Leonardo DiCaprio honored Dr. Jane Goodall in a public tribute following her death at 91, calling the primatologist “a hero for the planet,” “a dear friend,” and urging people to support conservation work in her name. The actor, who like Goodall has served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, praised her decades of field research and her ability to mobilize young people around environmental action.
Goodall died of natural causes on Wednesday while in California; according to her institute, she had been scheduled to address students in the Pasadena area, and a previously recorded message emphasizing youth leadership and everyday choices was shared at an event after the news became public.
DiCaprio’s remarks framed Goodall’s influence as both scientific and civic, noting how her observations of chimpanzee societies reshaped understanding of animal behavior and human responsibility toward nature. He also encouraged followers to aid the Jane Goodall Institute and related groups to sustain her work, reflecting a long-running alignment between the two figures on conservation advocacy. Tributes from political leaders, scientists, and entertainers quickly followed, underscoring the breadth of Goodall’s impact across research, education, and public communication.
Goodall’s final video message, recorded shortly before her death, urged audiences to think concretely about their “ecological footprint,” from purchasing decisions to food choices, and highlighted Roots & Shoots, the youth program she launched in 1991 to channel local, practical action. She described gatherings of students as “a very important way ahead,” citing the persistence and articulation she sees in young organizers today. The message aligns with the themes DiCaprio stressed in his tribute, tying Goodall’s fieldwork in Gombe to present-day campaigns that hinge on individual actions scaled through community networks.
