Behind the name Leonardo lies a rather special family story. When his mother was pregnant with him, she visited the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and looked at a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. At that exact moment, according to the family story, the baby in her womb began to kick. His parents saw this as a sign and decided to name him after the Italian artist.

2. His agent wanted to change his name

It's hard to imagine Hollywood without the name Leonardo DiCaprio, but early in his career it nearly happened. When he was 12 or 13, an agent he approached claimed his name sounded too ethnic and suggested he change it to "Lenny Williams" to increase his chances of success. DiCaprio recounted that his father strongly opposed the idea and even tore up the photograph bearing the new name. The story resurfaced in September 2025, when DiCaprio appeared on the Kelsey brothers' podcast.

3. At 19 he was already nominated for an Oscar

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Long before "Titanic", DiCaprio had already managed to impress Hollywood. In 1993, when he was 18, he played Arnie in the film "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", alongside Johnny Depp. The role earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, when he was only 19 years old. He didn't win the award, but his performance in the film marked the beginning of a career that made him one of the most sought-after actors in the world.

4. He turned down a huge sum for a smaller role

In the early 1990s, DiCaprio received an offer to appear in the comedy film "Hocus Pocus", for a sum that he said was higher than anything he had dreamed of earning. But he decided to turn down the offer in order to try to be accepted for the film "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", even though at that stage he hadn't even auditioned for the role. The gamble paid off: he got the part alongside Johnny Depp, and later his first Oscar nomination as well.

5. The friendship with Kate Winslet reached the wedding canopy

They became one of cinema's most beloved couples thanks to "Titanic", but off-screen Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet remained close friends for decades. That friendship also reached one of the most personal moments in her life: in 2012, when Winslet married her partner Ned Rocknroll in a private ceremony, DiCaprio was among the few guests and according to reports even walked her down the aisle. Despite rumours over the years, the two made clear that the relationship between them was always one of friendship.

6. He waited more than 20 years for his first Oscar

Despite a long line of successful roles, DiCaprio had to wait quite a few years before he managed to win the golden statuette. After nominations for films like "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", "The Aviator" and "The Wolf of Wall Street", in 2016 the big moment arrived, when he won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in the film "The Revenant". The win came more than two decades after his first nomination, and became one of the most talked-about moments at the ceremony.

7. For the Oscar he ate raw bison liver

DiCaprio is known for his investment in roles, but during the filming of "The Revenant" he took it a step further. In one of the scenes he was required to eat bison liver, and the production prepared an edible substitute made from jelly for him. But the actor thought the result didn't look convincing enough, and decided to eat real, raw liver in front of the cameras. The filming also included particularly harsh cold conditions, and ultimately this role brought him his first Oscar in his career.

8. His visit to the Western Wall ended with security guards arrested

DiCaprio also has a familiar connection to Israel, mainly thanks to the relationship he had in the past with model Bar Refaeli. In 2007 he came with her for a visit to the country, which included a visit to Yad Vashem and the Western Wall. But the visit to Jerusalem quickly turned into a commotion, when paparazzi photographers tried to approach the two and a confrontation developed with the actor's security guards. Police even arrested two of the security guards on suspicion of assaulting photographers. Despite the incident, DiCaprio returned to Israel in 2010, to celebrate his 36th birthday.

9. His partner is 24 years younger than him

DiCaprio's romantic life has occupied the gossip columns for years, mainly because of the age gaps between him and his partners. Since 2023 he has been in a relationship with Italian model Vittoria Ceretti, who was born in 1998 and is about 24 years younger than him. The two try to maintain privacy, but over the years they have been spotted together on holidays, at events and at family gatherings. Last October they even attended a wedding together in Hawaii.

10. He has dedicated a large part of his life to the fight for the environment

Off-screen, DiCaprio has been dedicating time and resources for decades to the fight against the climate crisis and to protecting animals. In 1998, when he was only 24 years old, he established an environmental foundation bearing his name, and in 2014 was appointed UN Messenger of Peace for climate change. He also produced documentary films on the subject, including "Before the Flood". Even in his Oscar acceptance speech in 2016, he chose to use the platform to speak about the climate crisis and call for action.