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Leonardo DiCaprio revealed a surprising early career setback while appearing on Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast this week. The Oscar-winning actor, alongside co-star Benicio del Toro, stopped by to discuss their upcoming film “One Battle After Another” – which hits theaters September 26.
DiCaprio shared how an early agent tried to erase his heritage, claiming his Italian name was “too ethnic” for Hollywood. The solution? Rebrand him as “Lenny Williams.”
“I finally got an agent. They said, ‘Your name is too ethnic.’ I go, ‘What do you mean? It’s Leonardo DiCaprio?’ They go, ‘No, too ethnic. They’re never going to hire you. Your new name is Lenny Williams,’” DiCaprio explained.
DiCaprio wasn’t alone in this experience.
Del Toro recounted a similar story, telling the Kelce brothers that industry professionals once suggested he simplify his name to “Benny Del” – stripping away his cultural identity for marketability.
The podcast appearance marks a rare promotional interview for DiCaprio, who’s typically selective about media appearances. Both actors seemed relaxed with the Kelce brothers, sharing stories that highlighted the challenges faced by performers with non-Anglicized names in Hollywood.
“And the Oscar goes to … Lenny Williams”
That just doesn’t hit the same 😂 @netflix pic.twitter.com/yi4T6uqFyu
— New Heights (@newheightshow) September 24, 2025
Critics are already buzzing about “One Battle After Another,” with many predicting the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film will be a major contender during awards season. DiCaprio’s performance, in particular, has generated significant Best Actor speculation – though the actor himself downplayed such talk during the interview.
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast beyond its two leads. Two-time Oscar-winner Sean Penn joins Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Alana Haim among others. Anderson, known for critically acclaimed works like “There Will Be Blood” and “Phantom Thread,” has assembled what many industry insiders consider one of the year’s strongest casts.
Despite the name-change anecdotes highlighting Hollywood’s history of cultural erasure, both DiCaprio and del Toro have clearly established themselves as powerhouse talents under their authentic names – with three Academy Awards between them.
