Why Leonardo DiCaprio was told to change his name at the start of his career
I finally got an agent. 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 gonna hire. Your new name is Lenny Williams.” [Laughter] Leonardo DiCaprio reflected on the early days of his career on the latest episode of New Heights. The movie star shared on Travis Kelce and Jason Kelsey’s podcast that he once had an agent tell him he’d have to change his real name to be successful. Leonardo’s last name is Italian as his father, George DiCaprio, is a mix of Italian and German descent, but an agent told him his moniker was too ethnic. My dad saw his photo, ripped it up, and he said, “Over my dead body.” Really? Or Benny Dell? Benny Dell. Benny Dell. Benny Dell. Mr. Dell. Yeah. Oh my god. Benny Dell. Lenny Williams. Benny Dell. Benio Del Toro, who was beside Leonardo for the interview promoting their new film, One Battle After Another, shared that he too was told a similar story when he first got his start in Hollywood. Benio’s faux moniker, it was Benny Dell. Jason Kelsey reassured him that the agents who passed on him are likely saying, “Holy to themselves now.
Leonardo DiCaprio reflected on the early days of his career on the latest episode of “New Heights.” The movie star shared that he once had an agent tell him he’d have to change his real name to be successful. Benicio Del Toro — who was beside Leonardo for the interview promoting their new film, “One Battle After Another” — shared that he, too, was told a similar story when he first got his start in Hollywood.
#leonardodicaprio #onebattleafteranother #newheights
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