Published By: Sayan Paul

Leonardo DiCaprio Turns 50: The 'Shutter Island' Actor Is Named After Leonardo Da Vinci - Do You Know Why?

Back in 2017, it was announced that Leonardo DiCaprio would play Leonardo da Vinci in an adaptation of Walter Isaacson‘s best-selling book. However, there has been no update about the same since then. 

Being a good actor is one thing, but building a legacy that will be celebrated for centuries to come is quite different. That's where you become a legend, which, as it goes without saying, requires much more than just talent. Just look at Leonardo DiCaprio's filmography, and you'll realize why he is considered a legend. The actor is remarkably visionary and has never been keen on following trends. Ever since the beginning of his career, he has been very selective about his work, and more importantly, the filmmakers he collaborates with. 

For instance, after becoming a worldwide sensation with 'Titanic', DiCaprio decided to shed his image of a romantic hero, and hence worked in films like 'Catch Me If You Can', 'Gangs of New York', and 'The Aviator'. Unlike others, he never allowed himself to become a slave to his stardom. And while many of his contemporaries are now into superhero films, he is still interested in doing out-of-the-box ventures that would be relevant even after a hundred years. 

(Credit: leonardodicaprio)

Born on November 11, 1974, Leonardo DiCaprio is a Hollywood heartthrob, and so, his personal life is also a topic of discussion just like his career. Particularly, his first name, Leonardo, has always been intriguing for fans. Of course, he is named after the Italian polymath of the High Renaissance. But what's the story behind his name? We will explore that today, on the occasion of his 50th birthday. 

Why Leonardo DiCaprio Is Named After Leonardo Da Vinci 

Well, the actor is named Leonardo because his pregnant mother felt him kick for the first time when they (both the parents) were looking at a Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy. 

As DiCaprio later shared in an interview, "My father tells me that they were on their honeymoon at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, I believe. They were looking at a da Vinci painting, and allegedly I started kicking furiously while my mother was pregnant. And my father took that as a sign, and I suppose DiCaprio wasn't that far from da Vinci. And so, my dad, being the artist that he is, said, "That's our boy's name."'

Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect

Notably, his surname DiCaprio comes from his mixed ancestry. His father, George DiCaprio, was a half-Italian comic book artist and distributor. Besides, he also has German and Russian roots. 

When Leonardo DiCaprio Was Asked To Change His Name 

Although Shakespeare questioned, "What's In A Name?", a name does matter a lot. At least, it once did for Leonardo DiCaprio. 

When he was just 11 years old (a newcomer in the industry), the 'Inception' actor was asked by his agent to change his name as it was 'too ethnic'. As the actor later shared in an interview, "Yeah, when I was 11 years old when I first wanted to be an actor professionally. I tried to get an agent, but I didn't succeed because they wanted to change my name to Lenny Williams. They thought my name was a little too ethnic, so they sort of dissected it and said hey, Leonardo, Lenny, my middle name's Wilhelm, so they changed that to Williams."

 

(Credit: Fascinating)

Well, the actor decided to change his agent, and not his name. 

Leonardo DiCaprio As Leonardo da Vinci On The Screen? 

Have you ever imagined Leonardo DiCaprio portraying his namesake on the screen? Well, back in 2017, it was actually announced that the Hollywood actor would play the 15th-century polymath in a film adaptation of Walter Isaacson’s non-fiction book 'Leonardo Da Vinci'. 

Besides playing the lead, the actor was also supposed to produce the film under his Appian Way banner (alongside Paramount). Acclaimed screenwriter John Logan was also attached to the project. 

 

(Credit: NowThis Impact)

However, quite unfortunately, there's been no update about the same since then. 

Happy Birthday, DiCaprio. Thanks For All The Amazing Films!