Johnny Depp was born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, the youngest among four siblings of Betty Sue Depp (formerly Wells, later Palmer), who worked as a waitress, and John Christopher Depp, a civil engineer. Throughout Depp’s childhood, his family relocated frequently until they settled in Miramar, Florida, in 1970. When Depp was 15, his parents divorced, and his mother later remarried Robert Palmer, whom Depp has described as influential.
At the age of 12, Depp received a guitar from his mother and started playing in various bands. He left Miramar High School at 16 in 1979 to pursue a career as a rock musician. Despite briefly attempting to return to school, he was encouraged by the principal to pursue his musical aspirations. Depp’s band, initially named The Kids, later changed its name to Six Gun Method and moved to Los Angeles seeking a record deal. In addition to his musical pursuits, Depp held various odd jobs, including telemarketing. He married makeup artist Lori Anne Allison in December 1983, but they divorced in 1985.
Depp’s ancestry is predominantly English, with traces of French, German, Irish, and African American heritage. He claimed to have Native American ancestry through his great-grandmother, who he believed was Cherokee or Creek Indian. However, these claims were disputed by the Native American community, as Depp has no documented Native ancestry and has not been recognized by any tribe. Despite being formally adopted as an honorary son by LaDonna Harris, a member of the Comanche Nation, Depp’s portrayal of Native American characters and his use of Native imagery faced criticism for cultural appropriation and insensitivity. An advertisement featuring Depp for Dior’s “Sauvage” fragrance was pulled in 2019 following accusations of cultural appropriation and racism.
At the age of 20, Depp relocated to Los Angeles with his band. Following the band’s breakup, Depp was introduced to actor Nicolas Cage by his then-wife Lori Ann Allison. After bonding over drinks, Cage encouraged Depp to explore acting, a field he had been interested in since his youth, influenced by reading about James Dean and watching Rebel Without a Cause. Cage assisted Depp in securing an audition for A Nightmare on Elm Street with Wes Craven, despite Depp having no prior acting experience. Thanks in part to catching the attention of Craven’s daughter, Depp landed the role of the main character’s boyfriend, one of Freddy Krueger’s victims.
Although initially lacking a desire to pursue acting, Depp continued to receive film offers, which helped cover expenses left unpaid from his music career. Following a minor role in Oliver Stone’s Platoon, Depp became a teen idol in the late 1980s through his role as an undercover police officer in the television series 21 Jump Street. However, he felt confined by the series and sought more fulfilling roles, regardless of their commercial success.
In 1990, Depp starred in John Waters’s Cry-Baby and Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, the latter earning him critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. His performance in Edward Scissorhands showcased his ability to convey emotion without dialogue, earning praise from critics. Additionally, Depp’s portrayal led to the naming of an extinct arthropod species after him.
Throughout the early 1990s, Depp appeared in several notable films, including Benny and Joon, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and Arizona Dream. His performances received positive reviews, particularly for his roles in Benny and Joon and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, earning him Golden Globe nominations for both. In 1994, he reunited with Tim Burton for Ed Wood, earning further critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Despite its commercial performance, Ed Wood solidified Depp’s reputation as a versatile and talented actor.
In 1997, Depp starred alongside Al Pacino in the crime drama Donnie Brasco, directed by Mike Newell. Portraying Joseph D. Pistone, an undercover FBI agent adopting the alias Donnie Brasco to infiltrate the Mafia in New York City, Depp extensively prepared for the role by spending time with Pistone himself, whose memoirs inspired the film. Donnie Brasco received both commercial success and critical acclaim, marking one of Depp’s standout performances.
The same year, Depp made his debut as a director and screenwriter with The Brave. In the film, he starred as a destitute Native American man who agrees to participate in a snuff film in exchange for financial support for his family, with Marlon Brando playing the wealthy man. Premiering at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, The Brave faced predominantly negative reviews, with critics describing it as a sluggish and implausible neo-western. Due to the unfavorable reception, Depp chose not to release The Brave in the United States.
Known for his friendship with writer Hunter S. Thompson, Depp portrayed Thompson’s alter ego Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), directed by Terry Gilliam. Despite being polarizing among critics and facing commercial disappointment, Depp’s connection with Thompson’s character resonated with audiences. Additionally, Depp made a brief appearance in Mika Kaurismäki’s L.A. Without a Map (1998) during the same year.
In 1999, Depp appeared in three films. The Astronaut’s Wife, a sci-fi thriller co-starring Charlize Theron, failed to make an impact both commercially and critically. He then starred in Roman Polanski’s The Ninth Gate, a mystery thriller that received mixed reviews despite modest success at the box office. Depp’s third film of the year was Tim Burton’s adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, where he portrayed Ichabod Crane. This role garnered critical acclaim and contributed to the film’s commercial success.
Entering the new millennium, Depp’s first film release was The Man Who Cried (2000), a British-French drama directed by Sally Potter. Despite a star-studded cast, the film failed to impress critics. He also had a supporting role in Julian Schnabel’s Before Night Falls (2000), which received critical acclaim. Depp’s final film of 2000 was Chocolat, directed by Lasse Hallström, which was both a critical and commercial success.
In 2001, Depp starred as cocaine smuggler George Jung in Blow, followed by his portrayal of inspector Frederick Abberline in From Hell, a film based on the Jack the Ripper murders. While Blow received mixed reviews and modest commercial success, From Hell faced similar critical reception but performed moderately well at the box office.
The pivotal year for Depp came in 2003 with his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The film’s massive success catapulted Depp to global stardom, earning him widespread acclaim for his comedic portrayal. He received numerous award nominations and won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor, solidifying his place in Hollywood. Additionally, Depp starred in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, receiving praise for his performance as a corrupt CIA agent.
Continuing his successful streak, Depp portrayed various characters in films such as Secret Window (2004), The Libertine (2004), and Finding Neverland (2004), the latter earning him his second Academy Award nomination. He also ventured into voice acting for Corpse Bride (2005) and reprised his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, both of which were box office hits.
In 2007, Depp collaborated with Tim Burton once again for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, showcasing his singing abilities for the first time on screen. The film was well-received commercially and critically, earning Depp a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and his third Academy Award nomination.
In 2009, Johnny Depp took on the role of notorious gangster John Dillinger in Michael Mann’s 1930s crime flick Public Enemies. The film enjoyed commercial success and received generally favorable reviews. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert hailed Depp’s performance, noting its departure from typical gangster portrayals and emphasizing its authentic portrayal of Dillinger.
Also in 2009, Depp starred in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam, alongside Jude Law and Colin Farrell. The trio stepped in to complete the role initially played by their late friend Heath Ledger, with all proceeds from their work going to Ledger’s daughter, Matilda.
The following year, Depp kicked off the 2010s with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, portraying the Mad Hatter alongside an ensemble cast. Despite mixed critical reception, the film grossed over a billion dollars worldwide, cementing its place among the highest-grossing films of all time. Depp’s second 2010 release was the romantic thriller The Tourist, co-starring Angelina Jolie, which saw commercial success despite negative reviews. For both films, Depp received Golden Globe nominations.
In 2011, Depp voiced the lead character in the animated hit Rango and reprised his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, contributing to the film’s box office triumph. That year, Depp also produced two films through his company, Infinitum Nihil. The Rum Diary, based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel, received mixed reviews and struggled financially, while Martin Scorsese’s Hugo garnered critical acclaim but fell short at the box office. Additionally, Depp made a cameo in the Adam Sandler comedy Jack and Jill.
By 2012, Depp had solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s top stars, even earning a place in the Guinness World Records as the highest-paid actor. That year, he appeared in a cameo for the 21 Jump Street film adaptation and starred in and co-produced Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows, based on the Gothic soap opera. Despite his established popularity, the film received mixed reviews in the United States.
Following the expiration of Infinitum Nihil’s deal with WB in 2011, Depp signed a first-look agreement with Walt Disney Studios. Their collaboration resulted in The Lone Ranger (2013), where Depp’s portrayal of Tonto faced accusations of whitewashing and the film suffered significant losses. Despite this setback, Depp continued to explore diverse roles, such as an AI scientist in Transcendence (2014), which failed commercially and critically.
In 2015, Depp’s production company released two films. Mortdecai, a comedy-thriller, was widely panned by critics and underperformed at the box office, while Black Mass, where Depp portrayed Whitey Bulger, earned him critical acclaim despite financial disappointment. Amid these projects, Depp also signed a deal with luxury brand Dior and was honored as a Disney Legend.
In 2016, Depp appeared in Yoga Hosers and parodied Donald Trump in a Funny or Die satire. He also returned as the Mad Hatter in Alice Through the Looking Glass and made a surprise cameo as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
In 2017, Depp reprised his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which faced mixed reviews but performed well internationally. He also featured in Murder on the Orient Express, rounding off the year with a diverse array of roles.
However, around this time, Depp faced setbacks, including Disney’s decision not to cast him in future Pirates films and his departure from Universal’s Dark Universe franchise. Despite these challenges, Depp continued his acting career with independent projects like Waiting for the Barbarians and Minamata. In November 2020, amidst legal troubles and controversy, Depp stepped down from his role as Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, marking a tumultuous period in his career.
In March 2021, the film “City of Lies,” originally slated for release in 2018, finally hit theaters and streaming platforms. Around the same time, an online petition that had begun four months prior, aimed at bringing Johnny Depp back to the Pirates franchise, achieved its target of 500,000 signatures. Support for Depp’s return also came from his Pirates co-star Kevin McNally. However, in July 2021, director Andrew Levitas accused MGM of attempting to suppress “Minamata” due to Depp’s involvement, with Depp himself alleging a boycott by the Hollywood industry and labeling the shift in his reputation as “an absurdity of media mathematics.” Despite these challenges, “Minamata” saw release in the UK and Ireland in August 2021 and later in North America in December 2021, garnering positive reviews, particularly for Depp’s performance. Additionally, Depp continued his association with Dior’s men’s fragrance, Sauvage.
Throughout 2021 and 2022, Depp received several honorary awards at various European film festivals, sparking controversy as domestic violence charities criticized the decision to honor him. Festival organizers defended their choice, emphasizing that Depp had not faced charges or convictions related to violence against women. In September 2021, Depp spoke out against cancel culture and launched IN.2, a London-based sister company to his production firm Infinitum Nihil, along with a development fund for TV and film projects in collaboration with Spanish production company A Contracorriente Films.
In February 2022, Depp was awarded the Serbian Gold Medal of Merit by President Aleksandar Vučić for his contributions to public and cultural activities, particularly in film and promoting Serbia globally. Meanwhile, the outcome of his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard remained pending. Amidst these events, Depp made a surprise appearance at a Jeff Beck concert in Sheffield in May 2022, playing guitar alongside Beck on several classic songs. He later joined Beck on tour across the UK, Europe, and the US to promote their album “18.” Additionally, Depp made a cameo at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards in August 2022.
In 2022, Depp landed the role of King Louis XV in Maïwenn’s period film “Jeanne du Barry,” marking his first French-language film. The movie premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, receiving mixed reviews, but Depp’s performance garnered praise for his visual acting. Beyond acting, Depp has maintained his passion for music, collaborating with various artists over the years and performing live on multiple occasions, including joining Aerosmith on stage in 2014 and forming the supergroup Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry in 2015. Depp and guitarist Jeff Beck released their joint album “18” in July 2022, following a series of concerts together.
Name | Johnny Depp |
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Date of Birth | 09/06/1963 |
Current Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S |
Religion | Christian |
Nationality | American |
Height | 171 CM |
Hobbies | Playing Musical Instruments, Singing. |
Father | John Christopher Depp |
Mother | Betty Sue Palmer |
Spouse | Lori Allison (m. 1983; div. 1985) Amber Heard (m. 2015; div. 2017) |
Children | 3 |
Educational Qualification | Graduate |
Debut Movies | |
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Language | Movie Name |
English | A Nightmare on Elm Street |
Awards List | ||||
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Year | Award | Category | Movie Name |