Leonardo DiCaprio is one of this generation’s most iconic actors. The multi-award winner has enjoyed a career in film and TV for more than 30 years. While loyal fans know his early work, such as Growing Pains and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, Leo’s TV debut may come as more of a surprise.
DiCaprio’s first major TV appearance came with 1989’s The New Lassie, a sequel to the original 1950s Lassie series. While everybody knows the original incarnation of Lassie, some might not remember this follow-up. But while The New Lassie may have faded away, DiCaprio certainly did not. In the years since that debut, DiCaprio saw his star rise to the genuine A-list celebrity status he enjoys today. It may not have been his breakout role, but everyone has to start somewhere. The New Lassie 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 a career out of that first debut.
The Original and Rebooted Lassie
- Release Date
- September 12, 1954
- Cast
- June Lockhart , Jon Provost , Hugh Reilly , George Cleveland , Josh Albee , Tommy Rettig
- Seasons
- 20
Lassie is one of the most well-known and longest-running TV series in broadcast history. First debuting in 1954, the series enjoyed a lengthy 19-season run before ending in 1973. That dog must have had good genetics. Lassie‘s 591 episode count places it third all-time among scripted primetime broadcast shows, behind only Gunsmoke at 635 and The Simpsons at 770+ and counting.
Lassie‘s adventures varied throughout the long run. She was a farm dog in the early years, then a part of the US Forest Service before returning to a farm after spending some time alone in the wild. While the Lassie character apparently lived two decades, her dog actors did not. At least five different dogs played Lassie throughout the show’s run. 1989’s The New Lassie centered on the McCullough family, the owners of a descendant of the first Lassie.
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The cast included a young Will Estes of Blue Bloods fame, as well as E.T.’s Dee Wallace. While it mostly consisted of new characters and settings, some did return from the original. Jon Provost, who played the famous “Timmy” in the OG show, was back in this sequel as an uncle of the McCulloughs. The magic of Lassie didn’t work the second time around, as The New Lassie only ran for two seasons before ending in 1992.
Leo’s Supporting Role in The New Lassie
DiCaprio didn’t have a major presence on this show, only appearing in two episodes. He played Glen, a friend of Estes’ Will McCullough. Glen’s first episode revolved around his attempts to win a bike race with Will and another friend. But in a classic TV twist, Lassie begins to give birth just as the race is set to go. Will gives his spot away to the other friend, who manages to win the race for them. In his second appearance, Glen, Will, and Lassie visit a local store to buy a baseball card. Will and Lassie return alone later and, in a slightly different TV twist, are trapped in the store when the exit door jams and an escaped rattlesnake bites the owner. But Lassie is able to get out and alert Will’s parents, who come to save the day.
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Few details about DiCaprio’s role and The New Lassie as a whole survive today. While the series doesn’t appear to be available on any major streaming service, many episodes are available to watch for free on YouTube. But it’s not a show you’ll see while browsing online. That’s too bad, as maybe it could have been as big as the original if it had run longer. Any fans of a baby-faced Leo’s early work may want to put this one on their radar.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Long Post-Lassie Career
Obviously, The New Lassie isn’t what first comes to mind when thinking of DiCaprio’s best performances. But the show gave him his first real gig in the industry. A year after his Lassie appearance, DiCaprio booked a regular part on NBC’s original Parenthood series. While that only lasted one season, it freed him up for the final season of Growing Pains in 1991. That show was arguably his first high-profile role on the small screen. It was also his last, as DiCaprio has not had a scripted television role since Growing Pains.
Instead, he pivoted to the big screen. 1991’s Critters 3 marked his film debut, with a further appearance in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? cementing his rising star status. His early 20s brought his magnum opus role as Titanic‘s Jack Dawson. Today, Leo is a true Hollywood megastar known for his movies, activism, and questionable dating habits. While we can’t say for sure that this is all thanks to The New Lassie, his early career wouldn’t have been the same without it. DiCaprio’s latest film role, Killers of the Flower Moon, is streaming on Apple TV+.