Born in Los Angeles, CA. This tall, slender, boyishly handsome young actor proved engaging in TV family sitcoms ("Parenthood," "Growing Pains") and endured a cheapie horror sequel film (CRITTERS 3, 1992) before triumphing over 400 other actors in a four-month casting search to win the role of Tobias Wolff in THIS BOY'S LIFE (1993). Based on Wolff's award-winning autobiographical novel, the story dealt with a boy's coming of age in the 1950s in an explosive domestic situation. The film also starred Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin, but young DiCaprio received the strongest notices. While the film fizzled at the box office, this boy's career was off and running. DiCaprio was next cast alongside Johnny Depp in WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE (1993), Lasse Halström's beautifully recorded version of Peter Hedges' coming-of-age novel. The good looks of the green-eyed blond nearly lost him the part of the sloppy-looking Arnie, Gilbert's mentally challenged but cheerful younger brother. The 19-year-old actor again walked away with the best reviews and an Oscar® nomination for his performance. DiCaprio lost out to Christian Slater in his effort to land the small but essential role of the boy reporter in INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE: THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES (1994). He tried his hand at another exceedingly stylish genre film with a supporting role opposite Sharon Stone in Sam Raimi's delirious meta-Western THE QUICK AND THE DEAD (1995). DiCaprio embodied the role of the Kid, the son of baddie Gene Hackman, with the appropriate verve and cynicism. He headed back to the margins to star in the long awaited adaptation of THE BASKETBALL DIARIES (1995), Jim Carroll's gritty autobiographical account of a youth that combined good grades, local basketball stardom and heroin addiction. His most memorable role to date, though, is as the love interest in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster TITANIC. He broke thousands of teen-age hearts with his portrayal of the poor, doomed artist who loved high-born Kate Winslet. However, he was snubbed by the Academy when it came to nomination time. Other notable credits include THE QUICK AND THE DEAD and TOTAL ECLIPSE (both 1995), ROMEO + JULIET and MARVIN'S ROOM (both 1996), THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK and CELEBRITY (both 1998), THE BEACH (2000), DON'S PLUM (2001), GANGS OF NEW YORK and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (both 2002), THE AVIATOR (also producer, 2004), THE DEPARTED and BLOOD DIAMOND (both 2006), REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, BODY OF LIES and FREEDOM WITHIN THE HEART (all scheduled for 2008), and SHUTTER ISLAND, THE CHANCELLOR MANUSCRIPT (also producer) and THE RISE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT (also producer) (all planned for 2009). DiCaprio began producing films in 2004 as exec. producer for THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON. He followed this with THE AVIATOR (exec. prod.), GARDENER OF EDEN and THE 11TH HOUR (also writer) (both 2007), and IN DARK WOODS and CONSPIRACY OF FOOLS (both announced for 2008).  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 1993: WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2004: THE AVIATOR  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2006: BLOOD DIAMOND 3 nominations