Career Timeline of Leonardo DiCaprio: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Leonardo DiCaprio made an impact.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a highly acclaimed American actor and film producer, renowned for his roles in biographical and period films. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award and multiple Golden Globe Awards. DiCaprio's films have achieved immense commercial success, grossing $7 billion globally, solidifying his position as one of the world's highest-paid and most influential actors.
1961: Novel Revolutionary Road
In 2008, DiCaprio starred in the movie Revolutionary Road which was an adaptation of the 1961 novel by Richard Yates.
1989: Role in The New Lassie
In 1989, Leonardo DiCaprio played the role of Glen in two episodes of the television show The New Lassie.
1990: Television Roles in The Outsiders, Santa Barbara and Parenthood
In 1990, Leonardo DiCaprio began acting regularly on television, beginning with a role in the pilot of The Outsiders, one episode of the soap opera Santa Barbara, and was then cast in Parenthood.
1990: Recurring role in Parenthood
In 1990, Leonardo DiCaprio had a recurring role in the sitcom Parenthood. He also appeared in the pilot of The Outsiders and one episode of the soap opera Santa Barbara.
1991: Major film part in This Boy's Life
In 1991, Leonardo DiCaprio had his first major film part as author Tobias Wolff in This Boy's Life. He also made his film debut in Critters 3.
1991: Film debut in Critters 3
In 1991, Leonardo DiCaprio made his film debut in Critters 3. He also became a recurring cast member on the sitcom Growing Pains and had an uncredited role in one episode of Roseanne.
1992: Role in Poison Ivy film series and This Boy's Life
In 1992, Leonardo DiCaprio had a brief role in the first installment of the Poison Ivy film series. He was also handpicked by Robert De Niro to co-star with him in This Boy's Life.
1993: Role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape
In 1993, Leonardo DiCaprio played the developmentally disabled brother in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, earning him a National Board of Review Award, Golden Globe nomination, and an Academy Award nomination.
1993: Critical Acclaim for What's Eating Gilbert Grape
In 1993, Leonardo DiCaprio received critical acclaim and his first Academy Award nomination for playing a developmentally disabled boy in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
1995: Total Eclipse Release
In 1995, Agnieszka Holland directed Leonardo DiCaprio in Total Eclipse. Holland found him to be "one of the most mature actors" she has worked with and is "courageous" in his choice of roles.
1995: Roles in The Quick and the Dead, The Basketball Diaries, and Total Eclipse
In 1995, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in The Quick and the Dead, The Basketball Diaries, and Total Eclipse. Sharon Stone paid his salary herself for The Quick and the Dead.
1996: International Stardom with Romeo + Juliet
In 1996, Leonardo DiCaprio achieved international stardom with the star-crossed romance film Romeo + Juliet.
1996: Roles in Romeo + Juliet and Marvin's Room
In 1996, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Romeo + Juliet and Marvin's Room. He earned a Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 1997 Berlin International Film Festival for Romeo + Juliet.
1996: Release of 'Romeo + Juliet'
In 1996, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the critically and commercially successful film, "Romeo + Juliet".
1996: Alex Garland's novel, The Beach
In 2000, DiCaprio starred in The Beach which was adapted from Alex Garland's 1996 novel.
1997: International Stardom with Titanic
In 1997, Leonardo DiCaprio achieved international stardom with the release of Titanic. Following this success, he admitted to feeling nervous about starring in big-budget studio films due to the intense hype and marketing campaigns.
1997: Titanic Release
In 1997, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Titanic, which became the highest-grossing film in the world at the time.
1997: Release of 'Titanic'
In 1997, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the critically and commercially successful film, "Titanic".
1998: Role in Woody Allen's Celebrity and The Man in the Iron Mask
In 1998, DiCaprio played a featured role in Woody Allen's film Celebrity. That same year, he played dual roles in The Man in the Iron Mask, which received mixed reviews but was a box office success.
1998: Donated for a computer center
In 1998, Leonardo DiCaprio and his mother donated $35,000 for a "Leonardo DiCaprio Computer Center" at a library in Los Feliz.
1998: Established Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
In 1998, Leonardo DiCaprio established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting environmental awareness.
2000: Reducing Workload
In 2000, DiCaprio chose to reduce his workload after the Titanic phenomenon to focus on choosing roles that he personally wanted to pursue.
2000: American Psycho and The Beach
In 2000, DiCaprio left American Psycho due to disagreements and took the lead role in The Beach, which received negative reviews despite box office success.
2000: Chaired the national Earth Day celebration
In 2000, Leonardo DiCaprio chaired the national Earth Day celebration where he interviewed Bill Clinton and they discussed plans to deal with global warming and the environment.
2000: The Beach Release
In 2000, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the film The Beach, which proved to be one of his failed films despite his willingness to work with established directors on unconventional projects.
2001: Moulin Rouge Audition
In 2001, DiCaprio auditioned for Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! but was rejected due to his singing abilities.
2001: Don's Plum Premieres at Berlin International Film Festival
In 2001, Don's Plum premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival but remains obscure due to legal issues initiated by DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.
2002: Gangs of New York
In 2002, DiCaprio starred in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York, a historical drama set in 19th-century New York City.
2002: Star Wars and Catch Me If You Can
In 2002, DiCaprio turned down a role in Star Wars: Episode II and starred in Catch Me If You Can, which was a critical and commercial success.
2002: Roles in Catch Me If You Can and Gangs of New York
In 2002, Leonardo DiCaprio sought roles in other genres, including the crime dramas Catch Me If You Can and Gangs of New York, marking his first collaboration with director Martin Scorsese.
2003: Dennis Lehane's Novel Shutter Island
In 2010, DiCaprio starred in Shutter Island, which was based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane.
2004: Appian Way Productions and The Aviator
In 2004, DiCaprio founded Appian Way Productions and executive-produced The Assassination of Richard Nixon. He also reunited with Scorsese for The Aviator, which was a critical and financial success.
2004: Acclaim for The Aviator
In 2004, Leonardo DiCaprio continued to gain acclaim for his performance in the biopic The Aviator.
2006: The Departed and Blood Diamond
In 2006, DiCaprio starred in The Departed and Blood Diamond, both of which garnered critical acclaim. The Departed became his and Scorsese's highest-grossing collaboration to that point.
2006: Releases of 'The Departed' and 'Blood Diamond'
In 2006, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the critically and commercially successful films, "The Departed" and "Blood Diamond".
2006: Roles in Blood Diamond and The Departed
In 2006, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the political thriller Blood Diamond and the crime drama The Departed.
2007: Shutter Island Project
In 2007, DiCaprio and Scorsese became interested in the Shutter Island project, which DiCaprio co-produced.
2007: Gardener of Eden and The 11th Hour
In 2007, DiCaprio produced the comedy drama Gardener of Eden, which did not resonate with audiences. Later that year, he produced, co-wrote, and narrated The 11th Hour, a documentary on the environment.
2007: Presented at Live Earth
In 2007, Leonardo DiCaprio presented at the American leg of Live Earth.
2008: Greensburg Documentary Series
From 2008 to 2010, Appian Way Productions made the documentary series Greensburg.
2008: Appian Way produced Farragut North
In 2008, Beau Willimon wrote the play Farragut North, which later became the basis for the movie, The Ides of March, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way in 2011.
2008: Revolutionary Road Collaboration
In 2008, DiCaprio collaborated with Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road, directed by Sam Mendes, playing a couple in a failing marriage.
2008: Greensburg and Body of Lies
In 2008, DiCaprio's Appian Way produced Greensburg (2008–2010), and he starred in Body of Lies, a spy film that received mixed reviews.
2008: Release of 'Revolutionary Road'
In 2008, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the critically and commercially successful film, "Revolutionary Road".
May 2009: Raised money to support Millvina Dean
In May 2009, Leonardo DiCaprio joined Kate Winslet, director James Cameron and Canadian singer Celine Dion, in a campaign to raise money to financially support the fees of the nursing home where Millvina Dean, a survivor of the RMS Titanic, was residing. DiCaprio and Winslet donated $20,000 to support Dean.
2009: Producing Orphan
In 2009, DiCaprio produced the psychological horror thriller film Orphan.
2010: Greensburg Documentary Series
From 2008 to 2010, Appian Way Productions made the documentary series Greensburg.
2010: Inception Release and Payday
In 2010, DiCaprio starred in Christopher Nolan's Inception, earning $50 million from the film due to a share in first-dollar gross points.
2010: Shutter Island Release
In 2010, DiCaprio starred in Scorsese's Shutter Island, playing a U.S. Marshal investigating a psychiatric facility, a role that led to nightmares during production.
2010: Donated to relief efforts in Haiti
In 2010, Leonardo DiCaprio donated $1 million to relief efforts in Haiti after the earthquake.
2010: Releases of 'Shutter Island' and 'Inception'
In 2010, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the critically and commercially successful films, "Shutter Island" and "Inception".
2010: Roles in Inception and Shutter Island
In 2010, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the thrillers Inception and Shutter Island.
2011: Joined the Animal Legal Defense Fund's campaign
In 2011, Leonardo DiCaprio joined the Animal Legal Defense Fund's campaign to release Tony, a tiger that had spent the last decade at a truck stop in Grosse Tête, Louisiana.
2011: Starred in J. Edgar and produced Red Riding Hood
In 2011, Leonardo DiCaprio starred as J. Edgar Hoover in Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar, a biopic focusing on Hoover's career as an FBI director. Critics praised DiCaprio's performance. Also in 2011, he produced Catherine Hardwicke's romantic horror film Red Riding Hood, which, despite negative reviews, had moderate box-office returns. Additionally, DiCaprio's Appian Way produced George Clooney's political drama The Ides of March.
2012: Starred in Django Unchained
In 2012, Leonardo DiCaprio starred as Calvin Candie in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. DiCaprio initially felt uncomfortable with the film's racism, but was convinced otherwise. During filming, he cut his hand but continued acting, with Tarantino using the take in the final cut. The film received critical acclaim and earned DiCaprio a Golden Globe nomination.
January 2013: Announced a break from acting and had four releases
In January 2013, Leonardo DiCaprio announced he would take a break from acting. That year, he starred as Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby. He also produced three films—Runner Runner, Out of the Furnace, and The Wolf of Wall Street.
2013: National Board of Review Spotlight Award
In 2013, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese's collaborations earned them the National Board of Review (Spotlight Award). The A.V. Club considered the duo's collaborations to be career-defining moments for both of them.
2013: Donated to GLAAD
In 2013, Leonardo DiCaprio donated $61,000 to the gay rights group GLAAD.
2013: Organized "11th Hour" benefit auction
In 2013, Leonardo DiCaprio organized a benefit fine art auction, "11th Hour", which raised nearly $38.8 million for his foundation.
2013: Releases of 'The Great Gatsby' and 'The Wolf of Wall Street'
In 2013, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the critically and commercially successful films, "The Great Gatsby" and "The Wolf of Wall Street".
April 2014: Virunga premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival
In April 2014, Virunga, a documentary film for which Leonardo DiCaprio was an executive producer, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
September 2014: Designated as a United Nations Messenger of Peace
In September 2014, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon designated Leonardo DiCaprio as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a focus on climate change. Later that month, he made an opening statement to members of the UN Climate Summit.
2015: Rolling Stone Article
In 2015, Ebiri from Rolling Stone called DiCaprio's role in Titanic his best, noting the genuine emotion he and Winslet brought to their performances.
2015: Announced intention to divest from fossil fuels
In 2015, Leonardo DiCaprio announced his intention to divest from fossil fuels.
2015: Starred in The Revenant
In 2015, Leonardo DiCaprio produced and starred in Alejandro G. Iñárritu's survival drama The Revenant, playing fur trapper Hugh Glass. The role was physically demanding. The film earned him numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor.
2015: Academy Award for The Revenant
In 2015, Leonardo DiCaprio won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the survival drama The Revenant.
April 2016: Spoke at the UN
In April 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio spoke at the UN prior to the signing of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
July 2016: Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation donation
In July 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio's foundation donated $15.6 million to help protect wildlife and the rights of Native Americans, along with mitigating climate change.
2016: Donated to Children of Armenia Fund
In 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio donated $65,000 to the annual fundraising gala for the Children of Armenia Fund, where he was a special guest of his friend and honorary chair, Tony Shafrazi.
2016: Produced The Ivory Game, Catching the Sun, Before the Flood, and Live by Night
In 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio was an executive producer for The Ivory Game and Catching the Sun. He also produced, hosted, and narrated the documentary Before the Flood about climate change, and produced the crime drama Live by Night.
2017: The events of Formula E Championship that were followed
In 2017 Leonardo DiCaprio produced the feature-length documentary And We Go Green, which followed the events of the 2017-18 Formula E Championship and provided access behind the scenes.
2017: Endorsement of 'The Promise' and Donation of Gifts
In 2017, Leonardo DiCaprio endorsed the film "The Promise", which is about the Armenian genocide. Also in 2017, he turned over gifts, including a Marlon Brando Oscar trophy, a Pablo Picasso painting worth $3.2 million, and a $9 million Jean-Michel Basquiat collage, to the US government due to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal involving 'The Wolf of Wall Street' producer Red Granite Pictures.
2017: Vox Contributor Review
In 2017, Vox contributor Alissa Wilkinson described DiCaprio's "boyish charm" and found his performance "natural and unaffected" in Titanic.
2017: Donated to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
Supporting Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, DiCaprio provided $1 million through his foundation in 2017.
December 2018: Leonardo DiCaprio foundation donation
In December 2018, the DiCaprio foundation donated $100 million to fight climate change.
2018: Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation funded more than 200 projects
By 2018, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation had funded more than 200 projects, providing $100 million in support.
2018: Entertainment Weekly Critics on Catch Me If You Can
In 2018, Entertainment Weekly critics called DiCaprio's role in Catch Me If You Can his best.
2018: Produced Delirium and Robin Hood
In 2018, Leonardo DiCaprio's production ventures included the psychological horror Delirium and the action-adventure film Robin Hood.
May 2019: Release of And We Go Green documentary
In May 2019, Leonardo DiCaprio produced the feature-length documentary And We Go Green, which followed the events of the 2017-18 Formula E Championship and provided access behind the scenes.
2019: Starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
In 2019, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Quentin Tarantino's comedy-drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, portraying Rick Dalton, an aging television actor. He agreed to a pay cut to help finance the film, and the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, receiving praise for his and Brad Pitt's performances.
2020: Executive Producer for The Right Stuff
In 2020, Leonardo DiCaprio served as an executive producer for The Right Stuff, a television series adaptation of the 1973 book. He also briefly appeared in the finale of the miniseries The Last Dance.
2020: Leonardo DiCaprio's foundation donated to Australia bushfire relief efforts
In 2020, Leonardo DiCaprio's foundation donated $3 million to Australia bushfire relief efforts.
May 2021: Pledged $43 million for conservation
In May 2021, Leonardo DiCaprio pledged $43 million to enact conservation operations across the Galápagos Islands.
2021: Starred in Don't Look Up
In 2021, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Adam McKay's satirical comedy Don't Look Up, alongside Jennifer Lawrence. He saw the film as an analogy of the world's indifference to the climate crisis. Reviews were mixed, but most critics praised DiCaprio's and Lawrence's performances.
2022: Donation to support Ukraine
Amidst the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the media announced Leonardo DiCaprio donated $10 million to support Ukraine, although the news agency Associated Press suggested this amount was inaccurate.
2023: Starred in Killers of the Flower Moon
In 2023, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Martin Scorsese's crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon, based on the book of the same name by David Grann. He played Ernest Burkhart, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
December 2025: Confirmed casting in Heat sequel
In December 2025, Leonardo DiCaprio confirmed that he has been cast in an undisclosed role in Michael Mann's planned sequel to the 1995 film Heat.
2025: Starred in One Battle After Another
In 2025, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's film One Battle After Another, receiving his seventh Academy Award acting nomination for his role as a washed-up ex-revolutionary.
February 2026: Began shooting What Happens at Night
As of February 2026, Leonardo DiCaprio began shooting What Happens at Night, directed by Martin Scorsese and also starring Jennifer Lawrence and Mads Mikkelsen.
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