Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most iconic actors of this generation. The multiple award winner has had a career in film and television spanning over 30 years. While die-hard fans know his early work like Growing Pains and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, Leo’s television debut may be even more of a surprise.
DiCaprio’s first major television role was in 1989’s The New Lassie, a sequel to the original 1950s Lassie series. Everyone knows the first incarnation of Lassie, but some may not remember this sequel. But while New Name Dog may have disappeared, DiCaprio certainly hasn’t. In the years since that debut, DiCaprio has seen his star rise to the bona fide A-list celebrity status that he enjoys today. It may not have been his breakthrough film, but everyone has to start somewhere. New Masterpiece gave Leo his first job in the industry, and the rest was history. So let’s take a look at this series, which role DiCaprio played and how he built his career from that first debut.
The original Lassie and the rebooted Lassie
release date September 12, 1954
cast June Lockhart, John Provost, Hugh Riley, George Cleveland, Josh Albee, Tommy Rettig
season 20
Las Vegas is one of the most famous and longest-running television series in broadcast history. First appearing in 1954, the series ran for 19 seasons, ending in 1973. That dog must have had good genetics. The 591 episodes of “Lassie” ranks third in prime time scripted programming of all time, behind “Gunsmoke” with 635 episodes and “The Simpsons” with over 770 episodes. .
Lassie’s adventures changed over time. She was a farm dog in her early years, then became a member of the U.S. Forest Service, spent some time alone in the wild, and then returned to the farm. While Lassie’s character seems to have lived 20 years, her canine actors have not. At least five different dogs played Lassie during the show’s run. 1989’s Lassie centered around the McCullough family, owners of descendants of the original Lassie.
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Leonardo DiCaprio optioned the rights to the book in 2010, and the book has been in various stages of development since then.
The cast also included a young Will Estes of Blue Bloods fame and E.T.’s Dee Wallace. Most consisted of new characters and settings, but some returned from the original. John Provost, who played the famous “Timmy” on the OG show, returns in this sequel as the uncle of the McCuller family. Lassie’s magic didn’t work the second time around, as Lassie only aired for two seasons before ending in 1992.
Leo’s supporting role in “New Name Inu”
DiCaprio didn’t have a big presence on the show, appearing in only two episodes. He played Will McCullough’s friend Glenn from Estes. Glenn’s first episode revolved around his attempt to win a bicycle race with Will and another friend. However, in a classic TV twist, Lassie begins giving birth just before the race begins. Will gives up his seat to another friend, who manages to win the race. In their second appearance, Glenn, Will, and Lassie visit a local store to purchase baseball cards. Will and Lassie then return alone, but in a slightly different twist than on TV, they become trapped in the store when the exit door jams and an escaped rattlesnake bites the store owner. However, Lassie is able to get out and alert Will’s parents who save the day.
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These two Hollywood legends first appeared on screen in 1993, but most audiences missed the film completely.
Few details remain today about DiCaprio’s role and the film as a whole. The series doesn’t appear to be available on major streaming services, but many episodes are available for free on YouTube. But this isn’t the kind of show you’d watch while browsing online. That’s too bad because if it had been running longer it could have been as big as the original. If you’re a fan of baby-faced Leo’s earlier work, you might want to keep an eye on this one.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s long post-Dog career
Obviously, when you think of DiCaprio’s best performances, New Masterpiece isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, this show gave him his first real job in the industry. A year after starring in “Nameless Dogs,” DiCaprio was cast as a series regular on NBC’s original “Parenthood.” It only lasted one season, but it freed him up for the final season of Growing Pains in 1991. This show was definitely his first high-profile role on the small screen. This was DiCaprio’s last, as he hasn’t played a scripted role on television since Growing Pain.
Instead, he pivoted to the big screen. He made his film debut in 1991’s “Critters 3” and also appeared in “Gilbert, Are You Eating Grapes?” It solidified his status as a rising star. He landed the blockbuster role of Jack Dawson in Titanic in his early 20s. Now, Leo is a true Hollywood megastar known for his movies, activism, and questionable dating habits. While we can’t say for certain that this is all thanks to ‘Lazy Dog’, his early career wouldn’t have been the same without it. DiCaprio’s latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, is available to stream on Apple TV+.
