Leonardo DiCaprio turns 39 today. (TwitPic)

"The Departed"

DiCaprio's role as a young cop, Billy Costigan, looking to make his name in law enforcement really showed DiCaprio's talents as a "tough" actor. He proved he could be taken as a serious dramatic actor in "The Departed." 

"Shutter Island"

This disturbing drama offered DiCaprio a mind-bending role as Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshal investigating the disappearance of a patient on Shutter Island. Surrounded by a bunch of criminally insane patients, it was shocking that DiCaprio wasn't crazy by the end of filming "Shutter Island." Another intense film, DiCaprio brought insanity to the screen. 

"Inception"

Another intense and action-packed movie for DiCaprio, his role as Cobb in "Inception" really grabbed viewers' attention with his determination and desperation to reunite with his wife, Mal, played by Marion Cotillard. As he lead the star-studded cast through dreams within dreams, DiCaprio lead all the key players through filming too. 

"The Great Gatsby"

With Baz Luhrmann's film based on a such a critically-acclaimed novel, everyone was eager to see who would play the mysterious and legendary Jay Gatsby. When DiCaprio was announced to play the lead in "The Great Gatsby" opposite Carey Mulligan, it almost seemed as though it was fate. DiCaprio played the over exaggerated and hopeful character in the story of the American Dream well and like no other.

"Django Unchained"

Quentin Tarantino's Western drama really shows the many talents of DiCaprio. His role as Calvin Candie, the wealthy business owner and vicious slaveowner, brought out a different side of him. Many were surprised to find he wasn't nominated for the 2013 Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, but we all know how great DiCaprio was in "Django Unchained."

"Romeo + Juliet"

One of DiCaprio's earliest blockbuster hits, he melted every 90's girls' hearts in this modern take of a classic romance. Also directed by Baz Luhrmann, "Romeo + Juliet" was a movie that was visually intense. As the star-crossed lover of Romeo opposite Claire Danes' Juliet, listening to young DiCaprio recite Shakespeare's famous words still have us sighing each time we watch the movie. 

"Titanic"

Everyone knows Leonardo DiCaprio for his role as Jack Dawson in "Titanic." With his undying love for Rose, played by good friend Kate Winslet, he made their onscreen romance a love that every girl dreams of. He portrayed passion that brought everyone to tears, and even more when we watched him fall into the depths of the ocean. If there's one thing we will "never let go" of, it's DiCaprio in "Titanic." 

From his early works as a teenage heartthrob to a rough and tough dramatic actor, he has come a long way since the beginning of his acting career, and continues to impress. Here's to another year of loving Leonardo DiCaprio.

Contact Staff Reporter Dale Chong here. Follow her on Twitter here.