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Why Leonardo DiCaprio is secretly funding tiny Los Angeles library

why-leonardo-dicaprio-is-secretly-funding-tiny-los-angeles-library
Why Leonardo DiCaprio is secretly funding tiny Los Angeles library

Once Upon A Spine in Hollywood.

He’s known for donating millions to environmental causes, wildlife conservation and fighting climate change.

But Leonardo DiCaprio has secretly helped bankroll a tiny local library in California — and it’s very close to his heart.

Los Feliz Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library on a sunny day.
Los Feliz Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. Friends of Los Feliz Library / Facebook

The Hollywood megastar has quietly dished cash to Los Angeles Public Library’s Los Feliz branch near Griffith Park, which sits on the site of his childhood home.

The 51-year-old actor and his family donated $35,000 to its computer center in 1999 and has funded other initiatives over the years such as newspaper subscriptions.

The walls are decorated with movie posters from some his biggest hits, including “Titanic,” “Gangs Of New York,” “Catch Me If You Can,” and “The Great Gatsby.”

Some of them are even autographed, with DiCaprio’s father George occasionally dropping by to add to their collection.

Senior librarian Pearl Yonezawa said it took him a while before he realized they were signed, adding they have since been better secured to the walls.

Leonardo DiCaprio waving at the 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Leonardo DiCaprio waves during the 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival in Santa Barbara, California. REUTERS

He told SFGate: “I was so busy getting the building up and getting it working. They’re secured a little better to the wall, once we realized that some of them were signed. Sorry, Leo!”

The library was once the site of the actor’s childhood home, and the tech room sits on the spot where his bedroom was.

The original house was demolished long before the library opened its doors in 1999, soon after the actor surged into the spotlight with “Titanic”.

Growing up DiCaprio, who only recently moved out of the Los Feliz area, would visit another library across the street, where he would meet friends and skateboard outside.

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