Back in 1993, when the movie What do Gilbert grapes eat After I came out, people started telling me that I looked like a kid like Leonardo DiCaprio. When I watch this movie myself, I can see it. Since then, as Leo’s popularity has grown, more and more people have mentioned the similarities between us. Then, Titanic happened. I live in San Francisco in my early 20s. When I run errands, I occasionally notice a group of tourists following me down the street, or I go to a bar with my friends, and find someone staring at me strangely across the bar. No matter where I go , People will tell me that I look like him, and this situation has been increasing.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2003 and started auditioning for work as an actor. As Leo’s career continues to climb, comments about our similarities begin to happen every day. I will be stopped at the supermarket, I really can’t go anywhere without being mistaken for him.
I am booking roles in movies and TV shows such as “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Shameless”, and I always get commented on the set or the casting office. I never knew what to do. Many times, when people tell me that I look like Leo, I will say thank you, and they will hurriedly tell me that this is a good thing. They can see that I look a little downcast because you want to be considered yourself.
Then in 2012, I was asked to audition for the role of Leo Horror Movie 5. I got this role, from never imitating Leo to taking a crash course to become him. I have his wardrobe, hair and makeup, and even work with one of his vocal coaches. When shooting that movie, I was very excited.
After that, people started to receive emails saying they saw me in the movie and asked me to come to Dublin, Ireland to attend a trade show as Leo, or drive to Palm Springs to host the great Gatsby party. I never thought I was an imitator, but I just decided, why not give it a try?
Working like a Leo is always incredibly positive and fun, and you never know what type of unique performance you will be asked of next. For example, when I had a wedding, the best man would say he had a surprise, and a friend from Hollywood is coming. I walked in, everyone took a breath. I toast halfway as Leo, and then I tell the guests that I am not the real him, but I do hope that the couple will have a good life together. After that, I walked around at the wedding and took photos with everyone.
In 2017, I was invited to participate in a performance art work called MANICOMIO! Dora Budor at the Freize New York Festival.I play the role of Jordan Belfort walking around the festival The Wolf of Wall Street. I will answer the phone as Belfort, and then I will randomly walk out with the microphone, pretend that everyone present is a trader, and then make an important speech in the movie. Visitors will be confused by what happened at first, then a few people will start to understand, and eventually a large group of people will form. At the end of the speech, they would applaud and cheer, as if they were traders in the movie. This is such an amazing and surreal project.
Ben Cornwall
What I often do is work at Leo’s home in Palm Springs. He owns this incredible manor and may spend a few weeks there every year, so the real estate company rents out the remaining time for company events or private use. If a company rents the property for corporate retreats, they have the opportunity to book me as Leo or Jay Gatsby so that they can greet everyone when they come in and show them Leo’s property and take photos. This is a treat for me because it is one of the most beautiful houses I have ever lived in.
However, it is strange to patrol people in Leo’s manor. I have been doing this seemingly similar job for years, and to be honest, it has never become less weird. But I try to have a sense of humor about it. All I can do is look like him and make people have fun.
I tell people, it’s as if I can spend two hours looking at life through Leo’s eyes. People are so excited and enthusiastic, regardless of men, women or children. I look at my face in the mirror every day and I am not so excited, but somehow, when I do these activities, something special happens.
Being with “Leo” is so exciting for people. So, I tried to be there and be a good listener and talker. There is overwhelming concern, usually a group of ladies asking questions and wanting to take a selfie. They will say how much they love Leo and that he is their first love, but usually people respect it. At that level it will not become embarrassing, thank goodness, I will never say: “Sorry, I am married!”
Although I never pretend to be a Leo in real life, this similarity does affect me. On weekdays, I have been stopped ten times, and there are places I don’t want to go. I will try my best to wear a hat, or not comb my hair back, or wear the clothes that Leo would normally wear.
Many times in Los Angeles, my wife and I walked into a restaurant. The foreman was a little flustered and said that they had a private table for me. Every time I passed the airport security check, I did not fail. I was stopped by the officer and told me that it looked like “The man in that boat movie”.
Once, when I was on holiday at Istanbul Airport, I was surrounded by a group of Japanese tourist groups. Dozens of girls asked me to sign their signature book. I keep saying I’m sorry, I played him in movies, but he is not actually Leo. But I don’t think they understand what I’m talking about because there is a language barrier between us, and they persisted. Finally, I thought it would be fine if I signed my name. So I walked around, signed their book in the name of Ben Cornish and said goodbye. Another time, I was walking on the streets of Hong Kong after an event, and a woman embraced me in tears. I tried to tell her that I am not a Leo, but she absolutely believes it. So I agreed to take a photo with her, I think it makes her very happy.
I have never met Leo, but I have met many people who work directly with him or work for him. I met someone who had worked as a substitute for more than 10 years. They are friends and he told me that Leo is the best, funniest, and down-to-earth person. You hear everyone say that, it’s pretty cool. I think, for example, when I work at his house or participate in a Frieze event, someone tells him about me.
Ben Cornwall
I was asked to be his stand-in in the movie Dead soulWhen the actor is far away, or when only the back of the actor’s head can be seen in a given shot, a stand-in photo is usually used in a wide-angle lens, but the actual actor cannot be there, so you need to look very similar.
It was shot in Canada during the winter months. There will be hours of hair and makeup, and crawling around in the snow. I was just engaged and had a good time in Los Angeles, so although I wanted to work with Leo and that amazing team, at that moment I decided to stay in Los Angeles.
I really try to only accept bookings that show Leo in a really positive light, and it’s by no means exploitative. Sometimes, looks may try to win people over, but never reveal that they are not celebrities, or accept money to make fun of the real celebrities themselves.
I saw that I was lucky enough to be able to participate in these activities, experience these adventures and get paid for them, so I tried to respect the fact that this is the result of Leo’s excellent work and talent. I turned down many requests; anything I thought Leo wouldn’t be too excited for me to do.
When I was young, I found it difficult for me to be like a Leo. Sometimes I meet some people, but I don’t think they see me, they just see the similarities with Leo. Sometimes I talk to people and feel that they are talking to me or see through me. I think everyone wants to be seen and know their true identity. But how interesting it is to play him in a movie and do all these crazy events, I think I have been able to reverse the feeling of being invisible to a certain extent.
I realized that when I go to an event, most people there want to be seen. I made all these people approach me with big smiles, blushes, and sometimes tears in their eyes. I was able to see through the movie how Leo affects people’s lives in such a profound way. I am very satisfied with the people who make those people feel that they have been seen by Leo, who they admire very much.
So in those scenes, I really don’t care if they can’t see Ben because I’m giving them something. Moreover, in my normal life, I am lucky to have a big loving family and close friends who have known me for many years but never regarded me as a Leo.
When i shoot Horror Movie 5, Producer David Zach, he was an amazing man and became a friend. At the end of the filming, he said, “You know Ben, when we first met, I could only see Leo. It made me shocked how much you looked like him. But after knowing you for three weeks, All I can see is this.” That’s great.
So, I think I have reached peace with Leo where I live. I can make so many incredibly crazy and interesting trips. This is a unique blessing, you only need to treat it as a gift.
Ben Cornish is an actor who lives and works in Los Angeles.To follow and learn more about how to contact Ben, you can find him on Instagram @leolookalike.
All opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own.
As told to Jenny Howard.
