Sharon Stone Writes That She Paid Leonardo DiCaprio’s 1995 Salary When Studio Didn’t Want to Cast Him

Apr 08, 2021 by apost team

Today, the tremendous fame that surrounds Leonardo DiCaprio is global, and his prolific acting career continues to add to an incredible legacy in Hollywood. His iconic role as Jack Dawson in "Titanic " cemented his worldwide fame, but even before, he has had notable performances that will continue to leave a mark on viewers today, as well as in the future. It seems odd, then, that once upon a time, DiCaprio was an outsider in the industry.

It is a well-known fact that getting recognized in Hollywood and making it big in the entertainment industry is extremely difficult. Even most of the top celebrities today had to once work hard and accept many failures before they got their due credit. Back in the late '80s and early '90s, when DiCaprio's career had just begun, he would have a few small and insignificant roles before his iconic performance in the 1993 movie "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" This movie was the catalyst that would bring DiCaprio into the big league and set his path for success. 

However, even with the Oscar nomination for his incredible acting as Arnie, DiCaprio had to pass a few more rough patches before his acting career would really blaze forward, making him a household name. One example is director Sam Raimi's hesitancy to cast DiCaprio in the 1995 movie "The Quick and the Dead." If it hadn't been for his co-star Sharon Stone's belief in the young DiCaprio, he may never have been in the movie. In fact, Stone wanted him so much that she was willing to take a pay cut to ensure DiCaprio's part.

Stone's new memoir "The Beauty Of Living Twice" details many experiences in Stone's life, one of which was her decision to back the young DiCaprio's role in Raimi's "The Quick and the Dead." In 1995 after the release of the movie, Stone told Entertainment Weekly, "He’s so good, it’s scary," and added, "I was dying to have him be in this movie. I would have carried the boy on my back to the set every day if that’s what it would have taken. Luckily, Leonardo is down-to-earth and walked by himself."

Raimi, too, was quite impressed by DiCaprio's performance and said about him, "Leo embodies the spirit of youth." While the movie did not do well in the box office and had lukewarm reviews, it was nonetheless a pathway for DiCaprio to reach the roles that would transform him into the massive celebrity he is today. Moreover, his talent was certainly recognized even if the movie did not do well; Stone writes that she was so impressed by the young man that she took a pay cut so that he would be in the movie. 

Stone was a co-producer of the film, as per PEOPLE, and even though she had auditioned many teenagers for the role of Fee "The Kid" Herod, DiCaprio was the only actor who did well in the audition.

"This kid named Leonardo DiCaprio was the only one who nailed the audition,” she wrote in her memoir.

She goes on, writing, "In my opinion: he was the only one who came in and cried, begging his father to love him as he died in the scene." However, the studio did not share in her belief.

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Even though he had made a name for himself as Arnie in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?", DiCaprio was still a relative newbie in the industry and the studio did not want to take a chance and cast him. "Why an unknown, Sharon, why are you always shooting yourself in the foot?" she recalled the studio asking her. In her memoir, she wrote,

"The studio said if I wanted him so much, I could pay him out of my own salary. So I did."

DiCaprio wasn't the only person she had complete faith in for this movie. Stone also wanted Raimi as the director, but the studio, TriStar Pictures, believed him to be a "D-movie director" due to his history of low-budget movies. To bring Raimi onboard, Stone told the studio that he would "work nearly for free as an enticement" and eventually he was brought onto the film. 

In an entertainment industry that is known for its cutthroat competition and "dog eat dog" atmosphere, it is nice to see a co-star going to such great lengths to help out lesser-known personalities and make their paths smoother. 

Even though "The Quick and the Dead" did not do as well, it was still an important stepping stone for DiCaprio, who would eventually find the spotlight after his role as Romeo in the 1996 classic "Romeo + Juliet", which was the modern adaptation of Shakespeare's most recognized work, "Romeo and Juliet." In 1997 would come the most distinctive role as Jack Dawson in "Titanic," which made DiCaprio a star. Even though DiCaprio is one of the biggest Hollywood actors of today, he will likely always remember his roots and how he started his career. And for at least part of his early success, he may have Stone to thank, too.

What do you think of Sharon Stone's gesture? Do you have a favorite Leonardo DiCaprio movie? Tell us what you think, and be sure to let your friends know about this story as well.