Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio was joined by his proud father and stepmother at a lavish Los Angeles celebration for his latest film, which is already generating significant Academy Award speculation.
A Family Affair in Los Angeles
The 51-year-old actor's parents, George DiCaprio and Peggy Ann Farrar, were the guests of honour at a party held in the city on 4 December. The event was hosted by film executive Mike Medavoy and his wife Irene, alongside Pam Abdy and Warner Bros' co-chairman and CEO Mike De Luca. DiCaprio, beaming for cameras, posed with his 82-year-old father and stepmother Farrar, who embraced Sikhism several years ago and wears a turban, a symbol of honour and commitment.
While the guest list included A-listers like Al Pacino and director Baz Luhrmann, who worked with DiCaprio on 'Romeo + Juliet', the focus was firmly on the actor's family. This public appearance followed a sighting of the trio at a Los Angeles Lakers game on 20 March, where they sat courtside with DiCaprio's girlfriend, 27-year-old model Vittoria Ceretti.
A Close-Knit Family Bond
DiCaprio has maintained an exceptionally close relationship with his father, who separated from the actor's mother, Irmelin Indenbirken, shortly after his birth. George married Farrar two decades later in 1995. During DiCaprio's early childhood, his father faced financial difficulties, working as an installer of asbestos and fireproof roofing before launching a waterbed business named Foggy Bottom.
George DiCaprio also had a hand in Hollywood, working as a comic writer, editor, and distributor, and he played a pivotal role in guiding his son's early career. His experiences even inspired a small role in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2021 film 'Licorice Pizza', where he portrayed a waterbed salesman. The actor frequently includes his dad and stepmother in his travels, such as a luxurious holiday on Italy's Amalfi Coast in June 2023.
'One Battle After Another' and Career Reflections
The reason for the celebration, the film 'One Battle After Another', is garnering major Oscar buzz and has earned a Critics Choice nomination for Best Picture. In the movie, DiCaprio plays a washed-up revolutionary who reunites with former comrades to find his missing daughter.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, DiCaprio recently credited 'Titanic' with giving him the ultimate freedom. "That has been just the greatest gift," he stated, explaining that the 1997 blockbuster's success allowed him to become "the conductor of my own choices" in selecting projects. He expressed no regrets about starring in the James Cameron-directed epic.
In a revealing anecdote, DiCaprio shared how his father fiercely protected his identity early on. When a former agent suggested his birth name was "too ethnic" for Hollywood and tried to rename him 'Lenny Williams', George DiCaprio ripped up the proposed headshot and declared, "Over my dead body." The actor's authentic name, and his father's unwavering support, clearly paved the way for his legendary status.
