Leonardo DiCaprio says his first agent thought he'd never get hired in Hollywood because his name was 'too ethnic': 'Your name is Lenny Williams' | Fortune

"Leonardo DiCaprio's early struggles in Hollywood are the stuff of legend, but a newly resurfaced story offers fresh insight into the industry's long history of gatekeeping and cultural bias. During a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, DiCaprio-one of Hollywood's most bankable stars-revealed he couldn't get an agent for a long time, but when he finally got one, his first agent advised him he wouldn't succeed in show business due to his real name. The agent suggested he adopt the stage name "Lenny Williams," saying "your name is too ethnic" and telling a then-13-year-old DiCaprio, "you're never going to be hired.""

"When DiCaprio asked, "What is Lenny Williams?" his agent apparently responded, "We took your middle name and made it your last name. Now your first name is Lenny." DiCaprio's father, George, apparently hated the agent's move. Upon seeing a fresh headshot of his son with the name "Lenny Williams," DiCaprio said his father tore it up, saying, "Over my dead body.""

"Things ended up working out pretty well for DiCaprio, who shot to fame as a teenager on Growing Pains, earned his first Oscar nomination at age 19 for What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and later headlined international blockbusters Romeo + Juliet and Titanic. DiCaprio's experience, of course, is not isolated. During the same New Heights podcast episode, DiCaprio's co-star for the new Paul Thomas Anderson film One Battle After Another, Benicio Del Toro, said he received similar advice-to become "Benny Del"-from his own agent. Both actors said these moments shaped their resolve."

Leonardo DiCaprio struggled to find an agent early in his career. When he finally secured representation, the agent told the 13-year-old that his real name was "too ethnic" and suggested the stage name Lenny Williams. The agent explained that they "took your middle name and made it your last name" and renamed him Lenny. DiCaprio's father tore up the headshot bearing the new name, saying "Over my dead body." DiCaprio later gained fame on Growing Pains, earned an Oscar nomination at 19, and starred in major international blockbusters. Benicio Del Toro reported similar stage-name pressure, and many artists have rebranded to navigate industry bias.

Read at Fortune