Leonardo DiCaprio's Hollywood Name Crisis: 'Lenny Williams' Almost Was!
Leonardo DiCaprio Spills the Tea on His Early Days in Hollywood
In a juicy and revealing episode of the popular podcast "New Heights," hosted by Jason Kelce, Leonardo DiCaprio opened up about the shocking advice he received from an agent early in his career. The 50-year-old Oscar-winning actor revealed that a talent rep once suggested he change his name to increase his chances of success in Tinseltown.
According to DiCaprio, the agent claimed that his Italian and German-sounding surname was "too ethnic" for Hollywood producers, who would allegedly never hire him. The audacious suggestion? Change his name to "Lenny Williams," a combination of his first name and middle name, Wilhelm. Talk about trying to erase one's heritage!
But DiCaprio's dad had other plans. When he saw the agent's attempt to rebrand his son, he reportedly ripped up the new headshot and declared, "Over my dead body!" It's clear that mom and dad were on board with Leo from day one.
In a hilarious exchange, co-star Benicio Del Toro shared a similar experience of being given a new name by an agent. The 58-year-old actor revealed that he was once told to go by "Benny Del" – talk about trying to change someone's identity! Jason Kelce couldn't resist joking, "This podcast would not be the same with Lenny Williams and Benny Del."
The episode is full of laughs and surprises as DiCaprio reminisces about his journey in show business. He recalls being rejected by an agent who lined him up like cattle and told him no – all because of a bad haircut! "I was a breakdancer," he explained, "so I had the step haircut." Yeah, we can imagine how that went over.
DiCaprio started small, appearing in Matchbox cars commercials as a teenager. But by the early 90s, he was a regular on "Growing Pains" and eventually landed roles in films like "This Boy's Life" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape." Of course, his breakout role came in 1997 with "Titanic," opposite Kate Winslet.
In a nod to their impressive credentials, Jason Kelce teased the latest episode on social media: "Time to add 'podcaster' right next to 'Oscar Winner' on these guys' resumes!" The post included a preview clip where Jason listed DiCaprio and Del Toro's numerous awards, including four Golden Globe wins and two Academy Awards.
Their latest collaboration, "One Battle After Another," hits theaters on September 26. Don't miss this epic episode of "New Heights" – it's a wild ride into the world of Hollywood's biggest stars.
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