Celebrate Leonardo DiCaprio's Birthday with The Best of the Internet's Leo Memes

Adrienne Westenfeld, Justin Kirkland
·5 min read
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From Esquire

Today, Leonardo DiCaprio turns 46, or in simplified math, two Leonardo DiCaprio girlfriends. The prolific actor spent his birthday week hanging out in Malibu, shirtless on the beach with his friend Emile Hirsch—a timeless November activity. Naturally, when DiCaprio was spotted in the wild with family and friends, media outlets flocked to the story because a sporadic DiCaprio sighting is rare. An actor’s actor, DiCaprio leads a private life that has always piqued the interest of the paparazzi. Similarly, it’s also caught the attention of the internet as a whole, because no one—on screen or in public—has lent themselves to being as meme-able as DiCaprio.

It’s a funny coincidence because DiCaprio seems like a thoughtful, serious guy when it comes to his activism and intense movie roles, but in the same breath, how specifically relatable is that image of DiCaprio, discreetly puffing on a bulky vape at Coachella? Or that other image of DiCaprio swallowing himself inside a puffer jacket because he doesn’t want to talk to you? And don’t get us started on the freedom personified in that water gun shot taken a few years ago. What a blessing to be wild and free like that.

He represents idealism as well: an encapsulation of what we’ll never be. Whether he’s raising a glass as Jay Gatsby on New Year’s Day, losing his shit on an executive in The Wolf of Wall Street or just breathing in the rare air that graces the exterior of a tinted window black SUV, DiCaprio represents the perfect balance of relatability and ambition.

So for DiCaprio’s birthday, let us celebrate him in meme form. Slick that hair back, sneak a vape hit, and paint this damn day like one of your French girls.

Snobby Django Unchained Leo

It's so niche and yet so universal. I mean, look at this reach. Look at the range.

The "Who, ME?" and Abject Despair

The Age Jokes

DiCaprio’s aversion to dating women close to his own age has long been a subject of public fascination—and public ridicule. Mash it up with electoral politics and you’ve got yourself a pitch-perfect meme.

Jay Gatsby

The king of memes, Jay Gatsby, toasts you.

The Covert

DiCaprio is the king of hiding in plain sight. He’s been known to keep pesky paparazzi at bay with disguises incorporating everything from giant puffer jackets to rubberized face masks (dude was wearing face masks WAY before it was cool!). Just call him Inspector Clouseau.

The Coachella Shot

Leo, do you even go here? DiCaprio’s hoodie and specs weren’t quite enough to disguise him from eagle-eyed Coachella fans, who spotted him in the wild. A perfect disguise.

The Perennial Oscar Nominee

For decades, until he finally took home Oscar gold for The Revenant, DiCaprio was always the bridesmaid, never the bride at the Academy Awards. The Internet loved to clown on his quest to conquer his white whale, but as evidenced by this video of DiCaprio chatting up the woman who engraves winners’ names on their Oscar statues, no one loved to clown on DiCaprio as much as DiCaprio himself.

The Winner's Account

Twitter user @LeoAndHisOscar spent two years reporting almost daily on DiCaprio’s award status. Then, in 2016, he finally won. Thousands of fans were eager to celebrate with the account that spent every day hanging on DiCaprio’s every move.

The Gaga Pass

Is DiCaprio scared of Lady Gaga? Making fun of her exuberance? Or is he just frightened out of his skin by any woman over the ripe old age twenty-five? You be the judge.

The Pointing

When the thing happens in the movie that is exactly what the movie's title is, Leo's Rick Dalton is there to make sure you're aware.

The Relatable Athlete

When Monday comes in hot, it’s easy to feel like you’ve been smacked in the face with a volleyball. This shot of DiCaprio is all of us in gym class (and when a nasty email slides into your inbox first thing on a workday).

In short, we agree. Thanks for the meme-ories.

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