Leonardo DiCaprio, now a household name, nearly became known by a completely different persona early in his career. On the New Heights podcast, hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce, DiCaprio opened up about how he was once told that his real name, Leonardo DiCaprio, was “too ethnic” for Hollywood and was advised to use a stage name instead.
Recalling his early audition experiences, DiCaprio shared that agents were not impressed by his name and suggested the name “Lenny Williams” as a more marketable option. He remembered being confused at the time: “They said your name is too ethnic. Your new name is Lenny Williams.” At just 12 or 13 years old, he had no idea where “Lenny” came from. His father, however, was quick to reject the idea, famously tearing up the photos and saying, “Over my dead body.”
It turns out, DiCaprio wasn’t alone in this experience. Fellow actor Benicio del Toro revealed on the podcast that he too was told to adopt a stage name—”Benny Dell.” The conversation led to a light-hearted moment when Jason Kelce remarked, “This podcast would not be the same with Lenny Williams and Benny Dell.”
It’s incredible to think that these Hollywood legends were once urged to change their names to fit a more traditional, less ethnic image. Thankfully, they both stuck to their original identities, and their careers have become iconic.
