Join Us
The Titanic heartthrob and Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio was once not even on a director’s shortlist. Yes, back in the 90s, when DiCaprio wasn’t the Hollywood king yet, a studio didn’t even consider him worth paying for.
However, Sharon Stone stood up for him and saw something that the studio clearly missed. In fact, she believed in his talent so much that she paid almost half of his salary from his own pocket.
The studio was none other than TriStar Pictures, which passed on Leonardo DiCaprio for a movie that eventually tanked at the box office in 1995. And decades later, both Leo and Stone have opened up about the story.
Trending
Why Did Sharon Stone Pay Leonardo DiCaprio’s Salary?
When Sam Raimi was working on The Quick and the Dead back in 1995, Stone played a female gunslinger who enters a deadly duel competition against the ruthless outlaw John Herod, aka Gene Hackman. And Leonardo DiCaprio was being considered for the role of Herod’s son, Fee “The Kid” Herod.
But DiCaprio wasn’t the only one auditioning for the role. There were several teenage actors against him, and Stone, who was actively involved in the film, had a say in casting. Decades later, in her memoir The Beauty of Living, she recalled that DiCaprio stood apart from the other actors. According to her, he was the only one who understood what the scene needed.
And it took Stone only one of his performances to give a nod. Unfortunately, TriStar Pictures wasn’t on the same page with her. From the studio’s perspective, casting a seemingly unknown teenage actor wasn’t a good decision. No matter how hard the studio tried, Stone didn’t change her mind. And that’s when the studio gave her the ultimate condition.
Leonardo DiCaprio Can’t Thank Sharon Stone Enough Even Decades Later
“The studio said if I wanted him so much, I could pay him out of my own salary. So, I did,” Stone revealed in her memoir. Instead of looking for another actor, she personally covered DiCaprio’s salary to secure his place in the film.
Sharon Stone paid Leonardo DiCaprio $1 million from her $3 million paycheck. Nearly three decades later, DiCaprio was still talking about Stone’s generosity. During a November 2023 conversation with E! News, the actor said he had thanked Stone numerous times over the years.
Advertisement
Recalling her determination to cast him, he admitted that he couldn’t remember whether he had ever sent Stone a physical thank-you gift. However, he made it clear that nothing could measure his gratitude.
Must Read: Leonardo DiCaprio’s Top 10 Highest-Grossing Movies: From Titanic To The Departed
Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Google News
