Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most beloved and well-known actors in Hollywood today. He has starred in some of the biggest blockbusters in recent years, including The Revenant and The Wolf of Wall Street. One of his earlier roles that propelled him to stardom was as Jim Carroll in the 1995 movie The Basketball Diaries, which was released when he was just 19 years old. In this article, we will look at how old Leonardo DiCaprio was when he filmed The Basketball Diaries, and explore some of the other key details about the movie.
Leonardo DiCaprio at Age 19
At the time of filming The Basketball Diaries, Leonardo DiCaprio was 19 years old. He had already made a name for himself with his breakout performance in the 1993 movie What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and was looking to further his career with the lead role in The Basketball Diaries. DiCaprio was born in November of 1974, so at the time of filming he was 19 years old and had just recently celebrated his 20th birthday.
The Basketball Diaries
The Basketball Diaries is based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Jim Carroll, who was a poet, musician, and basketball player from New York City. The movie follows Carroll’s life as he falls into drug addiction and his struggles to overcome it. DiCaprio was perfect for the role, as he had already gained a reputation as a talented young actor who was willing to take risks.
Plot of The Basketball Diaries
The movie follows Jim Carroll as he grows up in New York City and deals with various issues in his life, including drug addiction, poverty, and peer pressure. He eventually joins a local basketball team and finds himself drawn into the world of drugs and crime. He struggles to maintain his basketball career and academic studies, and his addiction leads him to a dark place.
Critical Reception of The Basketball Diaries
The Basketball Diaries was generally well-received by critics, with many praising DiCaprio’s performance as Jim Carroll. The movie was nominated for multiple awards, including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Box Office Performance
The movie was a moderate success at the box office, grossing over $31 million in the United States and $21 million internationally. It was a much smaller success than other DiCaprio films such as Titanic and The Revenant, but was still able to make a decent profit.
Other Cast Members
In addition to DiCaprio, The Basketball Diaries also starred Mark Wahlberg, Bruno Kirby, Lorraine Bracco, and James Madio. The movie was directed by Scott Kalvert and was produced by Donnie Wahlberg and Scott Kalvert.
Awards and Nominations
The Basketball Diaries was nominated for multiple awards, including the following:
- Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
- Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (Leonardo DiCaprio)
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Leonardo DiCaprio)
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Mark Wahlberg)
Legacy of The Basketball Diaries
The Basketball Diaries has become a cult classic and is one of DiCaprio’s best-known early roles. The movie is often cited as one of the best performances of DiCaprio’s career, and it helped to cement his status as one of the most talented actors of his generation.
Conclusion
Leonardo DiCaprio was 19 years old when he filmed The Basketball Diaries, and the movie was a critical and box office success. The movie was nominated for multiple awards, including two Academy Awards, and it helped to launch DiCaprio’s career and cement his status as one of the most talented actors of his generation.