Leonardo DiCaprio revealed that he was once warned that his name was “too ethnic” for Hollywood to become an actor.
The 50-year-old actor is one of the world’s highest-paid movie stars, but he was told by his first agent that he’d need to change his name in order to thrive in the film business.
During an appearance on the Travis and Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast, DiCaprio recalled, “I go, ‘What do you mean, it’s Leonardo DiCaprio?’ They go, ‘No, too ethnic. They’re never going to hire you.'”
The Oscar winner was actually given a new name to use by his former agent. He was told, “‘Your new name is Lenny Williams’. I said, ‘What is Lenny?’ ‘We took your middle name [Wilhelm] and we made it your [last name]. Now you’re Lenny.'”
However, DiCaprio’s dad, George, was quick to shut down that idea.
The “Titanic” actor explained, “My dad saw this photo, ripped it up, and he said, ‘Over my dead body.'”
DiCaprio turned 50 in November 2024, and he previously revealed that he wanted to be “more honest” after celebrating his landmark birthday.