Johnny Depp is regarded as one of the most successful performers of all time in terms of box office attraction and notoriety, and his ability to fully immerse himself in a variety of dynamic characters has resulted in a strong bond with moviegoers across various generations. The remarkable actor’s real-life narrative has just as many unexpected twists and turns as the scripts of some of the films he’s acted in over the years. Depp had musical ambitions in his youth, but it wasn’t long before he discovered the draw of the big screen. From his days as a teen star, the versatile actor has found success in a succession of box office hits. High-profile collaborations with renowned directors and a lucrative connection with the Disney team in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ series have highlighted his unique ability to bring characters to life. While Depp has a reputation for knowing what audiences want, he also has a habit of choosing movies based on the difficulty of the part rather than the likelihood of box office success. He’s struck the perfect balance between picking roles for the pure joy of immersing himself in a character’s world and returning to previous roles with renewed zeal. Continue reading to learn more about this talented actor’s life and profession.
Childhood and Adolescence
Johnny Depp was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on June 9, 1963. Depp’s early ambitions were built on a deep appreciation of rock music, as he was the youngest of four children of John Christopher Depp and Elizabeth “Betty” Sue Wells.
Because his father was a civil engineer, the actor’s early years were also influenced by repeated moves throughout his youth. Johnny and his family had made Miramar, Florida their home by 1970.
He received a guitar as a gift from his mother when he was 12 years old, and it immediately inspired him to join local garage bands.
When Depp was fifteen, his parents split. To pursue his passion for rock music, he dropped out of high school. The hopeful artist relocated to Los Angeles, where he was a member of the band ‘Six Gun Method,’ which disbanded before getting signed to a label. As a member of the band ‘Rock City Angels,’ he was signed to ‘Geffen Records.’
Lori, Johnny’s wife, introduced him to Nicholas Cage, a young actor who urged him to pursue a career in acting, in the early 1980s.
Career of Johnny Depp
In 1984, Johnny Depp made his acting debut as Nancy’s lover in the film “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” While Depp’s character died young, his acting career grew as he landed a small role in Oliver Stone’s ‘Platoon,’ in which he played a Vietnamese-speaking private.
In early 1987, he made his television debut as Tom Hanson, an undercover officer disguised as a high school student on the hit television series ’21 Jump Street,’ in what would become his breakout role.
In 1990, he appeared in the film ‘Cry Baby.’ Despite not being a box office success, the campy film has now become a cult favorite. Later that year, he starred as Edward Scissorhands in the first of many collaborations with director Tim Burton, in ‘Edward Scissorhands.’
In 1993, Depp followed up the triumph of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ with the sleeper hits ‘Benny & Joon’ and ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.’ In the same year, he also starred in ‘Arizona Dream,’ which showcased his versatility as an actor.
The talented actor teamed up with Burton to play the main part in ‘Ed Wood,’ a 1994 tribute to the notoriously terrible director, proving that he’s more interested in the characters he plays than box office potential.
In 1995, he starred in three films: ‘Don Juan DeMarco,’ in which he played an eccentric man who believes himself to be the great lover; ‘Dead Man,’ a black-and-white western; and ‘Nick of Time,’ a dark drama about an accountant who must impersonate a politician in order to save his kidnapped daughter.
Depp’s next film role was in ‘Donnie Brasco,’ a dramatized narrative about an FBI agent who infiltrates the mafia,’ which he co-starred in with Al Pacino in 1997.
He paid homage to Hunter S. Thompson in the 1998 film ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,’ in which he played a version of the writer. He had a brief role in ‘L.A. Without a Map’ later that year.
He finished the twentieth century with appearances in Roman Polanski’s thriller ‘The Ninth Gate,’ as Ichabod Crane in ‘Sleepy Hollow,’ and the sci-fi thriller ‘The Astronaut’s Wife,’ with Charlize Theron.
As the new millennium approached, Depp continued to demonstrate his versatility as an actor, with roles in the romantic drama ‘Chocolat’ and the biopic ‘Before Night Falls,’ both based on the life of Cuban poet and author Reinaldo Arenas, both released in 2000.
The next year, he starred in the films ‘Blow,’ ‘The Man Who Cried,’ and ‘From Hell,’ a film about the infamous ‘Jack the Ripper’ murders.
In 2003, he starred in the final installment of Robert Rodriguez’s Mexico trilogy, ‘Once Upon a Time in Mexico.’ This gifted artist made his debut as Captain Jack Sparrow in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ the same year.
Before acting in ‘Secret Window,’ based on a Stephen King story, he made a cameo appearance in ‘Happily Ever After’ in 2004.
In 2004, he also starred in the film ‘Finding Neverland,’ in which he played J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Later that year, he landed a role in the British drama ‘The Libertine.’
Depp and his sister, Christi Dembrowski, founded the production firm ‘Infinitum Nihil’ in 2004. ‘The Rum Diary,’ a cinematic adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson novel of the same name, was the company’s debut production.
In 2005, he played Willy Wonka in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ a darker adaptation of Roald Dahl’s iconic fable. He also provided the voice of Victor Van Dort in Tim Burton’s ‘Corpse Bride’ that same year.
In 2006 and 2007, he reprised his Captain Jack Sparrow role in the films ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.’
In the film adaptation of ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,’ another collaboration with Burton, he played the titular character in a darker role. In the 2009 film ‘Public Enemies,’ he played renowned gangster John Dillinger. Then came ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,’ in which Depp was one of a small group of actors chosen to play Heath Ledger’s character after the actor died during filming.
In Burton’s adaptation of ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ he played the Mad Hatter in 2010. He next appeared in ‘The Tourist’ and provided the voice for the title character in ‘Rango.’
In 2011, he reprised his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.’ Following that, he appeared in uncredited cameos as himself in ‘The Rum Diary’ and ‘Jack and Jill.’
He had another uncredited cameo as an agent in the 2012 film adaptation of his legendary TV show ’21 Jump Street.’
In the same year, he reunited with Burton to play Barnabas Collins in the big screen adaptation of ‘Dark Shadows.’
He played Tonto opposite Armie Hammer in ‘The Lone Ranger’ the following year. He also made a brief appearance in ‘Lucky Them’ in 2013, before going on to play Dr. Will Caster in the science fiction film ‘Transcendence.’
The gifted actor was credited as Guy Lapointe when he featured in ‘Tusk’ in 2014 after being cast in ‘Transcendence,’ before debuting as the wolf in ‘Into the Woods’ later that year.
In early 2015, Depp co-starred in ‘Mortdecai’ alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor as an eccentric art dealer. In 2015 and beyond, he appeared in films such as ‘Black Mass,’ ‘London Fields,’ and ‘Yoga Hosers.’
Depp will reprise his role as the Mad Hatter in the 2016 film ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass.’
In 2017, he’ll reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,’ which will be released in theaters. He has continued to follow his musical passions, collaborating with Shane MacGowan and Oasis, among others. He’s also in the band ‘P,’ which features ‘Flea’ from the ‘Red Hot Chili Peppers.’
The actor continues to devote his time to a variety of pursuits. He owns some vines in Saint-northern Tropez’s outskirts. He also experimented with editing, assisting with the editing of Woody Guthrie’s novel House of Earth, which was previously unpublished.
Major Projects of Johnny Depp
With his performance in ‘Edward Scissorhands,’ Johnny Depp established himself as a celebrity worth watching. The sad love story narrative of the dark romantic fantasy enchanted spectators. The film was released in the United States on December 7, 1990, and grossed approximately $90 million at the box office.
‘Donnie Brasco’ once again demonstrates his ability to mimic his character’s characteristics and mannerisms. What makes his performance in this film stand out is that he comes across as completely credible as an FBI agent working undercover to apprehend violent mobsters, demonstrating his versatility as an actor. The film was a critical and commercial triumph, grossing about $125 million in theaters.
The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film series has established itself as one of Depp’s most important achievements. Due to the international success of the film series and his charismatic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, it is regarded one of the star’s biggest career achievements.
Achievements & Awards
Johnny Depp’s first major prize came in 1995, when he won the ‘London Film Critics’ Circle Award’ for ‘Actor of the Year’ for his roles in ‘Don Juan DeMarco’ and ‘Ed Wood.’
In 1999, the versatile actor received an honorary ‘César,’ France’s national cinema prize.
For his portrayal in ‘Sweeney Todd,’ Depp earned a ‘Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture’ in 2008.
Later that year, he was named ‘Best Villain’ at the ‘MTV Movie Awards’ for the same performance. Three times between 2011 and 2014, the outstanding actor won the People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Movie Actor.
Throughout his career, he has garnered multiple Teen Choice and Kids’ Choice honors.
Depp got the ‘MTV Generation Award’ in 2012, the same year that he was named the highest-paid actor by ‘Guinness World Records.’
Personal History and Legacy
Depp had a friendship with his mother’s second husband, musician Robert Palmer, whom he described as an inspiration in his life.
Lori Anne Allison, the sister of one of the ‘Rock City Angels’ band members, married him in December 1983. He made ends meet by working as a telemarketer, while his wife worked as a makeup artist. However, two years later, the marriage ended in divorce.
He was engaged to, but never married, Sherilyn Fenn, a then-aspiring actress, in 1986, but the engagement dissolved in the late 1980s.
From 1988 to 2012, the actor had an on-again, off-again relationship with French singer Vanessa Paradis. Paradis is also Depp’s mother and has two children with him.
In 1999, their daughter Lily-Rose Melody Depp was born, and three years later, their son John Christopher Depp III was born. He had relationships with Jennifer Grey from Dirty Dancing, Winona Ryder from Edward Scissorhands, and supermodel Kate Moss in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2015, he married actress Amber Heard, his second wife.
Involvement with the ‘Actors Fund of America’ and considerable attempts to gather funds for the ‘Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition’ are among the actor’s charitable endeavors.
Estimated Net Worth
According to Forbes, Depp’s net worth in 2015 was projected to be $400 million. His annual compensation is around $50 million, while his salary per picture is around $20 million. While his winery, Production Company, and different real estate assets contribute to a percentage of his annual revenue, his movies account for the majority of his earnings.
Trivia
When arrested for trashing a New York City hotel, this famous personality claimed that an armadillo that was hidden in his closet was the actual culprit, having jumped out of the window to evade capture