Film, Performing Arts 

To many it may have seemed that Leonardo DiCario's leap to super-stardom in the blockbuster "Titanic" was an overnight phenomenon. In fact, this young Hollywood idol was bitten by the acting bug when he auditioned for the TV show "Romper Room at the age of five. After a beginning in TV commercials at 14, he moved into roles in sitcoms and a brief stint in the "soaps."Feature films, however, were Leonardo's goal, and he made an impressive debut in "This Boy's Life" in 1993. Other films followed, among them "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," for which he received an Oscar nomination, "The Basketball Diaries," and "Total Eclipse." Although Leonardo won praise for his roles and gained valuable experience, his films did not fully catch on with mainstream audiences until he exploded onto the screen as a romantic hero, first in "Romeo & Juliet" and then in "Titanic."Leonardo, born in Los Angeles in 1974, credits much of his success to the love and support of his parents. His mother and father, although separated, worked together as a family, allowing their outgoing chils to express his creativity and indulging his desire to be an actor. As Leonardo's career continues, his parents will undoubtedly have even more to be proud of in their talented son. - from Amzon