Special Coverage The Photo IssueThe Must List2008 Fall TV2008 Fall Movies2008 Fall Music

Fall Movies 2002

How real is Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale? | 152130__catch_l
TRUTH AND CON-SEQUENCES DiCaprio as the shady teenage Abagnale

REAL PERSON Con man Frank Abagnale

PLAYED BY Leonardo DiCaprio

THE DISH As a teenager, Abagnale became the youngest scam artist ever to land on the FBI's most wanted list. Impersonating a doctor, an airline pilot, a college professor, and even an assistant attorney general (though he was a high school dropout, he managed to pass the Louisiana bar exam), he cashed $2.5 million in fraudulent checks over a five-year period. Tom Hanks plays an FBI agent who's hot on his trail.

THE REALITY As fantastic as the story seems, the bad boy wonder's story is no Hollywood exaggeration. According Abagnale's website, even the FBI was impressed with him: When he was finally caught at 21, he was given a five-year term on the condition that he would later assist the federal government with their fraud prevention tactics.

WHAT YOU WON'T SEE These days Abagnale (who looks less like Leo than talk show host Tom Snyder) is keeping your money safe: His fraud prevention programs are currently used by more than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations, and law enforcement agencies.

WHAT MAKES THE CUT In the script, Abagnale flies planes, tries court cases, and ultimately makes the tricky leap from freewheeling criminal to FBI G-man.


Posted Oct 18, 2002 | Order Article Reprints