Leonardo DiCaprio slammed for 'shabby' treatment of mentor Jack Nicholson ever since 'he became a recluse'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Leonardo DiCaprio, once the youthful star of 'Titanic,' is now approaching 50, and he's beginning to look more and more like his old Hollywood pal, screen legend Jack Nicholson.
The resemblance goes beyond the lines around his eyes or his smile's transformation into a mischievous smirk; it extends to the very aura he exudes - a reflection of a life filled with drama both on and off the screen.
How Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson’s bond evolved from mentorship to fading friendship
Although Leonardo DiCaprio's evolution into a younger Jack Nicholson has delighted fans and made headlines, insiders reveal that the connection between the two icons has sadly withered.
“Jack really took Leo under his wing back when they made 'The Departed' together, and there’s no doubt he made a huge impression on him,” a source exclusively told In Touch.
Their friendship, forged on the set of the 2006 Martin Scorsese crime thriller, was more than just a fleeting connection between co-stars; it was the kind of mentorship that only Hollywood can create.
DiCaprio, now 49, and Nicholson, 87, hit it off while working on the film, which featured a cast of A-list actors and was bolstered by Scorsese's sharp direction.
He spoke with great reverence about watching Nicholson perform, expressing admiration for the experience of working with the three-time Academy Award winner.
"I expected everything that he gave, to tell you the truth,” he mentioned in a CBS television interview around the film’s release, according to In Touch.
“I mean he really gets in there, and he talks to himself. And he really gets into character and doesn’t care who’s listening or who’s watching. And you never, never, never know what to expect with him because he can go off the cuff and just say anything or do anything. It instills a fear and you — I don’t want to say as an actor because you kind of embrace those moments — but in character, it instills this constant fear in you,” DiCaprio added.
According to the source, “Leo always raved about what a mentor Jack was to him.”
Despite the strong bond they once shared, it seems time and fame have pulled them apart.
“The sad thing is Leo’s so wrapped up in his own world these days that he’s let their connection totally fall by the wayside,” says the insider. “He still talks about him like he’s this big part of his life, but the truth is Leo doesn’t really see him or have time for him anymore.”
As DiCaprio's 50th birthday on November 11 looms closer, their once-strong friendship has become something of a Hollywood punchline.
Leonardo DiCaprio's career thrives as Jack Nicholson retreats from Hollywood
While Leonardo DiCaprio's 'The Battle of Baktan Cross,' is set to release in 2025, Nicholson has stepped away from the spotlight.
He’s been largely absent from Hollywood since his last role in the 2010 romantic comedy 'How Do You Know,' opting for a more private and reclusive life.
His last public appearance was in May 2023 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, where he watched the Lakers play the Denver Nuggets.
But such appearances are rare. “Jack’s at a stage in his life where he could really use people checking in on him more often,” the source revealed. “He’s become a recluse. The days of him throwing parties or sitting courtside are long over, and a lot of the Hollywood types seem to have just put him out of their mind, including Leo.”
The fading of this iconic friendship feels like a missed opportunity, especially considering all that Nicholson did for DiCaprio during their peak years.
“A lot of people think it’s pretty shabby of [Leo], considering how much Jack did for him. This is the time he could pay him back, but he’s made zero effort. It’s like he’s totally forgotten he exists,” the insider adds.
