At 23 years of age, LEONARDO DiCAPRIO (Jack Dawson) has developed into one of his generation"s most gifted and versatile talents. DiCaprio earned an Academy Award� nomination for Best Supporting Actor at 19 for his portrayal of an ebullient, mentally impaired youngster in "What"s Eating Gilbert Grape?" The actor"s second film at the time, his performance also garnered awards from the National Board of Review, Chicago Film Critics and the Los Angeles Film Critics, as well as a Golden Globe nomination. DiCaprio made his film debut opposite Robert DeNiro and Ellen Barkin in "This Boy"s Life" and has subsequently appeared in a variety of features, from the Western "The Quick and the Dead," with Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman, to "The Basketball Diaries," a harrowing account of a young man"s spiral into heroin addiction, to "Total Eclipse," shot in Paris, opposite David Thewlis, in which DiCaprio played the poet Rimbaud. In 1996, he starred with Claire Danes in the critically acclaimed modern adaptation of "William Shakespeare"s Romeo + Juliet," as well as the screen adaptation of the successful play "Marvin"s Room," opposite Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton. DiCaprio will next co-star with Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Gerard Depardieu in "The Man in the Iron Mask," which recently completed filming in France. He has also joined the ensemble cast of Woody Allen"s latest project, slated for release in 1998. A native of Los Angeles, DiCaprio began his acting career at age 14, appearing in commercials and educational films. He soon moved into parts on episodic television, including a role on "Growing Pains" in the popular series" last season. He also appeared in the short film "The Foot Shooting Party," released by Touchstone Pictures.