One of the most talented actors of our time, Leonardo DiCaprio, has been in the public eye since the late ’80s. We know him as one of the biggest stars in cinema today, but in what higher institution did he study the craft of acting?
Leonardo DiCaprio did not go to college. He quit after his junior year at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles. He said his time in school and his neighborhood environment prompted his need to focus on acting, later acquiring his GED. He intended to go to college, but that didn’t happen.
Star On The Rise
After landing commercials around the age of 14, small television roles followed in the early ’90s. He made his breakout in the movie “This Boy’s Life” starring Robert DeNiro. In fact, he was chosen by DeNiro from 400 actors.
Many critically acclaimed rolls followed including “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, a role which earned him his first Academy Award nomination in 1993. Many critically acclaimed rolls followed, including “Basketball Diaries” and “Titanic”.
After continued success in his acting career, his college aspirations were put on hold permanently. He now states, “Life is my college”, according to People Magazine. Life has treated DiCaprio well thus far.
Want a few throwback images of DiCaprio? Click the YouTube link below.
Career Accolades
Although though not formally trained in college, DiCaprio has still managed a high level of success in the acting world. He has nabbed 54 of the 168 awards for which he had been nominated. Many of these are the top echelon awards when it comes to star power and prestige.
With numerous nominations, DiCaprio has won one Academy Award, one British Academy Film Award and one Screen Actors Guild Award. In addition, he has also claimed 3 Golden Globe Awards amongst many other awards accrued in his long career. With great success, comes great responsibility and DiCaprio has not disappointed.
Leonardo & The Environment
Maybe his inspiration in creating The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation stems from his former aspiration to study marine biology in college. No matter the impetus, his foundation addresses environmental issues facing our planet today. His foundation focuses on wildlife, ecosystems, and communities vulnerable to the impact climate change and other environmental crises.
DiCaprio’s foundation focuses on 6 areas when it comes to the environment: wildlands conservation, oceans conservation, climate change, indigenous rights, transforming California, and innovative solutions. His website has more information about what his foundation is about and where they are heading in the future. Watch the trailer on Facebook for “Before the Flood”.
But what is in the future for the actor himself?
On The Horizon
Well, unfortunately, fans of DiCaprio will not see anything in 2020. However, according to Looper.com, he does have some irons in the fire for the future. Right now, he has teamed up with director Martin Scorsese yet again, and the two are filming “Killers of the Flower Moon”, a true story about the mysterious murders of members of the Osage Nation.
In pre-production is the film “The Black Hand”, where he will play a police officer looking for revenge against gangs in New York City. Remember when he was working on “The Devil in the White City”, the novel about serial killer H.H. Holmes? Look for that halted project to turn up on Hulu, rather than the big screen.
Lastly, he and Scorsese are working on a biopic about Theodore Roosevelt. For an actor with 30 plus years in the business, it does not seem like he is slowing down any time soon. Maybe DiCaprio did not go to college, but it did not take a degree from a university to make him a big star in Hollywood!