Blind Items Revealed
March 24, 2008
On Saturday night I was supposed to go to this Young Hollywood party. However, I wasn't feeling really young, and so decided to not be the guy who goes to try and make himself feel young or to pick up women who are less than half your age. Hello Bill Maher. Yes, he was there. The oldest in the crowd by about a decade.
At one point I had wanted to go because I had planned on playing a game that I really enjoy but had not played in awhile. I was going to go to the party as Hans. A portly banker from Germany complete with German accent and some German vocabulary thrown in for good measure. I was going to get drunk off my ass and introduce everyone to my exchange student companion. Lots of people play similar games when they go to bars or such, but in this game, you know in advance what you are going to do and stick with it no matter what.
I used to play the game all the time. Back in the day, I was friends with an A lister. Not like best man at a wedding friends, but before he hit it big with one really huge movie, he would go out often and about a third of the time he would drag me along. To be dragged along you had to be committed to the game. Although our Academy Award nominated actor had not had the huge hit at the time, he was known and was recognized not so much by name, but as, "hey aren't you the guy who was in... you were so good." This actor is an incredible actor, and he felt that to enjoy going out, you needed to be able to truly let go which was not possible if you were trying to protect your brand such as it is, and so came up with these elaborate characters. This was truly method acting.
When he decided to portray a stockbroker with a serious coke habit, he spent the entire party shoving what looked like coke up his nose like it was the last coke on earth. This party just happened to be right after he had just got some of the best reviews in his career, and I don't know if he consciously or unconsciously chose a character that would really allow him to forget for a night, or what. The thing is that even though he sucked up a ton of coke that night, it was the only time I ever saw him doing it. He just really got into these characters.
There was one party where he looked someone who just walked off a 70's porn set down to the polyester pants, open shirt, gold medallion, and Tom Selleck mustache. It was like a Halloween costume, but he bet everyone he knew that he would find at least one woman who would actually go home with him. He did better than that and actually had two women almost coming to blows over this guy because they both wanted to go home with him.
As he became more well known it was harder to get away with doing them because no matter what he did, or what role he took on, invariably someone would recognize him and ask him what he was doing and at that point he would just go home. I know when he had his huge blockbuster, he was professionally happy, but it effectively put an end to his theater within a party that he loved so much and didn't give him an outlet to really just let go and be whoever he wanted to be for just a night. Now, he just hangs out at home with a friend or two and his current girlfriend of the day, but whenever I am at a party and see someone who clearly does not belong or is way over the top, I always look really closely to see if maybe he has decided to give it one more shot.
Wow. that just actually made me like him a little.
ReplyDeleteI always think DiCaprio comes off as a bit of a tool. This makes him seem really fun.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh, I love you, Enty! Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why I assumed this was the actor from TV's Wings who was in Sideways when this blind came out...
ReplyDeletewow. that is one interesting blind reveal. thanks enty!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reveal, Enty! Makes me look at Leo in a whole new way. It must have been a blast hanging out with him.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion of him is so different than this story - this is endearing to say the least. How much fun would that be, hanging out w/Leo dressed as a 70s dude?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reveal, Enty, this rocks!
I like him a bit more too and it also makes me a tad sad for him not being able to escape like he used to...
ReplyDelete@Candice - you liar, u know u've loved him since you and Nikki made me watch Romeo & Juliet ONE THOUSAND TIMES!!! Don't be afraid to admit your shame. lol
ReplyDeleteI love blind reveals that aren't famous people being assholes! I'd totally throw a party and let him dress up as whatever.
ReplyDeleteHe must have loved filming Catch Me if You Can!
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome! Thank you Enty!
ReplyDeleteMy sister does this - well, hopefully not the mountain of coke and picking up random dudes part - but the going out as a character part. She has a huge costume collection, including wigs.
ReplyDeleteShe does, however, live in San Feancisco, so I'm sure more often than not she pulls it off without anyone batting an eye. She's even got her husband in on it now.
I love this blind because it is light and fun. So different than some of these really dark blinds we've had lately. I'm curious to know what movie this was right before. I think the blockbuster that made it impossible for him to continue this type of fun was Titanic. So, that would put this occurrence sometime before Dec. 1997.
ReplyDeleteI like Leo. But I've always questioned his character considering the douchebag girls he dates. Why just models?
ReplyDelete"San Francisco", - geez! Font too little for my old eyes!
ReplyDeleteWow, so cool! Are you still friends at all Enty? Wonder what the movie was...mustve been the one with Jonny Depp and Juliet Lewis where he played a mentally disabled young man...oh right, Gilbert Grape.
ReplyDeletebefore Titanic Leo was never considered a major hearthrob. He did character roles.
ReplyDeleteI think for actors/rock stars models are easier to date becuase they can live around their schedules and it feeds their egos on having beautiful women around them.
Hey, this makes me like him again. I loved him in This Boy's Life and GIlbert Grape--but then he started dating women who were really girls masquerading as twigs. I like the sense of fun here--but it still doesn't change my opinion that he has very little respect for women.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't strike me as the "fun" type. I guess I was wrong. Too bad he can no longer go out and enjoy himself. The fame is both a blessing and a curse.
ReplyDeleteI remember this blind! I commented at the time that the thing that made me not think it was him was that he seemed so serious and it was hard to imagine him dressing up as some 70's porn star. It's nice to see I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteLike MizCaramel, this makes me sad now that he lost his means of escapism, and in fact may be the main reason he comes off so serious and uptight; this was his form of release and he no longer has it. I think he should start doing this again. Ironically, now that he has been around for a while he may in fact be able to get away with the disguises...b/c really, who is expecting Leonardo DiCaprio to show up in costume at their bar/party, you know?
Love this blind. I used to do this with friends. I had a "go too" girl I would play alot. Melody - blond, a bit dim with a sweet southern accent who had a tendency to be a klutz. I miss her. LOL
ReplyDeleteI see leo around town quite a bit and he always seems uncomfortable and embarrassed. It must be very weird for your career/art to make you so recognizable that you can't just blend in anywhere. I know he has mountains of money to make him feel better, but I bet he'd give a fair amount of it back if he could go back to being a regular person now and then.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with Beth, my exact thought. Gave me some ideas!
ReplyDeleteThank you Enty!!!
ReplyDeleteUmm, I think this is idiotic behavoir. Why r u pretending to be someone else? Why r u making fools of others so u can "act"? I dont like it; think its a bit mean- spirited.
ReplyDeleteAnd puleeeae spare him u r pity!! He is mega talented, loaded, intelligent and good looking. Fashion ur life so u can do as u please, like George Clooney.
ReplyDeleteTHIS.....is just cool as hell. Thanks, Enty.
ReplyDeleteGreat reveal, but I find it hard to believe that Leo wasn't/isn't a regular drug user (cocaine in particular).
ReplyDeleteHe's been hanging out regularly with the likes of Naomi Campbell for sooooo many years, and I can tell you she's a drug fiend.
I doubt he would enjoy spending time with such wasted, drugged-out company if he was sober.
Dude that is awesome! I really want to try that now.
ReplyDeleteWell he had to say that part (the no coke other than thus one time part of an act) since it's about his buddy!
ReplyDeleteI like that reveal - thanks Enty!
ReplyDeleteDid this once - pretended to be an A&R rep for a record company at an amateur musician night. Got a ton of free drinks. Only problem was I got too many free drinks and blew my cover. Had to run out of the place.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think I'm over Leo, then I see one of his movies. He's an amazing actor, and I'm sort of sad that he can't do his fun role playing anymore. :(
ReplyDeleteMy cousin is gay, and lives in San Francisco now - a very successful designer and artist, but he used to make my cousin, my sister and I dress up as The Supremes. My cousin always had to be Diana, which was a drag (no pun intended), but it was fun. And I should say we were three white girls, but those were the days, and we did a lot of role playing and dress up back then.
Leo did coke a LOT during the Giselle days. But I would too if I had to put up with her...
ReplyDeleteI've never liked him. After this, I think he's probably pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI used to love doing this kind of stuff at the espresso stand I used to work at. If people were obviously tourists, I would slap on a fake accent and make up fun stories about what I was doing stateside...aaahhhh, good times :)
ReplyDeleteHoly shit, that is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me feel for these people who are good at heart but because they talented get the success that lets them pick the projects they want but also grind them up in the game. Most actors start out and love it because they are insecure and need the lines to fully express themselves.
ReplyDeleteSo. Cool.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, I do not pity him. But I don't envy him, either.
ReplyDeleteLove it, thanks Enty!
ReplyDeleteI never would've guessed Leo! This makes me feel kind of sorry for him.
ReplyDeleteYay! Glad you blew the dust off of this blind. Thanks for the reveal. :)
ReplyDeleteI had a longer reply written but my phone messed up. =/ Oh well.
@Eleanor...I feel your pain, lol!
ReplyDeleteWhaat? Leo cannot grow a stache like Tom Selleck! WTF?
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered who this was - thank you for the reveal!
ReplyDeleteHe never seems to be a real happy fella.
ReplyDeleteFame, ain't it a bitch?
I love Leo...he reminds me of my late brother so I don't have a crush on him but I think he has evolved into a very talented actor/producer...don't know anything about what he's like personally, for all I know he's a douchebag but I can see how his creative demons even back then were something he had to exorcise...I'm sure he still gets the same thrill from embodying another identity now only his audience is much bigger than a bunch of party guests...
ReplyDeleteThx for the reveal ENTY good one.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me like him slightly more.
Awesome reveal Enty! I guess this would make you an honorary member of Leo's Pu**y Posse?!?! hahaaha
ReplyDeleteInteresting post Enty but even better is that you revealed Bill Maher for being the total douchebag that he is. Thanks ;>!
ReplyDeleteI never much cared for Leo until "The Departed" but this makes me like him. I used to crash parties when I lived in the LA area and it was so much fun. Christmas parties were the easiest plus free drinks and house parties for someone's birthday.
ReplyDeleteWhen you are nobody it takes big brass balls to walk in. Or you need to be half in the bag.
Love the stories Enty, keep them coming.
Beside all the kindness blinds, this one might be my favorite.
ReplyDeleteNever would have guessed him for this one, thanks Enty!
ReplyDeleteit seems like kind of a cheesy, smarmy thing to do ... imo
ReplyDeleteWow, Leo DiCaprio what an amazing person! This is so fun, and I feel bad he can no longer be his crazy self. How Sacha Baron of him. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing that he used to do shit like this back when he was in high school in the Valley back when he was just that kid who was in Growing Pains. Like he'd roam around pretending to have tourettes, or be mentally retarded at the mall or something. I always thought he was an enormous tool.
ReplyDeleteI've always had a huge crush on him. This makes me like him even more.
ReplyDelete