“The best actor of my generation” Leonardo DiCaprio still touched by the disappearance of his idol 30 years later

News culture “The best actor of my generation” Leonardo DiCaprio still touched by the disappearance of his idol 30 years later

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A hand-picked career

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most talented actors of his generationas evidenced by the successful films that make up his more than 30-year career. Like many actors, the American actor started with simple commercials in the late 80s, before beginning to venture into television series and his first films in the early 90s. His talent was first recognized by critics in 1993 with his role in Gilbert Grape, for which he will be nominated at the Golden Globes, but these are Romeo + Juliet of Baz Luhrmann et Titanic of James Cameron which will make his career take off a few years later.

Since then, DiCaprio has rarely missed the mark when it comes to his filmography (probably because he is very careful before committing to a project), which has allowed him to accumulate numerous critical and commercial successes over the yearsas Inception, Django Unchained, The Wolf of Wall Streetor even The Revenantwhich allowed him to win his first Academy Award for Best Actor in 2016. Many see him as an unrivaled actor and the icon of a generation, but for Leonardo DiCaprio, this title goes to a person who is unfortunately no longer here today…

The best actor according to Leonardo DiCaprio

In an interview with EsquireLeonardo DiCaprio has spoken about an actor who had a huge influence on him at the start of his career. This actor is River Phoenixthe older brother of Joaquin Phoenixwhose career began in the early 1980s. His debut was very promising, and he was quickly nominated for Golden Globes and Oscars for his role in At the end of the race. He even received the Best Actor award at the National Society of Film Critics Awards for My Own Private Idaho. Many critics, including Roger Ebert et Gene Siskelrecognized his talent before his career ended abruptly in October 1993.

“I grew up revering River Phoenix as the greatest actor of my generation. All I ever wanted was to be able to shake his hand. And one night, at a party in Silver Lake, I I saw him going up a flight of stairs. It almost looked like a scene from Vertigo, because I saw something in his face.

I had never met him – I had always wanted to meet him, just talk to him for a moment – ​​and he was walking towards me and I kind of froze. And then the crowd blocked my way, I looked back and he was gone. I went back up the stairs and back down, and I wondered where he had gone.

I don't know how to describe it, but it's like a kind of existential crisis, like I saw him disappear before my eyes, and it felt like a tragedy after losing this great influence for me and all my friends.”

Leonardo DiCaprio, Esquire

On the night of October 30-31, 1993, River Phoenix died of an overdose at the Viper Room, a West Hollywood nightclub.. Fatefully, it was during this night that Leonardo DiCaprio briefly crossed his path for the first and last time. A most memorable memory for DiCaprio, who, even today, considers River Phoenix to be the best actor of his generation.