Cliff Notes – Leonardo DiCaprio was almost given a stage name after being told his was ‘too ethnic’
- Leonardo DiCaprio revealed that his first agent advised him to change his name, claiming it was “too ethnic” for Hollywood, suggesting he adopt the name “Lenny Williams” instead.
- DiCaprio’s father opposed the idea, insisting that his son should keep his original name, which ultimately contributed to DiCaprio’s successful career in film.
- The actor, now 50, expressed a desire to be more honest in his personal and professional life, reflecting on the importance of authenticity as he ages.
Leonardo DiCaprio almost given stage name after being told his was ‘too ethnic’
Leonardo DiCaprio revealed his very normal near-stage name (Picture: Reuters)
Leonardo DiCaprio was warned that his name was ‘too ethnic’ for Hollywood.
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.
He was even told the stage name it was strongly suggested he take, advice which he did not take.
During an appearance on the New Heights podcast with his One Battle After Another co-star Benicio del Toro, DiCaprio recalled: ‘I finally got an agent [and] they said, “Your name is too ethnic.”
‘I go, “What do you mean, it’s Leonardo DiCaprio?” They go, “No, too ethnic. They’re never going to hire you.”’
The now award-winning actor’s former agent then told him: “Your new name is Lenny Williams.”
He was nearly a Lenny Williams (Picture: Getty)
Can you imagine Titanic star Lenny Williams? Seven-time Oscar nominee and (finally) winner for The Revenant, Lenny Williams?
DiCaprio remembered his bafflement.
‘I was 12, 13, I said, “What’s Lenny Williams?”… “Well, we took your middle name [Wilhelm] and we made it your [last name]. Now you’re Lenny.”’
However, DiCaprio’s dad, George DiCaprio, was quick to rubbish the idea.
The actor explained: ‘My dad saw this photo, ripped it up, and he said, “Over my dead body.”’
The Phoenician Scheme actor del Toro had the same experience, chiming in with a laugh: ‘I was told the same thing! Benicio del Toro – Benny Del!’
Actors who refused stage names – and what they were
Barbra Streisand – ‘Barbara Sands’
Keanu Reeves – ‘Casey Reeves’
Harrison Ford – ‘Kurt Affair’ (Ford suggested this one himself, knowing the studio wouldn’t approve, having been told Harrison Ford was ‘a pretentious name for a young man’)
Ke Huy Quan – ‘Jonathan Quan’ (Quan used this briefly as a young actor, but when be returned to Hollywood after a long break, he wanted to use his birth name again)
Kim Novak – ‘Kit Marlowe’
(Jo) Raquel Welch – ‘Debbie Welch’
The actor came to fame in the 90s but began acting in the late 80s (Picture: Getty)
Thankfully, his father encouraged the actor to stay firm and his career took off regardless (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)
DiCaprio turned 50 in November 2024, and he previously revealed that he wanted to be ‘more honest’ after celebrating his landmark birthday.
Speaking to Esquire UK, the movie star explained: ‘It [turning 50] creates a feeling like you have a desire to just be more honest and not waste your time.
‘I can only imagine how the next few decades are going to progress. I look at my mother, for example, and she just says exactly what she thinks and wastes no time. She spends no time trying to fake it.’
6 stars who refused stage names – and what they were
Barbra Streisand – ‘Barbara Sands’
Keanu Reeves – ‘Casey Reeves’
Harrison Ford – ‘Kurt Affair’ (Ford suggested this one himself, knowing the studio wouldn’t approve, having been told Harrison Ford was ‘a pretentious name for a young man’)
Ke Huy Quan – ‘Jonathan Quan’ (Quan used this briefly as a young actor, but when be returned to Hollywood after a long break he wanted to use his birth name again)
Kim Novak – ‘Kit Marlowe’
(Jo) Raquel Welch – ‘Debbie Welch’
DiCaprio is determined to do similar, but the actor acknowledges that he risks ‘having things fall apart’ because of his honest approach.
‘Being more upfront and risking having things fall apart or risking the disagreements or risking going your separate ways from any type of relationship in life — the personal, the professional — it’s that you don’t want to waste your time anymore. You have to just be much more upfront. It’s almost a responsibility, because much more of your life is behind you than it is ahead of you.’
His new film One Battle After The Other hits cinemas this week (Picture: Warner Bros/AP)
Over 30 years since his breakthrough role – for which he received his first Academy Award nomination – in 1993’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, DiCaprio is still starring in massive movies.
One Battle After Another is receiving rave reviews, from industry titans including Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, as well as critics, who have labelled it ‘a masterpiece’ and ‘the most enjoyable cinema experience this year’.
It currently has a huge score of 98% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
The film was released in cinemas on Friday, September 16.
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