Johnny Depp

John Christopher Depp II, born on June 9, 1963, is an American actor and musician known for his versatile roles and eccentric characters in films. Over the course of his career, Depp has received multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, along with nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA awards. His films, often featuring him in unique and offbeat roles, have collectively grossed over $8 billion worldwide, establishing him as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.


Depp initially pursued a career in music, performing in several amateur rock bands before making his feature film debut in the horror movie "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984). He further solidified his presence in the film industry with roles in Platoon (1986) and gained widespread recognition as a teen idol in the television series 21 Jump Street (1987–1990).


Throughout his career, Depp has collaborated with notable directors on independent films, working on projects like "Cry-Baby" (1990), "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993), "Benny and Joon" (1993), "Dead Man" (1995), "Donnie Brasco" (1997), "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998), and "The Ninth Gate" (1999). His enduring collaboration with director Tim Burton has produced films such as "Edward Scissorhands" (1990), "Ed Wood" (1994), "Sleepy Hollow" (1999), "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005), "Corpse Bride" (2005), "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007), and "Alice in Wonderland" (2010).


Depp reached global stardom for his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series (2003–2017). He also received acclaim for his roles in "Chocolat" (2000) and "Finding Neverland" (2004). In addition, Depp has taken on diverse roles in films such as "Public Enemies" (2009), "Into the Woods" (2014), "Black Mass" (2015), and "Murder on the Orient Express" (2017). He played the character Gellert Grindelwald in the "Fantastic Beasts" films, including "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (2016) and "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" (2018).


Apart from his acting career, Depp was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2003 and received the same accolade in 2009. In the 2010s, he ventured into film production through his company Infinitum Nihil and formed the rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry. Depp's personal life, including his relationship with French singer Vanessa Paradis , with whom he has two children, and his marriage to actress Amber Heard , has garnered significant media attention due to highly publicized legal disputes and allegations of abuse from both parties.


Johnny Depp was born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, as the youngest of four children to waitress Betty Sue Depp and civil engineer John Christopher Depp. His family moved frequently during his childhood, eventually settling in Miramar, Florida, in 1970. Depp's parents divorced in 1978, and his mother later remarried Robert Palmer, whom Depp considers an inspiration.


At the age of 12, Depp received a guitar from his mother, sparking his interest in music. He dropped out of Miramar High School at 16 in 1979 to pursue a career as a rock musician. Although he attempted to return to school, the principal encouraged him to follow his musical aspirations. In 1980, Depp joined a band called The Kids, later renamed Six Gun Method, and moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of a record deal. Despite working odd jobs, such as telemarketing, success eluded the band, and they disbanded before securing a record deal. Depp then collaborated with the band Rock City Angels.


Depp's personal life also saw a brief marriage to makeup artist Lori Anne Allison in 1983, but they divorced in 1985. His ancestry includes primarily English descent, with some French, German, Irish, and African American roots. Depp claimed to have Native American ancestry, mentioning his great-grandmother's connection to Cherokee or Creek Indian heritage. However, his claims faced scrutiny, and he was criticized by the Native American community for not having documented Native ancestry. His portrayal of Tonto in "The Lone Ranger" and the naming of his rock band "Tonto's Giant Nuts" further intensified criticism.


During the promotion of "The Lone Ranger," Depp was adopted as an honorary son by LaDonna Harris of the Comanche Nation. While this made him an honorary member of her family, it did not confer official membership in any tribe. Depp's Comanche name given during the adoption was Mah Woo May, meaning shape-shifter. Despite these honorary gestures, Depp continued to face criticism from the Native community, and an advertisement featuring him and Native American imagery for Dior's "Sauvage" fragrance was pulled in 2019 due to accusations of cultural appropriation and racism.


At the age of 20, Johnny Depp moved to Los Angeles with his band. When the band disbanded, his then-wife Lori Ann Allison introduced him to actor Nicolas Cage, and they became drinking buddies. Cage encouraged Depp to pursue acting, despite Depp's initial lack of interest in the profession. Depp's fascination with acting had developed after reading a biography of James Dean and watching Rebel Without a Cause.


With Cage's support, Depp secured an audition with Wes Craven for "A Nightmare on Elm Street." Despite having no acting experience, he landed the role of the main character's boyfriend, marking his accidental entry into the world of acting. Depp's casting was influenced, in part, by catching the eye of Wes Craven's daughter.


Although Depp had not initially aspired to be an actor, he continued to be cast in films, providing him with income to cover unpaid bills from his music career. Following a role in the 1985 comedy Private Resort, he was initially cast in the lead role of the 1986 skating drama Thrashin by the film's director. However, the producer overruled the decision, and Depp ended up appearing in a minor supporting role as a Vietnamese-speaking private in Oliver Stone's 1986 Vietnam War drama "Platoon."


Johnny Depp gained widespread recognition and became a teen idol in the late 1980s for his role as an undercover police officer in a high school operation in the Fox television series "21 Jump Street," which premiered in 1987. Depp accepted the role to work with actor Frederic Forrest, who served as an inspiration for him. Despite his success, Depp felt that the series somewhat constrained him, forcing him into a specific role within the entertainment industry.

References

1.  "Johnny Depp - Box Office".
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3. ^ "Tom Cruise and Hanks top new power list". World Entertainment News Network. April 10, 2006.
4. ^ "The Ulmer Scale". Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
5. ^ "2009's Sexiest Man Alive: Johnny Depp". People. November 18, 2009. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
6. ^ Balani, Ayushi (March 17, 2023). "Johnny Depp net worth 2023, luxury lifestyle, career & early life". Pinkvilla. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
7. ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1263. June 14, 2013. p. 40.
8. a b c "Celebrity Central: Johnny Depp". People. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
9. ^ Barraclough, Leo (July 6, 2020). "7 Things You Need to Know About Johnny Depp's U.K. Trial". Variety. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021. ...over the case brought by John Christopher Depp II against Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers...
10. ^ Ng, Philiana (May 25, 2016). "Johnny Depp's Mother Dies After Long Illness". Etonline.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
11. ^ Blitz & Krasniewicz 2007, p. 1.
12. ^ The Genealogist Archived June 26, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, "Richard T. Oren Depp (1879–1912); m. Effie America Palmore. 9th gen. Oren Larimore Depp; m. Violet Grinstead. 10th gen. John Christopher Depp; m. Betty Sue Wells. 11th gen John Christopher Depp II (Johnny Depp), b. 9 June 1963, Owensboro. See Warder Harrison, "Screen Star, Johnny Depp, Has Many Relatives in Ky.", Kentucky Explorer (Jackson, Ky), July–August 1997, 38–39. 247 Barren Co."