Leonardo DiCaprio opens up about nearly becoming ‘Lenny Williams’ at 12: ‘They believed my name sounded too ethnic’

Leonardo DiCaprio, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, has made his first-ever podcast appearance. The 50-year-old Titanic actor joined Benicio Del Toro on New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, where the conversation spanned his career beginnings, collaborations with directors, and even a surprising story about the name he almost adopted early in life.

The name change that never happened

DiCaprio revealed that when he was just 12 years old, his agent suggested he change his name. The reason? They believed “Leonardo DiCaprio” sounded too ethnic and might hold him back from landing jobs. The name they offered instead was “Lenny Williams,” with “Williams” inspired by his middle name, Wilhelm.

But the idea didn’t sit well with his father, George DiCaprio. Leo recalled how his dad ripped up the agent’s photo and declared, “Over my dead body.” That moment ensured the young actor kept his real name — one that would later become iconic across the globe.

Early rejections in Hollywood

The Oscar winner also opened up about the struggles he faced as a child actor. He remembered going to casting calls with his stepbrother, where young hopefuls were lined up and judged in seconds. “They’d point and say, ‘Yes, yes, no, no,’” he recalled.

At the time, DiCaprio was also breakdancing on the streets for money, and the repeated rejections often felt discouraging. Still, it was his father who pushed him to keep going. “Someday you’re gonna have your time, son. Just keep at it,” George told him — words that stayed with Leo until his breakthrough years later.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s work front

On the professional side, DiCaprio is set to reunite with celebrated director Martin Scorsese for the film adaptation of Peter Cameron’s ghost story novel What Happens at Night. The project, expected to begin production next year, will also star Jennifer Lawrence.