See the Evolution of a Young Leonardo DiCaprio

1 minute read

With the momentum garnered by wins at the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, and ample talk of the grueling preparations for his role in The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio is preparing for what may be—if it materializes as expected—his biggest moment ever: recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor. But long before he was a twinkle in Alejandro Iñárritu‘s eye, he was a babe in his mother’s arms, a sandy-haired child actor mugging for promotional shots and a young dreamboat papering the walls of tween-age bedrooms.

Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio in 1975.Peter Fleming—Retna Ltd./Corbis
Baby Leonardo DiCaprio and Mother
Leonardo DiCaprio with his mother, Irmelin, in Los Angeles in 1975. Peter Fleming—Retna Ltd./Corbis
Leonardo DiCaprio with his mother, Irmelin, and father, George, in Los Angeles in 1976.
Leonardo DiCaprio with his mother, Irmelin, and father, George, in Los Angeles in 1976. Peter Fleming—Retna Ltd./Corbis
From left: Leonardo DiCaprio and his stepbrother, Adam Ferrer, in Los Angeles in 1978.
From left: Leonardo DiCaprio and his stepbrother, Adam Ferrer, in Los Angeles in 1978. Gianfranco Gasparro—Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio in 1989.
Leonardo DiCaprio in 1989.Darlene Hammond—Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio in Los Angeles in Aug. 1990.
Leonardo DiCaprio in Los Angeles in Aug. 1990.Janet Macoska—Retna Ltd./Corbis
Leonardo DiCaprio in a promotional still for Parenthood, c. 1990.
Leonardo DiCaprio in a promotional still for Parenthood, c. 1990.Theo Westenberger—Getty Images
From left: Max Elliott Slade, as Kevin Buckman, and Leonardo DiCaprio, as Garry Buckman, in a promotional still for Parenthood, c. 1990.
From left: Max Elliott Slade, as Kevin Buckman, and Leonardo DiCaprio, as Garry Buckman, in a promotional still for Parenthood, c. 1990. Gary Null—Getty Images
From left: Leonardo DiCaprio, as Luke Brower, and Kirk Cameron, as Mike Seaver, in a still from Growing Pains in 1991.
From left: Leonardo DiCaprio, as Luke Brower, and Kirk Cameron, as Mike Seaver, in Growing Pains in 1991.ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio, c. 1991.
Leonardo DiCaprio, c. 1991.Fotos International/Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio during the 1992 MTV Rock n Jock Basketball in Irvine, Calif. on Sept. 19, 1992.
Leonardo DiCaprio during the 1992 MTV Rock n Jock Basketball in Irvine, Calif. on Sept. 19, 1992.Jeff Kravitz—Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio during the 1992 MTV Rock n Jock Basketball in Irvine, Calif. on Sept. 19, 1992.
Leonardo DiCaprio during the 1992 MTV Rock n Jock Basketball in Irvine, Calif. on Sept. 19, 1992.Jeff Kravitz—Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio, c. 1992.
Leonardo DiCaprio, c. 1992. Darlene Hammond—Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio at the premiere of Benny & Joon in Los Angeles on March 25, 1993.
Leonardo DiCaprio at the premiere of Benny & Joon in Los Angeles on March 25, 1993.Barry King—Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio in Hollywood, Calif. on Oct. 22, 1993.
Leonardo DiCaprio in Hollywood, Calif. on Oct. 22, 1993.Ron Galella—Getty Images
Screening of "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" - December 12, 1993
From left: Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp attend a screening for What's Eating Gilbert Grape in Los Angeles on Dec. 12, 1993. Ron Galella, Ltd.—WireImage
Leonardo DiCaprio in 1994.
Leonardo DiCaprio in 1994.Darryl Estrine—Corbis
Leonardo DiCaprio during the 66th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 21, 1994.
Leonardo DiCaprio during the 66th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 21, 1994.Barry King—Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio in 1994.
Leonardo DiCaprio in 1994.Darryl Estrine—Corbis
From left: Leonardo DiCaprio and Dennis Hopper in New York City on April 2, 1994.
From left: Leonardo DiCaprio and Dennis Hopper in New York City on April 2, 1994. Steve Eichner—Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio in New York City in 1995.
Leonardo DiCaprio in New York City in 1995.Catherine McGann—Getty Images
From left: Mark Wahlberg and Leonard DiCaprio attend the film premiere of The Basketball Diaries in New York City in 1995.
From left: Mark Wahlberg and Leonard DiCaprio attend the film premiere of The Basketball Diaries in New York City in 1995. Rose Hartman—Getty Images

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com