During a recent appearance on his colleague Ted Danson’s podcast, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” the acclaimed actor John C. Reilly, an Oscar nominee for his supporting role in “Chicago,” shared a surprising anecdote from three decades ago. In the mid-90s, he actively discouraged Leonardo DiCaprio from participating in James Cameron’s “Titanic.” Instead, Reilly strongly advocated for DiCaprio to take the lead role in “Boogie Nights,” a tragicomedy about the 70s adult film industry, in which Reilly himself was acting.
This film was directed by a then-emerging filmmaker, Paul Thomas Anderson, with whom Reilly had formed a close bond on the set of their previous collaboration, “Hard Eight.” Reilly was also familiar with DiCaprio, having co-starred with him in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” Anderson was keen for DiCaprio to portray Eddie Adams, a young man who, under the pseudonym Dirk Diggler, becomes a superstar in the adult film world. Reilly volunteered to assist the director, meeting specifically with DiCaprio to persuade him to decline the “Titanic” offer and instead join Anderson’s project. (The films were being shot concurrently, requiring an either/or decision.)
Reilly recounted his pitch: “Look, Leo, this movie, ‘Titanic’—it’s about a ship that sinks. And everyone knows it’s going to sink. And nobody’s going to care about the people on that ship. But this guy, Anderson, he’s going to become one of the most talented directors in the future, don’t miss the opportunity to work with him! Seriously, man, I’m not blowing smoke, this is a movie about a sinking ship!”
As it turned out, Reilly’s efforts were unsuccessful. DiCaprio’s agents convinced him that “Titanic” would be a “big film,” and he opted for Cameron’s project. Mark Wahlberg ultimately replaced him in “Boogie Nights,” and the role propelled Wahlberg to stardom. However, this success couldn’t compare to the immense fame that engulfed DiCaprio following “Titanic,” which went on to become the highest-grossing film in history by 1998, sparking what magazines at the time termed “Leo-mania” among young female viewers.
Reilly and DiCaprio would collaborate again on later films, including “Gangs of New York” and “The Aviator.” Reilly’s collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson, however, did not occur until more recently, with the film “Licorice Pizza,” for which Reilly earned another Oscar nomination. The film itself was recognized as the best picture of 2025, and Anderson also received accolades for his screenplay and direction.
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