When What's Eating Gilbert Grape came out in 1993, we were already familiar with Depp after his success in Edward Scissorhands. Leonardo DiCaprio was a fresh face though and still managed to get his first Academy Award nomination. Now they are two of the most famous actors in the world.
But working on What's Eating Gilbert Grape with each other was the closest they came to friendship. Let's just say Depp and DiCaprio don't have a friendship like Depp and Tim Burton's or a relationship like DiCaprio and Jonah Hill's. They don't even have a relationship like DiCaprio and Brad Pitt's, who have had their ups and downs.
A lot of celebrities have given mixed reviews about working with DiCaprio, and Depp is no saint either, but it turns out they just don't have that close a relationship, even though they played brothers. They did respect each other but that might have flown out the window too according to rumors of blacklisting.
Here's the story of how Depp and DiCaprio went from co-stars to industry acquaintances to rumored enemies.
They Respect Each Other As Actors
After playing brothers in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, the two heartthrobs had nothing but good things to say about their time on set together.
DiCaprio said that working on the film allowed him to work with some "outstanding people," obviously referring to Depp. In return, despite saying that he was "miserable" filming, Depp has said in an interview that DiCaprio did a really good job.
"I’d say the absolute truth is that I respect Leo a lot," Dep said. "He worked hard on that film and spent a lot of time researching. He came to set, and he was ready to work hard, and all his ducks were in a row."
Depp even joked around that DiCaprio was more well behaved than him, and that he also "tortured" DiCaprio because he was "always talking about these video games." Depp said he was in a dark period during filming so he "wasn't in the mood." Sounds like a real-life brotherly relationship.
Depp wouldn't even let DiCaprio have a drag of his cigarette as he hid from his mother.
After their time working together, the pair would see each other around, but that was about it. Depp went on to Pirates of the Caribbean, and a lot of gothic films with Burton. DiCaprio went in a completely different direction with more mainstream parts in Titanic, Romeo + Juliet, and The Beach.
They Had Minimal Contact Through The Years And Might Have Zero Contact In The Future
Depp and DiCaprio might circuit the same awards ceremonies and work in the same industry but that's the only thing that connects them now. Especially since DiCaprio has reportedly made the decision to blacklist Depp for the Amber Heard scandal. But it seems that Depp didn't really hold DiCaprio in the highest light either.
During Depp's libel case against The Sun, Heard revealed that Depp's nickname for DiCaprio was "pumpkin head." Heard also revealed that Depp had accused her of having affairs with various actors, including DiCaprio.
This supposedly reached DiCaprio's ears and he wasn't best pleased, according to NW, who had an article named "Banned From Hollywood: Leo Blacklists Johnny!" It claims "Johnny Depp is being ordered out of Hollywood for good, following his spectacular fall from grace — and Leonardo DiCaprio is showing him the door!"
This was recent, but the verdict of the trial was still pending and Depp still had his role in Fantastic Beasts.
A source for the magazine said, "Leo is livid. He's banned all of his associates, as well as anyone who wants to work with him ever again, from dealing with Johnny. He can't believe Johnny's thrown him into his mess like it's no big deal."
The source also suggested that DiCaprio is not pleased with being mentioned at the trial because it could paint him in a bad light and result in ruining his relationship with his girlfriend, Camila Morrone.
"Leo barely even remembers Amber ... so he's even more furious," the source continued. "He's very serious about Camila right now and he doesn't need to have his name dragged through the mud. Johnny's really thrown him under the bus and he's 100 percent blacklisted him."