Jonah Hill has made a mark in Hollywood through his nuanced acting in various acclaimed films such as Superbad, Moneyball, 21 Jump Street, etc. The actor has also turned director with the coming-of-age drama Mid90s.
Hill made a great impression on the audience when he was featured in Martin Scorsese’s black comedy The Wolf of Wall Street. The Leonardo DiCaprio starrer was a huge hit upon release, earning more than $400 million at the global box office. However, Jonah Hill seems to have not tasted the monetary success of the film as he accepted only a SAG-approved minimum wage for the film.
Jonah Hill Had To Fight For His Role In The Wolf Of Wall Street
Before The Wolf of Wall Street, Jonah Hill was known for teen and adult comedies such as Superbad, Knocked Up, and the 21 Jump Street series, with the Brad Pitt starring sports drama Moneyball being an exception. However, his talents were not unrecognized. He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the Aaron Sorkin-written Moneyball.
Despite making a mark as a recognized actor, Hill claims that he had to really fight for his role in The Wolf of Wall Street. The actor is a huge fan of Martin Scorsese and was ready to do anything to work with the legendary director. Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio were looking for an actor to play the role of Donny Azof, the protagonist Jordan Belfort’s right-hand man in the film. They had already auditioned Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Chris Evans for the role. However, Jonah Hill was desperate.
Hill first approached Leonardo DiCaprio in order to pitch himself for an audition. Talking about his fight for the role, Hill said,
“I had got the opportunity to meet with Leo first and give him an impassioned argument as to why I had to play the part, and then he was supportive, luckily…Then I went to New York, and I said, ‘Well, can I show Scorsese what I want to do instead of just begging him to do the part.’ Then I got to read with him, and I was lucky enough to get the part.”
The actor was selected for the part of Donny Azof and received unanimous acclaim for the role, including another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. However, the film was far from his best paycheck.
Jonah Hill Was Paid The SAG Minimum Wage For His Oscar-Nominated Role
After Jonah Hill pitched himself to DiCaprio and read out for Martin Scorsese, he waited for a legitimate offer from the legendary director. When he received it, however, it was far from the salary that he usually charges. Jonah Hill has starred in some profitable ventures in a prominent capacity, even before The Wolf of Wall Street. Films like 21 Jump Street earned a whopping $200 million over a $55 million budget and were also critical successes.
Hence, when Jonah Hill revealed that he received a $60,000 salary for The Wolf of Wall Street, the public was surprised. The lowball offer was the minimum approved amount by the Screen Actor’s Guild. However, Jonah Hill took the offer as he was desperate to work with Scorsese and did not want them to look for someone else. He said,
“That was their offer, and I said, ‘I will sign the paper tonight. Fax them the papers tonight. I want to sign them tonight before they change their mind. I want to sign them before I go to sleep tonight so they legally can’t change their mind.”
Jonah Hill has since mentioned that the experience was worth more than what he earned. Working with the director of classics such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Casino and more was a dream come true for the actor. Talking to Howard Stern, he said,
“This isn’t what you make money for. You do 22 Jump Street or you do other things, and you can pay your rent. I would have done anything in the world. I would do it again in a second. This isn’t about money. You should do things that you care about.”
He mentioned that the film gave him an experience that he could never forget and that it was impossible to let go of an unhinged character like Donny. His appearance seems to have paid off for the actor as he has since starred in many well-received films, including Don’t Look Up, where he reunited with his The Wolf of Wall Street co-star Leonardo DiCaprio.
Source: The Things
