Leonardo DiCaprio Calls Gloria Stuart 'A Force'

Actor says he was 'honored' to have worked with the late actress on 'Titanic.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Leonardo DiCaprio
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Although they never actually appeared onscreen together in "Titanic," Leonardo DiCaprio has fond memories of Gloria Stuart, his co-star from the 1997 blockbuster who passed away at age 100 over the weekend.

"Gloria Stuart was a force both on and off screen," the actor said in a statement about the actress, who was diagnosed with lung cancer five years ago and died in her home in Los Angeles. "An amazingly sweet person, a fantastic actress, and someone who always fought for what she believed in."

DiCaprio added that he felt privileged to have worked with Stuart, who began her career in the 1930s. "She was one of the last great actresses from the Golden era of Hollywood," he continued. "I was honored to have worked alongside her. She will be missed."

In the '30s, Stuart was under contract with Universal and 20th Century Fox and acted alongside big names of the time like Claude Rains, James Cagney and Shirley Temple. But in 1939 her contract with 20th Century Fox was not renewed, and she spent a few years struggling to find work before retiring from film in 1946.

Cameron resurrected Stuart's career in 1997 when he cast her as the elder version of Kate Winslet's character Rose Calvert in "Titanic." Stuart nabbed a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for the role; she was 87 at the time, making her the oldest actress to receive an Academy Award nomination. Though "Titanic" won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Stuart lost out to "L.A. Confidential" star Kim Basinger. Stuart's "Titanic" scene was later immortalized by Britney Spears in her hit song, "Oops ... I Did It Again."

Stuart was born on July 4, 1910, in Santa Monica, California. She is survived by a daughter, four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. "When I graduated from Santa Monica High in 1927, I was voted the girl most likely to succeed," she wrote in her 1999 memoir, according to The Washington Post. "I didn't realize it would take so long."

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