How Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt Became Close Friends
Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio have been friends for over two decades, ever since they first met while auditioning for roles in the same film. The two actors have since formed a close bond, with mutual respect and admiration for each other's work.
They have worked together on several projects, including Quentin Tarantino's film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," which earned them critical acclaim and cemented their friendship even further.
Despite their busy schedules, they make time for each other and have attended together movie premieres and events. They also share a passion for environmental causes and have teamed up to raise awareness for climate change. Their friendship is a testament to the fact that true friendships can withstand the test of time and the pressures of Hollywood.
The two starred in the same TV show
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Many might not notice that Pitt and DiCaprio got their start on the ABC sitcom “Growing Pains” but at different times.
Brad Pitt was emerging as a heartthrob on the 1980s sitcom, appearing as a guitar player in two episodes, while DiCaprio became a recurring cast member, playing Luke Brower, a homeless boy who is taken in by the show's central family in the 1991 to 1992 season.
They attended together at a few different events
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The photo was taken in September 1995, when they joined at an event in Los Angeles.
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In recent years, they have been spotted in some events like Cannes Film Festival 2019 for the premiere of their movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
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In 2020, they came to the SAG Awards, where they presented the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. In the same year, they received Golden Globe & Academy Awards nominations for their role in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and presented the award for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.
The two actors always supported each other
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In 2015, at The premiere of "The Revenant", where Leonardo DiCaprio starred, Brad Pitt attended to support his friend.
4 years later, Leonardo DiCaprio appeared in Brad Pitt’s premiere of "Ad Astra" in 2019.
They shared their friendship
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At a 2019 press conference, Pitt and DiCaprio spoke about what it was like to work together on “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
DiCaprio shared, “I have to say it was incredibly easy — incredibly easy working with Brad, ... And I think we together forged, hopefully, a great cinematic bond in a film about our industry together.” Pitt added, “It was really great ease and really great fun. It's that thing of knowing you've got the best of the best on the opposite side of the table holding up the scene with you and there's great relief in that.”
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In 2019, Pitt told The New York Times that they became close friends so easily because they have something in common. He depicted their friendship as “pretty automatic.”
“We both came on the scene around the same time, we have crossed paths many times, we have the same reference points,” Pitt told the publication. “I've always felt that you don't understand the deal you're making when suddenly you're that lone gazelle on the plain and the herd's gone, so to speak. And, you know, my friend here [he gestures toward DiCaprio] has been the same.”
He added, “We have mutual respect and I know when an actor elevates a scene, so we carry that respect.”
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When asked if they hung out together when filming began in order to develop a strong real-life friendship like their characters Rick and Cliff have in the film. DiCaprio said, “You come to Hollywood and you're basically isolated and left to your own devices, … [Rick and Cliff] rely on this friendship for everything. We immediately fell into those shoes. We understood that relationship so quickly that on the first day, we were those guys.”