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Leonardo DiCaprio is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, a former child star who was able to undergo a major career transformation and become a heartthrob in the mid-90s. An acclaimed who has often been seen with stunning supermodels, DiCaprio spends a great deal of his time with his fellow superstars — friends like Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Still, in spite of his elevated status in the world and his fabulous wealth, DiCaprio has never lost touch with the common man and has even shown that he has a heroic streak — as evidenced by his actions in early 2020, when he and his crew helped to save a stranded man’s life. 

How did Leonardo DiCaprio become a star?

Leonardo DiCaprio attends a BAFTA screening of 'The Revenant'
Leonardo DiCaprio | Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

DiCaprio has been in the entertainment industry since he was a child, appearing in television commercials and various programs.

After a few years trying to find a breakthrough role, DiCaprio was cast in the drama film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Playing a disabled teenage boy named Arnie, DiCaprio earned positive attention from critics, who praised his ability to disappear completely within the character.

Just a few years after his acclaimed turn in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, DiCaprio achieved worldwide stardom with his leading role in the blockbuster film Titanic. The film became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, and for many young people around the world, DiCaprio was considered to be the primary reason for the movie’s outstanding success.

Over the years that followed, DiCaprio appeared in many more big-name movies, including The Aviator, Catch Me If You Can, and The Departed

What is Leonardo DiCaprio best known for these days?

In 2015, DiCaprio appeared in one of his most popular and critically acclaimed movies, The Revenant. DiCaprio displayed the ultimate dedication to his craft in preparing for the film, even sleeping in animal carcasses and eating raw meat in order to get into the appropriate mindset to portray a rugged frontierman. DiCaprio’s commitment was ultimately rewarded when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in honor of his work in the movie.

In the years since appearing in The Revenant, DiCaprio has taken a small step back from acting, only appearing in a handful of films. In addition to his acting projects, DiCaprio likes to devote his time to a variety of charitable causes.

Of course, he also makes time for love, and is regularly seen out and about with beautiful models.

Leonardo DiCaprio once helped to save a man’s life

DiCaprio is unquestionably passionate about helping to save the environment, but he’s also helped to save human life on at least one occasion. According to People, in January 2020, DiCaprio and a group of his friends were vacationing on a boat near St. Barts when they heard about an emergency search that was underway for a man who had drunkenly fallen overboard from a Club Med yacht. 

“Leo and his friends and their boat captain decided to join the search and their efforts resulted in helping save a man’s life,” a source detailed, also noting that the man, when found, had been treading water for 11 hours. The man was rescued just in the nick of time, too — the report states that he was saved just about an hour before the sun set and a heavy rainstorm began.

DiCaprio has never directly addressed his heroic efforts, but it seems likely that the man who was saved will never forget that day.