Few actors are as beloved asLeonardo DiCaprio, withthe decorated leading manhaving first taken Hollywood by storm during the ’90s and spawning “Leo-mania” due to his unforgettable roles in the blockbuster hitsRomeo + JulietandTitanic. While the Oscar-winner has showcased his exceptional range in a slew of hits likeCatch Me If you may, The Departed, andThe Revenant, it was his breakthrough performance in the 1993 coming-of-age dramaWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grapethat truly showed the world just what he was capable of.
During an appearance on Billy Corgan’s podcast “Magnificent Others,” ’80s teen idolCorey Feldmanalleged that he was actually supposed to play DiCaprio’s character in the film. He claimed that lead star Johnny Depp was responsible for his being fired and replaced by DiCaprio. Let’s take a closer look at the ’90s drama and how it helped launch DiCaprio’s sensational career and possibly derailed Feldman’s.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
DiCaprio’s Oscar-Nominated Breakthrough Role
Now regarded as one of the silver screen’s most accomplished leading men, it’s hard to imagine a time when Leonardo DiCaprio wasn’t one of the most prominent faces of Hollywood. And yet in 1993, a teenage DiCaprio was still searching for his big break in the entertainment industry when opportunity came knocking with the coming-of-age dramaWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Based on the Peter Hedges novel, the engrossing film follows the titular character as he yearns for a more fulfilling life outside his small Iowa town, as he cares for his autistic brother Arnie and his mother.
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Touting a stacked ensemble castincluding Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, and Mary Steenburgen,What’s Eating Gilbert Grapefeatured DiCaprio in a scene-stealing performance as the earnest Arnie. He went to painstaking lengths to ensure he crafted an authentic portrayal, studying autistic children and mentally ill teens and their mannerisms to delicately flesh out the complex character. The effort spectacularly paid off as the then-up-and-comer nabbed Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his raw delivery.
During an appearance on musician Billy Corgan’s podcast “Magnificent Others,” Feldman claimed that Johnny Depp was responsible for getting him fired fromWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape,in which he alleged he was cast as Arnie. Theactor told Corgan, “I was actually cast to play Leonardo DiCaprio’s role. I never saw the film because I’m still bitter. Bitter leaf in that one. But yes, I was originally cast for that role.” In 1993, Feldman was still riding high on the massive success of his roles in films likeThe GooniesandStand By Me, and apparently blames Depp for his career being derailed:
“He was cast after I was, and apparently whispered into the producers' ear that he wasn’t fond of me, and thought — he said that I was a junkie and that he didn’t work with junkies…I had just gotten sober. As you may imagine, there was a bit of a thorn in the side on that one. And, had I not been pushed out and done that role, who knows what would have happened from that point forward.”
In the same interview, Feldman alleged thathe was also beat out by DiCaprio for the lead role of Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s 1997blockbuster masterpieceTitanic, saying that he was in contention for the part and that “there was kind of a double banger with Leo.“What’s Eating Gilbert Grapehelped DiCaprio prove himself as a compelling actor and kicked off an unprecedented cinema career throughout the late ’90s, as just a few short years later he achieved international stardom by headliningRomeo + JulietandTitanicand effectively kicked off the explosive “Leo-mania.”
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Feldman and DiCaprio followed two vastly different career trajectories, as the latter actor’s star only continued to brighten while theStand by Mealum largely appeared in direct-to-video films and horror comedies such asVoodoo, Lost Boys: The Tribe, andThe Zombie Kingbefore trying his luck with reality TV alongside fellow actor and friend Corey Haim inThe Two Coreys. Feldman may be eyeing a career resurgence asa sequel toThe Goonieswas announced in February 2025, with many original cast members eager to reprise their cherished roles.
Rent/BuyWhat’s Eating Gilbert GrapeonPrime Video
