Played by: Mark Wahlberg
After watching him in "The Basketball Diaries," Paul Thomas Anderson wanted DiCaprio to star in "Boogie Nights." DiCaprio turned it down to appear in "Titanic," but recommended his friend and "Basketball Diaries" costar Mark Wahlberg.
DiCaprio told GQ in 2008 that he regretted turning down the role. "'Boogie Nights' is a movie I loved and I wish I would've done." When asked if he would reverse his decision if he could, DiCaprio said, "I'm not saying I would have. But it would have been a different direction, career-wise. I think they're both great and wish I could have done them both."
DiCaprio was also offered $20 million by Lionsgate to portray crazed serial killer Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho," even though director Mary Harron wanted Christian Bale in the role. She was replaced by director Oliver Stone, but DiCaprio and Stone couldn't agree on a creative direction, so DiCaprio left to film "The Beach." Harron returned to the project and Bale was cast.