Leonardo DiCaprio and the problematic comparisons to River Phoenix: “That’s total bullshit”
Having been at the top of his game for so long that he now exists in a class of his own, it’s been a while since Leonardo DiCaprio has invoked comparisons to any of his peers or predecessors, although it was something he did have to deal with during his younger days.
Through no fault of their own, rising stars always end up being pitted against either those who came before or those of their generation who chase similar roles, largely by the media. DiCaprio experienced that first-hand when he, Tobey Maguire, and Mark Wahlberg were coming through and were regularly spotted hitting the town. Not only did they hang out together, but they also frequented a lot of the same casting calls.
Landing his first Academy Award nomination while still a teenager for a standout supporting turn in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape helped further establish DiCaprio’s credentials as one of the brightest young talents in Hollywood, while Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet elevated him to heartthrob status, even if it was never a label he was comfortable with.
Of course, James Cameron’s Titanic rocketed him into the stratosphere and turned him into a global superstar, only for DiCaprio to turn his back on movie stardom in favour of testing himself as an actor. The approach has worked wonders for over a quarter of a century, with the seven-time Oscar nominee and one-time winner regarded as one of the very best in the business.
Things weren’t quite the same in the mid-1990s when DiCaprio bristled at being mentioned in the same breath as one name in particular. It likely ruffled his feathers even more because River Phoenix wasn’t only his biggest inspiration but a cautionary tale on how the excesses and dangers of gaining fame and fortune at such an early age can have devastating consequences.
DiCaprio was only four years Phoenix’s junior; they both broke out as teens before seamlessly moving into more adult-orientated dramatic roles, and they were innately charismatic and handsome stars who carried a fervent following among their most ardent admirers, while the paparazzi always had a field day when they painted the town red.
Upon being told by Movieline in 1995 that “the rumour around town was that you were the new River Phoenix, DiCaprio didn’t even try to hide his indignation. “If they mean that I was in trouble, that’s total bullshit.” That was only part of it, with the youngster seeking to distance himself from the late actor both personally and professionally.
“As far as his acting and as far as who he was as a person, I respected him a lot,” he said. “I think I’m different from him, but I hope that I can somehow be thought of as someone who is unique and thoughtful, someone whose work will be respected.”
He’s definitely accomplished all of the above, after DiCaprio escaped the Phoenix comparisons with the greatest ease.
