Leonardo Dicaprio started acting at an early age, and had a pretty interesting childhood, but is being adopted one of the reasons why his upbringing was so unique?
Leonardo Dicaprio isn’t adopted – he was born in Los Angeles to his biological parents Irmelin Indenbirken and George DiCaprio. He grew up in an artistic household, and his parents supported his dream to pursue an acting career.
Stick around to learn more about Leonardo Dicaprio’s special bond with his parents and if he ever considered having kids of his own.
Meet Leo’s Parents
Irmelin Indenbirken and George DiCaprio met in college, and welcomed their son in 1974. He was named after the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci because his mom felt the first kick while looking at one of his paintings at a museum in Italy. She used to work as a legal secretary, while his father was an underground comix writer, but also made money on the side by installing asbestos.
Their marriage was rocky even before little Leo was born, and it quickly became clear that having a baby won’t salvage it. They parted ways one year later, but still lived next door to each other, making sure that Leonardo had both a mother and father figure in his life.
Being the child of divorced parents never bothered the Titanic actor, and he was understanding of their adventurous spirit. “As far as my family is concerned, my parents were the rebellious ones – they’re people who have done everything and have nothing to prove,” the actor explained.
Leo’s Childhood Years
His parents’ divorce didn’t bother Leo because he was too young to even remember it, but that doesn’t mean his childhood was an easy one. His mother mostly supported him on her own, while his dad only chipped in $20 since it was all he could afford. Shortly after splitting from Irmelin, he started a new family with Peggy Ferrar, and her son Adam.
The fact that he grew up in one of Hollywood’s sketchiest neighborhoods didn’t make Leo’s upbringing any easier, and he was surrounded by drugs, sex, and violence from an early age.
“It was the most disgusting place to be. My mom, who thought Hollywood was the place where all the great stuff was going on, took great care of me but I was able to see all sorts of stuff at an early age,” said Dicaprio in his biography.
After learning that his step-brother Adam earned $50,000 for a single commercial, he decided to follow in his footsteps. Leo managed to score roles in several commercials, but considered giving up after facing one rejection after another. He eventually decided to keep acting, because he wanted to help his mother out, and went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Does Leo Want Kids?
Leonardo Dicaprio still doesn’t have any kids of his own, but it seems he’s not opposed to that idea. He discussed the possibility of becoming a father with The Rolling Stone, and gave the magazine a cryptic answer – but he didn’t say no.
“If it happens, it happens. I’d prefer not to get into specifics about it, just because then it becomes something that is misquoted… To articulate how I feel about it is just gonna be misunderstood,” explained Dicaprio.
Back in 2007, it even seemed that adoption might be in the cards for the famous actor. While filming Blood Diamond in South Africa, the Titanic star met a little girl from an orphanage, and they had a really strong connection. Instead of following Angelina Jolie’s footsteps and officially adopting the girl, he decided to support her by sending her monthly checks. It’s unclear how their relationship developed over time, but they used to catch up on the phone in the beginning.
This isn’t the only indication that Leonardo Dicaprio is great with kids. His BFF Tobey Maguire is a proud dad of two, and Leo was named as the godfather to his daughter Ruby in 2006.