Leonardo DiCaprio Finally Wins Oscar for ’The Revenant' — and He Uses the Big Moment to Discuss Divisive Issue

After receiving six Academy Award nominations, Leonardo DiCaprio triumphantly took the stage at the 88th Academy Awards ceremony to accept his first Oscar for Best Actor in "The Revenant" and to deliver a speech on the danger that climate change poses to the world.

Clutching the hitherto elusive Oscar in his hand, DiCaprio used his moment of triumph to bring further attention to a cause that is very important for him.

"Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species. We need to work together and stop procrastinating," DiCaprio said during his speech.

Leonardo DiCaprio accepts the award for best actor in a leading role for �The Revenant� at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

In addition to his advocacy, DiCaprio, who received a standing ovation from the crowd, thanked "Revenant" co-star Tom Hardy, whom he called his "brother," as well as director Alejandro González Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. He also thanked previous director Martin Scorsese.

DiCaprio has been nominated six times for acting Oscars, dating back to 1993's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape." But acting's highest honor had eluded him despite years of strong performances in films such as "The Aviator," "Blood Diamond" and "The Wolf of Wall Street."

He played fur trapper Hugh Glass in "The Revenant," which involved the actor plunging into icy waters and eating raw bison to portray his character's efforts to survive in the wilderness after a bear attack.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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