Leonardo DiCaprio is paying tribute to a fellow environmentalist, his friend and colleague Jane Goodall, who died Wednesday.
Goodall, 91, was in Los Angeles to give a talk at UCLA.
“Today we have lost a true hero for the planet, an inspiration to millions, and a dear friend,” the actor and activist wrote on Instagram.
“Jane Goodall devoted her life to protecting our planet and giving a voice to the wild animals and the ecosystems they inhabit,” he continued. “Her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania transformed our understanding of how our closest relatives live, socialize, and think — reminding us that we are deeply connected not only to chimpanzees and the other great apes, but to all life.”
“For decades, Jane traveled the world with tireless energy, awakening generations to the wonder of the natural world. She spoke directly to the next generation, instilling hope, responsibility, and the belief that every individual can make a difference. She inspired millions to care, to act, and to hope. She never stopped.”
“My last message to Jane was simple: ‘You are my hero.’ Now, we all must carry the torch for her in protecting our one shared home.”
He asked that readers honor her legacy by supporting the Jane Goodall Institute and other conservation groups she cared about.
Last year, it was announced that DiCaprio’s Appian Way production company would make a feature biopic about Goodall’s life for Disney. It would mark the first time an actress would portray her on film. Eleanor Catton is writing the screenplay for the film, which is still in development.