Leonardo dicaprio biography 1/4/2017

Leonardo DiCaprio: A Biography

Leonardo DiCaprio, often hailed as a genius and a madman by his fellow actors, is known for his penchant for complex and contradictory roles.

Born on November 11, 1974, in Los Angeles, DiCaprio's father had Italian and German roots, while his mother hailed from West Germany. His Russian heritage can be traced back to his grandmother, Elena Stepanovna Smirnova. During a meeting with Vladimir Putin, DiCaprio even mentioned that his grandfather was Russian.

DiCaprio chose his own name, with his mother recounting that she visited the Uffizi Gallery while pregnant and felt a kick from the baby when she stopped to admire a painting by Leonardo da Vinci.

Taking it as a sign, she named her son Leonardo.

DiCaprio's acting career began at a young age when he was introduced to the industry by family friends who helped him land roles on television. By the age of 11, he was alrea