Ledger, Phoenix warned DiCaprio off drugs

Leonardo DiCaprio has admitted that the tragic deaths of Hollywood actors Heath Ledger and River Phoenix scared him off drugs.

The 34-year-old claimed that the "horrifying" death of Phoenix in 1993 from an overdose convinced him not to partake in substance abuse.

WENN quotes him as saying: "When I was a young actor, I saw other actors die of drugs. I watched what happened to River Phoenix, who was such an influence on me as a young actor.

"Now Heath Ledger has died young. It is such a horrifying thought to know that those guys aren't around anymore. Every person has demons. We all have horrible fears and insecurities that we need to overcome."

DiCaprio added that growing up in a Los Angeles suburb plagued with drugs and prostitution made him view narcotics as "evil".

"I knew drugs were bad, even as a little kid," he said. "Seeing the effects that drugs had on my block, seeing heroin addicts, it made me think twice about ever getting involved in drugs.

"I was so horrified by what I saw drugs do to people that I never wanted anything to do with them. It's evil. Once you take that step and experiment, drugs take over your life. You are not yourself anymore. That's something I never wanted."