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Leonardo DiCaprio has expressed his gratitude to Sharon Stone for believing in his talent and paying his salary for his role in the 1995 Western film The Quick and the Dead. Stone, who also starred in the film, revealed in her 2021 memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice, that she had to use a portion of her own salary to cover DiCaprio's pay because the studio was hesitant to cast him.
DiCaprio, who was still a relatively unknown actor at the time, had impressed Stone with his performance in the 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape. She was so convinced of his potential that she felt he was the perfect fit for the role of The Kid in The Quick and the Dead.
However, the studio was reluctant to take a chance on DiCaprio, and they refused to pay him.
Sharon Stone paid dicaprio's salary with her own money
Stone, determined to have DiCaprio in the film, made the decision to take matters into her own hands.
She agreed to pay DiCaprio's salary out of her own pocket, ensuring that he would have the opportunity to showcase his talent. "The studio said if I really wanted him, I could give him part of my salary, which I did," Stone wrote in her memoir.
DiCaprio has praised Stone for her generosity and support, stating that she played a pivotal role in his early career. "I thanked her many times. I don't remember if I sent her a gift, but I am immensely grateful," DiCaprio told E!
News. "She said, 'These are the two actors I want to work with.' It was amazing. Stone always stood up for the art of film and gave opportunities to other actors, so I'm very grateful to her." DiCaprio's performance in The Quick and the Dead further solidified his status as a rising star in Hollywood.
He went on to star in a string of successful films, including Titanic, The Departed, and The Wolf of Wall Street, eventually earning an Academy Award for his role in The Revenant.
