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Early life and career

21 jump street , tim burton films, and hunter s. thompson, pirates of the caribbean and academy award nominations, john dillinger, the mad hatter, and tonto, later films, music and personal life.

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Johnny Depp

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Johnny Depp (born June 9, 1963, Owensboro , Kentucky , U.S.) is an American actor and musician who was known for his eclectic and unconventional film choices. He achieved perhaps his greatest success as Capt. Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

At age 16 Depp dropped out of high school to pursue a music career. His band, the Kids, relocated from Florida , where he spent the majority of his childhood, to Los Angeles . In 1983 Depp married Lori Anne Allison, who worked as a makeup artist while he struggled as a musician. Allison had her friend the actor Nicolas Cage arrange for Depp to audition with director Wes Craven , and Depp made his film debut as a teenager eaten by his own bed in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). He divorced Allison the following year.

Depp’s professional break came in 1987 with the premiere of 21 Jump Street , a television police series that starred Depp as Officer Tom Hanson, a young cop who frequently went undercover in high schools and colleges to catch troubled youths. The show was a hit, though Depp resented his promotion as a teen heartthrob. In 1990 he left the series and appeared in John Waters ’s Cry-Baby and Tim Burton ’s Edward Scissorhands , two films by maverick directors that showcased Depp’s range. Scissorhands began a long association between the actor and director that led to Depp’s appearance in several other Burton films, including Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005); in the latter film Depp played the reclusive candy baron Willy Wonka. In addition, Depp provided the voice of the unfortunate groom in Burton’s macabre animated tale Corpse Bride (2005).

Depp continued to show his versatility with roles as a 19th-century accountant in Jim Jarmusch ’s Dead Man (1995) and as an FBI agent who infiltrates the Mafia in Donnie Brasco (1997). In 1998 Depp, a longtime friend and fan of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson , starred in Terry Gilliam ’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , a film based on Thompson’s pseudo-autobiographical novel of the same name; Depp later received top billing in another Thompson adaptation , The Rum Diary (2011). He interviewed gonzo artist Ralph Steadman , who illustrated much of Thompson’s work, in the documentary For No Good Reason (2012). Other notable films include Roman Polanski ’s The Ninth Gate (1999) and Ted Demme’s Blow (2001).

In 2003 Depp appeared as Capt. Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); the film also starred Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley . His performance, which was modeled on Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones , earned Depp his first Academy Award nomination. He was nominated again the following year for his portrayal of Peter Pan creator James M. Barrie in Finding Neverland (2004). Depp reprised the role of Sparrow in later installments of the Pirates of the Caribbean series: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), which were among the highest-grossing films ever. During this time Depp reteamed with Burton for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), a film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim ’s musical; as the serial killer Sweeney, Depp earned praise for both his acting and his singing, and he received another Oscar nomination.

In Public Enemies (2009) Depp played John Dillinger , a criminal who became legendary for robbing a string of American banks during the Great Depression . Depp later joined Colin Farrell and Jude Law in contributing an alternate portrayal of Heath Ledger ’s character to The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), a conceit engineered to salvage Ledger’s incomplete final performance and made plausible by the fantasy premise of the film.

In 2010 Depp portrayed the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland , Burton’s adaptation of Lewis Carroll ’s classic novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865). Later that year he starred opposite Angelina Jolie in the thriller The Tourist . In the animated western Rango (2011), Depp provided the voice of the title character, a chameleon who becomes the sheriff of a colourful desert town. He then played an 18th-century vampire awakening in the 1970s in Dark Shadows (2012), Burton’s comedic adaptation of the cult-favourite soap opera of the same name. In The Lone Ranger (2013), Depp sported a headdress and war paint as the titular lawman ’s laconic Native American sidekick, Tonto .

In 2014 Depp assumed the roles of an artificial-intelligence researcher in the thriller Transcendence , a detective in the horror film Tusk , and a wolf in the cinematic adaptation of Stephen Sondheim ’s musical fairy tale Into the Woods . In 2015 Depp evinced a talent for the farcical as the title character in the comic spy caper Mortdecai before exuding menace as gangster Whitey Bulger in Black Mass . He reprised his cheerfully loony take on the Mad Hatter in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) and later was part of an all-star cast in Murder on the Orient Express (2017), based on Agatha Christie ’s 1933 novel. In 2018 Depp lent his voice to the title character in the animated feature Sherlock Gnomes . Later that year he assumed the role of the eponymous dark wizard in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald , the second installation of a movie series based on J.K. Rowling ’s world of Harry Potter . In Minamata (2020) Depp portrayed photojournalist W. Eugene Smith , who in the early 1970s documented the impact of industrial pollution on the residents of a Japanese village.

Maintaining his early interest in music, Depp played acoustic guitar in the film Chocolat (2000) and on the soundtrack to Once upon a Time in Mexico (2003). His work as a guitarist also appeared on albums by the Pogues and Oasis. While working on The Ninth Gate , he met French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis, with whom he had a long-term relationship (1998–2012) and two children.

In 2015 Depp wed the actress Amber Heard , and their tumultuous marriage became tabloid fodder. Heard notably accused him of physically assaulting her and alleged that he had substance abuse issues. They divorced in 2016, and two years later Heard wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post claiming that she was a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Also in 2018 The Sun , a British newspaper, referred to Depp as a “wife beater.” He sued the paper for libel, and the trial ended in 2020 with the judge ruling against Depp, stating, “I accept that Mr. Depp put [Heard] in fear of her life.” During this time Depp also sued Heard, for defamation over her article in the Post . She in turn countersued, alleging that Depp defamed her when one of his lawyers called her abuse claims a hoax . The televised trial began in April 2022, and it became something of a media circus; the trial was especially popular on social media . After six weeks of testimony—which included both sides accusing each other of domestic abuse—a jury ruled for Depp in his lawsuit, finding that Heard had acted with “actual malice.” Depp was awarded $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages , though the judge lowered the amount to $10.35 million. The jury also found that Heard had been defamed by Depp’s attorney, but she did not prevail on two other counts. She was given $2 million in compensatory damages.

Johnny Depp

Academy Award–nominated actor Johnny Depp is known for his roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , and Finding Neverland .

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Quick Facts

Becoming an actor: "nightmare on elm street" and "21 jump street", mainstream success: "cry-baby" and "edward scissorhands", troubled image and more successful movies, box-office star: "pirates of the caribbean" and "alice in wonderland", hits and misses at the box office, relationship with vanessa paradis and kids, amber heard trial and other legal woes, acting slump and return, johnny depp’s net worth.

1963-present

Who Is Johnny Depp?

Actor Johnny Depp is a three-time Academy Award nominee known for his starring role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, as well as parts in films such as Edward Scissorhands , Sleepy Hollow , Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street , and Alice in Wonderland . Depp landed his first movie role in the 1984 horror film Nightmare on Elm Street and rose to prominence a few years later when he began playing Tommy Hanson on the TV show 21 Jump Street . One of the most bankable actors in cinema, his once steady career stalled in the late 2010s after ex-wife Amber Heard alleged the actor physically and verbally abused her. Their subsequent defamation trial in 2022 garnered widespread attention.

FULL NAME: John Christopher Depp II BORN: June 9, 1963 BIRTHPLACE: Owensboro, Kentucky SPOUSES: Lori Allison (1983-1985) and Amber Heard (2015-2017) CHILDREN: Lily-Rose Melody Depp and John Christopher Depp III ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Gemini

Johnny Depp was born John Christopher Depp II, in Owensboro, Kentucky, on June 9, 1963, to parents John and Betty Sue Depp. Depp’s father worked as a civil engineer, and his mother worked as a waiter and homemaker. The youngest of four children, Johnny was withdrawn and a self-admitted oddball.

The family moved frequently to accommodate John’s job, finally landing in Miramar, Florida, when Johnny was 7 years old. They lived in a motel for nearly a year, until John found a job. Johnny hated his new home and, by the age of 12, began smoking, experimenting with drugs, and engaging in self-harm due to the stress of family problems.

In 1978, when Johnny was 15, his parents got divorced. It became Johnny’s job to go to his father’s office and pick up the weekly child-support money. The split caused a rift between Johnny and his father.

At 16, Johnny dropped out of high school and joined a garage band called the Kids. The group became successful enough to open for the Talking Heads and the B-52s, but they barely made ends meet. Johnny lived for months in a friend’s ’67 Chevy Impala.

In 1983, at the age of 20, Depp met and married 25-year-old makeup artist Lori Allison. That same year, the couple moved to Los Angeles with Depp’s band in the hopes of striking it big. Still living on a shoestring budget, Depp and his bandmates supported themselves by selling pens for a telemarketing firm.

A year later, Depp fell into acting when his wife introduced him to her ex-boyfriend, actor Nicolas Cage . Cage saw potential in Depp and introduced the hopeful musician to a Hollywood agent. After several small roles as an extra, Depp landed his first legitimate movie role in the horror film Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).

By 1985, the Kids had broken up—and so had Depp’s marriage. After his split with Allison, Depp struck up a relationship with actor Sherilyn Fenn, whom he met on the set of the short film Dummies (1985). They were briefly engaged but split before marrying. After their break-up, Depp then met and proposed to actor Jennifer Grey ; their romance was also short-lived.

Depp started to study acting in earnest, first in classes at the Loft Studio in Los Angeles and then with a private coach. The lessons paid off in 1987 when he replaced actor Jeff Yagher in the role of undercover cop Tommy Hanson in the popular Canadian-filmed television series 21 Jump Street . The role thrust Depp into almost immediate stardom; he became a teen idol overnight, though he resented that label. He told The Telegraph in a 2006 interview he felt the show grew stagnant as it progressed: “It just started to become false. It started to become this action-packed can of soup, you know? You just market it and send it out.” The actor reportedly tried to get fired from the role, even trashing his trailer.

When his contract on Jump Street expired in 1989, Depp leaped at the opportunity to pursue weightier roles. (In the 2012 film adaptation of the TV series, which starred Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill , Depp had an uncredited cameo as Tommy Hanson.)

In 1990, Depp starred in the John Waters ’50s-kitsch musical Cry-Baby , which became a cult hit and succeeded in changing his image. That same year, he received an opportunity to exhibit his versatility as an actor in the titular role of Tim Burton ’s fantasy film Edward Scissorhands . The movie not only established Depp as an A-list actor, but it also grossed more than $54 million at the box office. Following the film’s success, Depp carved a niche for himself as a serious, somewhat dark, idiosyncratic performer, consistently selecting roles that surprise critics and audiences alike.

During shooting for Edward Scissorhands , Depp met co-star Winona Ryder , whom he’d been eyeing since a brief meeting at the premiere for her film Great Balls of Fire the previous year. The two began dating on the set and soon became a Hollywood power couple. Five months after their first date, Depp and Ryder became engaged. To solidify their love, Depp even had “Winona Forever” tattooed on his right arm. The couple split, however, in 1993, and Depp had the tattoo changed to “Wino Forever.”

Outside of his personal life, Depp continued to flourish, gaining critical acclaim and increasing popularity for his work. Two of notable roles from this time include the social misanthrope Sam in Benny & Joon (1993), which earned him a Golden Globe nod, and Gilbert in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993), which cast him as a young man dissatisfied with the confines of his small-town life.

In August 1993, Depp and two business partners bought The Viper Club in Los Angeles, which instantly became the hippest spot on the Sunset Strip. Depp began using the club as an opportunity to introduce patrons to music from his newly formed band P, which offered popular shows at the venue. But tragedy hit the club on October 31 of that year, when teen heartthrob and critically acclaimed actor River Phoenix suffered a drug overdose outside the club. Phoenix died later that evening.

Depp also dabbled with drugs and spiraled into a deep depression. Around this time, he started a very public relationship with supermodel Kate Moss . Depp and Moss constantly made headlines for their passionate and unpredictable behavior; in 1994, Depp famously trashed a New York hotel room after one of the couple’s many fights.

Depp’s wild behavior didn’t seem to have an effect on his professional life, as he enjoyed a steady stream of work. In 1994, he reteamed with Burton in the biopic Ed Wood , about the infamous B-movie director. The film won Depp critical acclaim and another Golden Globe nomination. His next major movie was 1997’s Donnie Brasco , which featured Depp as an undercover FBI agent seeking to infiltrate the Bonano crime family.

In 1998, Depp split from longtime girlfriend Moss and took the role of journalist Hunter S. Thompson ’s alter ego in Terry Gilliam’s adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas . During filming, Depp cultivated a strong friendship with Thompson, which lasted until Thompson’s death in 2005. Depp would later finance the writer’s funeral.

Rounding out the ’90s, Depp teamed up with Burton once again on Sleepy Hollow , starring as the prim and driven Ichabod Crane.

The turn of the millennium marked the start of a prolific—and especially successful—period in Depp’s career. He appeared in the small but popular romantic drama Chocolat in 2000, followed by a big-budget role as real-life cocaine kingpin George Jung in Blow in 2001.

In 2003, Depp earned an Academy Award nomination for his starring role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the family adventure Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl . The film was a box-office smash, fueling the creation of the Pirates franchise. The 2006 sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest , broke a box-office record in reaching the highest weekend tally ever. The third installment fared well, too: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End was released on Memorial Day weekend in 2007, bringing in $138.8 million. Two additional installments were released in 2011 and 2017, with Depp once again roving the high seas as Sparrow.

As the Pirates film series took off, Depp continued working across genres. In 2004, he turned in a critically acclaimed performance in Finding Neverland , in which he starred as Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie . The film earned him more than 10 award nominations, including both Academy and Golden Globe nods.

Next, Depp played fictional candymaker Willy Wonka in the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , an adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel of the same name.

Depp then took on one of theater’s most notorious characters in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). Directed by Burton and co-starring Helena Bonham Carter, the dark and gory musical tells the tale of a barber who kills his customers before seeing them turned into pies by his downstairs neighbor. Depp netted a Golden Globe Award for his work on the film.

His next box office success was another film adaptation, this time of the Lewis Carroll classic Alice in Wonderland . For the project, Depp again teamed up with Burton to take on the character of the Mad Hatter. The 2010 film, starring Mia Wasikowska as Alice, brought in more than $116 million in its opening weekend.

In the Burton comedy Dark Shadows (2012), Depp played Barnabas Collins, a vampire who escapes imprisonment and returns to his family home. There, Collins tries to help his descendants played by Michelle Pfeiffer , Chloë Grace Moretz, and Jonny Lee Miller. Depp was a longtime fan of the film’s source material—the late 1960s gothic soap opera Dark Shadows —and encouraged Burton to bring it to the big screen.

Unfortunately, Depp’s next big-budget endeavor didn’t fare nearly as well as his earlier films. In 2013, the A-list actor teamed up with Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer once again in the Disney film The Lone Ranger . The film, which cost more than $215 million to produce, performed poorly at the box office and received lackluster reviews.

Depp then took on the role of notorious crime boss Whitey Bulger in the 2015 biopic Black Mass . In 2016, Depp reprised his role as the Mad Hatter in Burton’s Through The Looking Glass , based on Carroll’s sequel to Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland . The following year, he joined the ensemble cast for an adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express .

In 2018, Depp jumped into another major feature film franchise with the part of evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald , after briefly appearing in the first installment Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016).

While filming the sci-fi drama The Ninth Gate (1999) in France, Johnny met French actor, singer, and model Vanessa Paradis. Paradis became pregnant with the couple’s first child later that year. In May 1999, the couple welcomed daughter Lily-Rose Melody Depp. Depp and Paradis had their second child, son John Christopher “Jack” Depp III, three years later.

Lily-Rose Depp became a model for Chanel at age 15 and, like her father, jumped into acting. She made her first film appearance in the 2014 horror-comedy Tusk, which also featured Johnny, and also had parts in Planetarium (2016), The King (2019), Voyagers (2021), and Crisis (2021). She received a starring role in the HBO series The Idol , debuting in June 2023.

Jack Depp has largely stayed out of the public eye and shares a close bond with sister Lily-Rose. The siblings are bilingual and, according to a 2021 article by Interview , often spoke French in school to share secrets and conversations. His father has noted Jack’s artistic streak, saying Jack can draw very well and started his own band.

In 2012, stories began to circulate that Johnny Depp and Paradis had split up. Depp initially denied these rumors, but his representative confirmed the couple’s break-up that June. Depp and Paradis had been together for nearly 14 years when they split.

Depp met another future love interest on the set of a film while still publicly involved with Paradis. While filming The Rum Diary (2011) , he met co-star Amber Heard. The couple was seen publicly together for the first time in 2012, not long after Depp’s split with Paradis. Depp and Heard got engaged on Christmas Eve in 2013 and tied the knot in February 2015.

Heard filed for divorce in May 2016, and shortly afterward, she also filed a restraining order, alleging that Depp had been verbally and physically abusive. The two reached a settlement that August, and the divorce was finalized in January 2017. However, their legal entanglements were far from over.

After Heard penned an opinion article in December 2018 that described her experiences with domestic violence, Depp filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife a few months later. Heard subsequently countersued Depp for defamation after one of his lawyers called the allegations a “hoax.”

Their trial began on April 11, 2022, and garnered national attention. During testimony, Heard described instances of alleged abuse by Depp, including a “cavity search” he performed on her while looking for cocaine. Depp claimed Heard instigated arguments and escalated their feuds. He called the most severe accusations “all false.”

On June 1, 2022, a jury ruled in favor of Depp in the defamation lawsuit, requiring Heard to pay $15 million in punitive damages, which a judge capped at $10.35 million based on legal limits. The jury also ruled in favor of Heard’s counterclaim that she was defamed by Depp’s lawyer, requiring Depp to pay $2 million in damages.

Both sides appealed aspects of the jury’s decision and announced in December 2022 they had decided to settle the respective defamation suits for $1 million. Multiple outlets reported in June 2023 that Depp plans to donate the money to five charities.

Depp faced other legal troubles in the late 2010s, too. In October 2017, he filed a $25 million lawsuit against his former business managers, claiming they mismanaged $650 million of his earnings from the previous two decades. The following April, Depp was on the other end of a lawsuit, with two former personal security guards suing him for unpaid wages and their exposure to dangerous work conditions.

In July 2018, it was reported that Depp was being sued for allegedly hitting a location manager on the set of his upcoming film City of Lies , about the murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G . According to the suit, the movie star grew irate when told that production was finished for the day, at which point he twice “forcefully punched” the location manager in the lower left side of his rib cage and unleashed a verbal tirade until being dragged away by his bodyguards. As a result, the movie was pulled from distribution a month before its scheduled September 7 release date. Depp settled the suit in July 2022 before it went to trial.

Amid his public battle with Heard, Depp’s film roles declined in quantity and notoriety. He was asked to resign from the Fantastic Beasts franchise by Warner Brothers in November 2020, and Mads Mikkelsen was recast as Gellert Grindelwald for the series’ third installment. Depp had only one part each in 2019 and 2020, as well as some voice acting work.

Depp’s first major film role following the defamation trial was as French King Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry . The film premiered at the annual Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, with Depp receiving a warm reception from fans and a standing ovation at the film’s conclusion. Others believed Depp shouldn’t have been invited to the event given Heard’s allegations.

Depp told reporters at the festival that although he desired to continue working in film, he didn’t have “much further need for Hollywood” and admitted to feeling boycotted during his legal saga. He reportedly sought funding for his next project , a biopic of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani.

As of May 2023, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Depp has a net worth around $150 million. According to film revenue database The Numbers, movies featuring Depp as a leading actor have collectively grossed just shy of $8.3 billion at the domestic and international box offices. Factor in his roles as part of a leading ensemble, and Depp ranks No. 12 among the most bankable actors ever at the worldwide box office.

In addition to his acting talents, Depp is an amateur musician. He predominantly plays guitar but also sings backup and plays keyboard. As a teenager, Depp was in a garage band called the Kids. In the 1990s, his newly formed band called P often performed at The Viper Club in Los Angeles.

His most recent musical venture—notable for its big-name talent—is the rock band Hollywood Vampires. Depp helped form the band in the early-to-mid 2010s, alongside Joe Perry of Aerosmith , Alice Cooper , and Tommy Henriksen. The group is named after a celebrity drinking club formed by Cooper in the 1970s, which included Ringo Starr and Keith Moon. The group has released two studio albums, including their self-titled 2015 album that featured artists such as Dave Grohl , Paul McCartney , and Joe Walsh.

• I fear [dancing] more than anything in the world. Doing a film when it ’ s choreographed and you’re a character, it’s alright. But in life, I’d rather swallow a bag of hair.
• The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants.
• Puberty was very vague. I literally locked myself in a room and played guitar.
• I was so uncomfortable being a product, I swore to myself that I would choose my own path.
• On playing Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean : It ’ s not like I was ever looking to become franchise boy, I was never looking to become anything like that. I just latched on to a character I loved.
• At some point, it became more honest for me on set. I understand it—everything is defined... It has become very natural, while the outside world has become unnatural.
• I think, as an actor, if you get to a place where you ’ re satisfied, you’re happy with it, then you’re dead—it ’ s over.
• I don ’ t trust anyone who hasn ’ t been self-destructive in some way... You ’ ve got to bang yourself around a bit to know yourself.
• I can ’ t think of myself in terms of celebrity. It ’ s just too weird. If the choice is between being constantly gawked at and sitting in a chair in a dark room, I prefer the dark room.
• When I was 12, I wanted to learn how to play the guitar, and I found a chord book in a shop, and I stuffed it down my trousers. And that ’ s how I learned to play the guitar.
• I imagined what George Bush would be like incredibly stoned. And thus was born my version of Willy Wonka.

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Johnny Depp

IMDbPro Starmeter Top 500 24

• Contact info
• 81 wins & 155 nominations total

Johnny Depp Through the Years

Photos 1900

• Sweeney Todd

• Jack Sparrow

• In Development

• Johnny Puff (voice)

• Phillip Artoosh

• Johnny Puff
• 21 episodes

• 70 episodes

• W. Eugene Smith

• Russell Poole

• Grindelwald

• Chick Purchase (uncredited)

• Sherlock Gnomes (voice)

• Edward Ratchett

• executive producer

• producer (produced by)

• Post-production

• Director (as Richard Mudd)

• Director (as J. Depp)
• In-development projects at IMDbPro

Personal details

• 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
• June 9 , 1963
• Owensboro, Kentucky, USA
• Spouses Amber Heard February 3, 2015 - January 13, 2017 (divorced)
• Children Jack Depp
• Parents Betty Sue (Wells)
• Other works TV commercial for H&M (clothing)
• 9 Print Biographies
• 3 Portrayals
• 31 Interviews
• 102 Articles
• 35 Pictorials
• 130 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

• Trivia Donated $2 million to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. He gave the gift as thanks for the treatment his daughter Lily-Rose received at the facility in March 2007 after contracting an E. Coli infection that caused kidney failure.
• Quotes Anything I've done up till 27 May, 1999 was kind of an illusion, existing without living. My daughter, the birth of my daughter, gave me life.
• Trademarks Deep, whispering voice
• Salaries Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore ( 2022 ) $16,000,000

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Johnny Depp Biography

Birthday: June 9 , 1963 ( Gemini )

Born In: Owensboro, Kentucky, United States

Considered one of the most successful actors of all time, Johnny Depp has formed a solid bond with moviegoers spanning multiple generations due to his ability to fully absorb himself into an assortment of dynamic characters. The talented actor’s real life story is filled with equally surprising twists and turns at par with the plots of some of the movies he's starred in throughout his career. During his early years, Depp had musical aspirations; however, it wasn't long before he discovered the allure of the big screen. The versatile actor emerged from his teen idol days to find success in a string box office hits. His unique ability to bring characters to life has included high profile collaborations with top directors and a lucrative relationship with the Disney team in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' series. While he has established a solid reputation for knowing what moviegoers want, Depp has also a penchant for choosing projects based more on the challenge of the role rather than the potential for box office success. He has managed to find just the right balance between choosing roles for the true love of becoming absorbed into a character's world to reprising familiar roles with renewed enthusiasm. He has bagged in various awards and accolades for his phenomenal performances, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award. He has also earned the Academy Award nominations thrice and have been nominated for the BAFTA twice. His portryal of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of Caribbean made him one of the most commercially successful film stars and he earned critical praise for his role in Finding Neverland. His marriage to Amber Heard in 2015, and their divorce drew a lot of media attention.

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Nick Name: Johnny, Mr. Stench, Colonel

Also Known As: John Christopher Depp II

Age: 61 Years , 61 Year Old Males

Spouse/Ex-: Amber Heard , Kate Moss , Lori Anne Allison , Sherilyn Fenn , Vanessa Paradis , Winona Ryder

father: John Christopher Depp

mother: Betty Sue Palmer

siblings: Christi Dembrowski, Daniel Depp, Debbie Depp

children: John, Lily-Rose Melody Depp

Born Country: United States

Actors T V & Movie Producers

Height: 5'10" (178 cm ), 5'10" Males

Personality: INFP

Notable Alumni: Miramar High School

Ancestry: French American, Irish American, British American, German American

U.S. State: Kentucky

Founder/Co-Founder: Infinitum Nihil, The Viper Room

education: Miramar High School

Humanitarian Work: Associated with Actors Fund of America’ and ‘Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition’

You wanted to know

What are some of johnny depp's most iconic movie roles.

Some of Johnny Depp's most iconic movie roles include Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, Edward Scissorhands in "Edward Scissorhands," and the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland."

Has Johnny Depp ever won an Oscar?

Johnny Depp has been nominated for three Academy Awards but has not won an Oscar yet.

What is Johnny Depp's band called?

Johnny Depp is a member of the band called Hollywood Vampires, which also includes Alice Cooper and Joe Perry.

Does Johnny Depp do his own stunts in movies?

Johnny Depp is known for doing some of his own stunts in movies, particularly in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series.

How does Johnny Depp prepare for his movie roles?

Johnny Depp is known for immersing himself in his characters by extensively researching and studying the roles he takes on.

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At the age of twelve, he received a guitar as a gift from his mother, which would soon inspire him to play in local garage bands.

The fictionalized story of an FBI agent who infiltrates the mob became Depp's next movie role in 1997, when he teamed with Al Pacino in 'Donnie Brasco.'

In 1998, he paid homage to Hunter S. Thompson by playing a version of the writer in the film 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.' Later that year, he had a small role in 'L.A. Without a Map'.

He returned to his Captain Jack Sparrow role in 2006, and 2007, in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End,' respectively.

He wrapped up 2007, with a darker role as the title character in the film adaptation of 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' another collaboration with Burton.

After being cast in ‘Transcendence’ the talented actor was credited as Guy Lapointe when he appeared in 'Tusk', in 2014, before debuting as the wolf in 'Into the Woods' later that year.

In early 2015, Depp starred with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor as an eccentric art dealer in 'Mortdecai'. His subsequent roles in 2015, and beyond include roles in 'Black Mass,' 'London Fields' and 'Yoga Hosers.'

Depp reprised his role as the Mad Hatter in 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', that was released in 2016.

He suited up again as Captain Jack Sparrow in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.'

'Donnie Brasco' once again shows his ability to reflect the characteristics and mannerisms of his character. What's unique about his performance in this movie is that he comes across as entirely believable, further displaying his versatility as an actor, as an FBI agent working undercover to capture dangerous mobsters. The movie was both a critical and financial success, raking in nearly $125 million at the box office.

Johnny Depp's first major award was the ‘London Film Critics' Circle Award’ for ‘Actor of the Year’, which he received in 1995, for his roles in 'Don Juan DeMarco' and 'Ed Wood.'

After that the actor had a long-term off and on relationship with French singer Vanessa Paradis from 1988 through 2012. Paradis is also the mother of Depp's two children.

Their daughter Lily-Rose Melody Depp was born in 1999, and their son John Christopher Depp III came along three years later.

Throughout the late '80s and into the early '90s, he also had relationships with Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, his Edward Scissorhands co-star Winona Ryder and supermodel Kate Moss.

In 2015, Depp married his second wife, actress Amber Heard. In May 2016, Heard filed for divorce alleging that he had been verbally and physically abusive throughout their relationship. In August 2016, a settlement was reached and in January 2017, the divorce was finalized.

Post his much-publicized divorce with Amber Heard, the two have remained in news related to the accusations by Heard about Depp being an "abusive husband." In 2018, Depp sued the British tabloid "The Sun" for defamation, but the judge hearing the case observed that the publication calling him a "wife beater" was "substancially true."

Johnny Depp is an avid collector of Barbie dolls and has an extensive collection of rare and limited edition dolls.

He is a talented musician and has played guitar on several albums for artists such as Oasis and Marilyn Manson.

Depp is known for his love of tattoos and has several tattoos on his body, each with personal significance.

He has a passion for vintage cars and owns a collection that includes classic cars from the 1950s and 1960s.

Depp is fluent in French and often conducts interviews and press events in the language.

Johnny Depp Movies

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  (Drama, War)

  (Romance, Fantasy, Drama)

  (Drama)

  (Drama, Biography, Crime)

  (Biography, Family, Drama)

  (Biography, Comedy, Drama)

  (Drama, Western, Fantasy)

  (Crime, Biography, Drama)

  (Horror)

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The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Johnny Depp

Correction 05/11/22: A previous version of this article stated that Vanessa Paradis was Johnny Depp's ex-wife. Paradis and Depp were in a relationship but never married.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met in 2009 on the set of "The Rum Diary," according to CNN . The movie is based on a book by Hunter S. Thompson and follows the alcohol-fueled misadventures of writer Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) who obsesses over Chenault (Amber Heard). Depp and Heard were both in relationships during filming but reconnected a few years later. They married in 2015 and divorced in 2016, and the fallout from their brief marriage has proven monumental (via CNN ).

Depp sued Heard in 2019 for $50 million, alleging a Washington Post op-ed she penned in 2018 about domestic violence irreparably harmed his career. Although Heard's counsel moved to have the defamation trial dismissed, it went to court in 2022. Heard's attorneys have since filed a $100 million countersuit, which means the two actors will likely stay entangled in legal battles for the foreseeable future.

During the defamation trial, Depp spent a total of four days on the witness stand, laying bare his private life. In one pivotal moment, he alleged being the victim of domestic abuse. The typically private actor also opened up about tragic details from his childhood and how his parents' failed relationship dynamic predisposed him to suffer an allegedly toxic and violent relationship with Heard. Here's what you need to know about the tragic real-life of Johnny Depp and his 2022 defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.

Johnny Depp was terrorized by his abusive mother

We've learned a lot about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's broken marriage since their divorce began in 2016. But the defamation case, which Depp initiated in 2019, has also provided us plenty of information about Depp's tragic childhood. Born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, John Christopher Depp II (Johnny Depp) was the youngest of four children born to Betty Sue Palmer and John Christopher Depp, per Danny White's " Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography ." Throughout his childhood, his mother's abuse proved constant, unpredictable, violent, and cruel.

He later remarked about these formative years, "I felt completely and utterly confused by everything that was going on around me" (via " Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography "). On the witness stand, he explained that his childhood lacked both safety and security, per Law & Crime Network . He said his mother excelled at physical and verbal abuse with lots of bullying and name calling. She proved especially good at lobbing cruel, personal attacks against her children, mocking them for various perceived physical defects.

For example, Depp's brother wore glasses, and so his mother referred to him as "four eyes." As for Depp, he had a rare congenital eye defect, which translated into a lazy eye and having to wear a patch, as reported by Law & Crime Network . So, his mother created a list of mean taunts for him, too, including "cock eye," "one eye," and anything else she could muster to steep him in shame.

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services .

His father set an example of the battered spouse

During his four days of testimony, Johnny Depp provided insights about why he might willingly stay in an abusive relationship, per  Law & Crime Network . The example for this inexplicable behavior came from his father, John Christopher Depp, who remained patient with Betty Sue Palmer despite years of escalating abuse. According to Depp, his mother could be as cruel as possible, directing her anger, frustration, and hatred towards those closest to her.

Speaking about his dad's behavior around his mother, Depp noted, "There was never one moment ... when my father lost control and attacked my mother or hit my mother or even said a bad thing to my mother" (via Law & Crime Network ). But the same couldn't be said for Palmer. These episodes happened in front of Depp and his siblings, providing Depp with a dysfunctional, though stoic, example of masculinity in the face of domestic violence.

This awful familial dynamic taught Depp to swallow his pain and take it. By extension, this logic appears to explain why Depp, a world-renowned actor adored by millions of fans, would find himself mired in an abusive relationship with ex-wife Amber Heard. Well, at least that's the case his attorneys attempted to present to the jury.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website .

He grew up rootless due to his mother's wandering ways

Coupled with cruelty and unpredictable behavior, Betty Sue Palmer had a restless nature that fueled constant family moves. In an interview with Oprah , Johnny Depp reported moving "maybe 40 times" before the age of 15. One of the most restless periods of his life occurred after his family left Kentucky for Florida, according to Danny White's " Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography ." They ended up in Miramar, located in the southern part of the state near Miami.

Depp remembers it as a place where very little actually happened. But he does recall the family living in motels after they first arrived. This is where the bulk of the 40 moves he quoted to Oprah took place. During this small period alone, he estimates the family shuttled between 20 to 30 different locations, resulting in a truly transient lifestyle.

White hypothesizes that this may be why Depp later gravitated towards playing outsiders as an actor. With so many relocations under his belt at such a young age, he lacked the stability and geographic longevity to become truly integrated into a community. He likened it to a Roma (also known as Gypsy) lifestyle, noting it got so bad he stopped introducing himself at school or trying to make friends. What's more, he remembers leaving many of his belongings behind with each move, exacerbating the sense of aimless wandering (via "Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography").

Johnny Depp's father walked out

At the age of 15, in 1978, John Christopher Depp could no longer take the abuse hurled at him by Betty Sue Palmer, and so he walked out on the family (via Law & Crime Network ). Johnny Depp drove to his father's work to confront him about leaving, and his dad told him he'd had enough. He also put Depp in charge of the household. This triggered a depressive state in his mother, culminating in attempted suicide, per Law & Crime Network .

Depp testified he woke up from a nap to find Betty Sue Palmer staggering around the room feebly. Describing it as a "slow-motion crawl," Depp immediately realized something was terribly wrong. Fortunately, his uncle and two paramedics soon showed up and took her away to the hospital. After having her stomach pumped, they found she had downed a cocktail of pills, attempting to kill herself.

After getting out of the hospital, Palmer continued to lose weight and spiral downwards. Depp couldn't help but resent his father for leaving the way that he did. He wouldn't understand until years later why his father had to go. Describing how Depp felt about his father, he stated, "I was very disappointed in him because I started to believe that his exit was sneaky, cowardly" (via Law & Crime Network ).

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Johnny Depp suffered from a disorder similar to Tourette's

" Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography " chronicles a disorder the future actor had as a child. At times, Depp felt compelled to do things twice. His parents also noted that he sometimes made strange noises, a behavior bordering on Tourette's syndrome.

Early in his career as an actor, this condition resurfaced. It happened during a period when he enjoyed the successes and pressures of "21 Jump Street" fame. And he also experienced conflicting emotions about promoting the show and feeling trapped by it. This swirl of stress and pressure manifested in an embarrassing way on a fully booked flight to Vancouver, Canada, for more filming. On the flight, he sat in first class and experienced a sudden and uncontrollable urge to yell one of the most embarrassing things he could imagine.

He yelled out, "I f*** animals!" ushering in a deafening silence. Eventually, a polite passenger near him broke this by asking, "What kind?" Fortunately, this lightened the mood. In the years to come, Depp would sometimes speak of Tourette's as an admirable disorder, which is interesting in this context. Although the disorder hasn't plagued him over the years, it may have exacerbated the sense of alienation he already felt due to his unsettled and difficult childhood.

Johnny Depp dropped out of high school

Before launching his acting career on "21 Jump Street," Johnny Depp had dreams of making it big as a rock star, according to Business Insider . During his time in Miramar, Florida, he played with a group called the Kids, enjoying local fame. Eventually, they decided to take the leap and relocate to Los Angeles (via Britannica ).

Soon, Depp struggled as an unemployed musician. After marrying Lori Anne Allison, a makeup artist, in 1983, she introduced him to her friend Nicolas Cage , per Britannica. According to an interview with Oprah , Cage suggested Depp give acting a try. But Depp had never thought about this line of work before. Nevertheless, he needed to pay the rent and was on the edge of getting evicted, so he gave it a try.

Cage arranged an audition for Depp with Director Wes Craven, and Depp got cast in 1984's " A Nightmare on Elm Street ." As Vanity Fair reports, Craven's daughter, Jessica Craven, helped pick him for the role of Glen (who would experience one of the bloodiest deaths in the franchise), and Depp remembers reading scenes with her. Depp has jokingly said of his big break, "At the time, I was a musician. I wasn't really acting. It was not anything very near to my brain or my heart, which is pretty much how it remains to this day."

Public scrutiny ended his engagement to Winona Ryder

In 1985, Johnny Depp and Lori Anne Allison got divorced, and two years later he faced a different kind of break after parting ways with "21 Jump Street," per Britannica . By 1990, he worked with John Waters on "Cry-Baby" and Tim Burton on "Edward Scissorhands." Both indie film directors permitted Depp to explore his talent in innovative ways.

Winona Ryder played Depp's love interest in " Edward Scissorhands ," but they'd already started a romantic relationship in 1989 after meeting at the premier of "Great Balls of Fire." Ryder played the young, naïve bride of Jerry Lee Lewis opposite Dennis Quaid. For Depp, it was love at first sight: "It was a classic glance. Like the lenses in 'West Side Story' and everything else gets foggy" (via " Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography "). Before the two knew it, they'd moved in together. Depp quickly followed this living arrangement with a proposal, and the two looked like the ideal couple. Unfortunately, this meant the media hounded the duo at every turn.

Despite his enthusiastic passion for his fiancée, which even inspired him to get the tattoo " Winona Forever ," their youthful relationship wouldn't last. Both celebrities found themselves on the rise at the same time, which meant little time or energy left for their relationship. Depp publicly spoke about their split for the first time in June 1993 , spinning it in a positive light. But a friend close to the actor said he remained in denial for months.

River Phoenix died outside his night club, the Viper Room

By August of 1993, Johnny Depp bought the Viper Room, an infamous Los Angeles location with a colorful history, per Playground of the Stars . Acquiring the location let Depp re-ignite his first love, music, per " Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography ." Some nights after closing, Depp would stay into the wee hours, indulging in private jam sessions. Friend and Viper Room regular Morty Coyle explained, "You've got a guy who, for all intents and purposes, is not taken seriously for what he's really in love with, so he ends up making a home for himself to have that."

But the death of River Phoenix just two months later cast Johnny Depp's night club in a negative light, according to " Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography ." Speculation abounded about what had happened, and newspapers characterized the Viper Room as "Depp's Den of Sex, Drugs, and Death." This speculation proved especially hurtful, as Depp had been close to Phoenix and mourned the loss of his friend deeply.

Depp fought back against the tabloid treatment of his club and the mischaracterization of what had happened. The media especially honed in on the idea people freely used drugs at the Viper Room, but Depp refuted such claims. In an interview with USA Today (as quoted by " Johnny Depp: The Unauthorized Biography "), he argued, "To pinpoint one club or one street is really ridiculous. There's a tragic loss of a very gifted, very sweet, nice young man."

Rumors swirled around his business partner's disappearance

The controversy surrounding the Viper Room didn't begin and end with the River Phoenix tragedy. Another bizarre event involving Johnny Depp's night club business partner, Anthony Fox, would impact the actor's reputation, per the Charley Project . And it's the kind of story that's straight out of a true crime episode of "Dateline," just without Keith Morrison's iconic narration.

On December 19, 2001, Fox disappeared in Ventura County, California along with a .38 caliber handgun and his pickup truck. The truck turned up on January 6, 2002, in Santa Clara with no sign of Fox's whereabouts. He left behind a teenage daughter and several thousand dollars in a bank account that never saw action again.

Fox vanished while preparing to testify in court about financial problems related to the Viper Room, which he co-founded with Depp in 1993. That said, no charges have been brought against the actor in connection with the missing man. In 2004, Depp handed his ownership in the Viper Room over to Fox's daughter, Amanda Fox, as reported by The National News .

Johnny Depp's daughter faced childhood illness

In 2007, Johnny Depp faced every parent's worst nightmare, according to People . His daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, 7, with Vanessa Paradis, contracted E. coli, leading to kidney failure. Depp and Paradis spent nine days camped out at a hospital in London unsure of whether their daughter would live, according to People .

Fortunately, Lily-Rose recovered, but the experience proved transformative for the actor. He has never forgotten how helpless he felt during the ordeal. In an interview on the Graham Norton Show (quoted by People ), he stated, "When my daughter was ill in Great Ormond Street, it was the darkest period of my life." In 2008, following his daughter's recovery, Depp donated $2 million to the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Although Depp always made a point of visiting children's hospitals, he increased these activities following his family's scare. After starring in "Pirates of the Caribbean," dressing up as Captain Jack Sparrow became his regular modus operandi. But after his marriage to Amber Heard dissolved and she accused him of domestic abuse, Disney cut ties with the actor and his character Captain Jack Sparrow (via Variety ). This development made something as innocuous as visiting a children's hospital in costume complicated, to say the least.

He claims to be the victim of domestic violence

After marrying in 2015, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's marriage quickly unraveled in a whirlwind of drug and alcohol abuse, as both parties allege, as reported by Newsweek . But when it comes to which person in the marriage endured the brunt of the violence, the former couple's stories differ.

The accusations of violence began with Heard, who filed a restraining order against Depp after filing for divorce in 2016, per USA Today . During stunning testimony in his defamation lawsuit, Johnny Depp gave his side of the story. He detailed the verbal, emotional, and physical abuse he allegedly endured at the hands of his ex-wife. From having his finger partially cut off to finding human feces in his bed , the actor graphically described the horror of his marriage, finishing with the confession that he has been a victim of domestic violence, according to News 18 .

He stated, "No one deserves to live like that." His bodyguard, Starling Jenkins, also took the witness stand to testify about a time when Heard allegedly threw Depp's phone off the balcony during a fight (via the Insider ). Fortunately, Jenkins retrieved it from a homeless man on Skid Row, paying him $420 along with potato chips, apples, Fiji water, and chicken tacos, per Rekieta Law .

Amber Heard made insane demands during the divorce

According to Insider , once the couple agreed to divorce, the demands from Amber Heard began, as recorded in a demand letter entered as evidence in the defamation trial. These demands included Heard's desire to live rent-free in the apartments the couple had owned along with $125,000 to help with her attorney's fees. She also asked for exclusive ownership of a black Range Rover, stipulating that Depp make the rest of the payments on it.

In exchange for fulfilling the requirements of the letter, Heard promised to keep the divorce proceedings and personal details of their relationship out of the spotlight. As time progressed, however, Heard's demands increased, according to Edward White, Depp's business manager (via Rekieta Law ). During his testimony in the defamation trial, he claimed that Heard eventually asked for $4 million.

But she didn't stop there. Next, her demand increased to $5 million and then up from there, spiking at $7 million with $500,000 in fees to her attorneys. Yet, White said the sky was the limit because Heard went on to demand all community liabilities accumulated during the marriage (a total of $13.5 million). The demands would continue until they reached $14,250,000 of consideration paid to her free of taxation.

Accusations from Amber Heard in an op-ed exacerbated Depp's financial woes

Amber Heard published a Washington Post op-ed in 2018 detailing domestic violence without directly naming Johnny Depp. But the timeline of events outlined meshed with those of their marriage. As a result, Depp claims Disney dropped him from "Pirates of the Caribbean 6," where he stood to net $22.5 million, per Variety . Other film studios dodged the actor, too. Mike Spindler, a forensic accountant, calculated that Depp lost $40 million in Hollywood earnings after the op-ed (via CNN) .

Unfortunately, his business manager, Edward White, had already sounded the alarm that Depp's finances were in serious disrepair, according to Variety . Just prior to Heard's 30th birthday, Depp learned he'd lost $650 million earned from movies due to alleged financial mismanagement. This included purportedly owing 17 years of back taxes to the IRS worth a total of $100 million. 

In 2019, Depp brought a defamation suit against Heard for $50 million, per CBS News . But Heard countered with a $100 million lawsuit (via Vanity Fair ). Her counsel argued that Depp's rejection of her abuse claims amount to defamation. After all, Heard positioned herself (in the op-ed) as an advocate for those facing domestic violence: "I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change." But as the Independent reports, Heard was arrested in 2009 for "misdemeanor domestic violence" against her then-girlfriend Tasya van Ree, which muddies the waters of a breakup awash in financial wreckage.

Johnny Depp has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction

During the defamation lawsuit, details emerged about Johnny Depp's struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. In a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone , Depp admitted, "I spent years poisoning myself ... I was very, very good at it." But during his testimony at the defamation trial, Depp discussed his attempts to end his addiction after an intervention by his sister, Christi Dembrowski , in 2014 (via Law & Crime Network ).

Dr. David Kipper took the stand on the third day of Depp's defamation lawsuit, detailing the actor's history of drug use and attempts to get sober, as reported by Huffpost . He noted that Depp has a history of abusing opiates, alcohol, cocaine, and benzodiazepines and that Depp sought his help with detoxing. During his testimony, Dr, Kipper described the many times that Depp attempted to stop the detoxification process. And he also discussed receiving text messages from the actor mentioning Heard but otherwise incoherent.

While on the witness stand, Depp alleged that Heard made him beg for medication while he experienced withdrawals, via Law & Crime Network . He also claimed Heard undermined his efforts to get sober, as reported by Lasting Recovery. Although we may never know exactly what occurred between Heard and Depp, the presence of addiction in their marriage made for an uncomfortable third party.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

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Before He Was a Hollywood Vampire: The Complete History of Johnny Depp, Rock Musician

Before he became a heartthrob on 21 Jump Street , got weird with Tim Burton, or played a pirate version of Keith Richards, Johnny Depp wanted to be a rock star. Refusing to let that dream go, the Oscar-nominated actor has maintained a steady side-gig of playing in various groups and guesting on friends’ albums, often showing up at concerts to play a few songs. Viewers of the 2016 Grammys got to see just how seriously Depp takes his music, as he performed a Motörhead cover and an original song with his new band, Hollywood Vampires, which features Alice Cooper, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, and two members of Guns N’ Roses. Today Vulture takes a look back at Depp’s long love affair with rock and roll, from his teens in Florida to his work with some of the most legendary figures in music.

The Kids – ca. 1980 The teenage Depp dropped out of high school in Miramar, Florida, to pursue a career in music. His first band of note, the Kids, achieved a bit of success in the area, opening for the likes of the Ramones, Iggy Pop, the Pretenders, and Talking Heads. Eventually, they decided to move to L.A. in hopes of hitting it big, but the band split before getting a record deal. Depp soon decided to try acting, on the advice of his wife’s friend Nicolas Cage.

Rock City Angels – mid-’80s Even after roles in movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Platoon , Depp still wasn’t ready to give up on music, so he joined the glam outfit Rock City Angels. He quit when 21 Jump Street came along, but did end up with a writing credit on their song “Mary,” from their 1988 debut album Young Man’s Blues .

P – 1993 After Edward Scissorhands  made him a movie star, Depp helped open a nightclub, the Viper Room, and formed the band P with Butthole Surfers front man Gibby Haynes and pal Bill Carter. During the group’s Viper Room performance on October 30, 1993, actor River Phoenix overdosed and collapsed outside, dying the next day. The band, which occasionally featured Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, released a self-titled album in 1995 on Capitol Records before breaking up.

Shane MacGowan and the Popes, “That Woman’s Got Me Drinking” – 1994 Following MacGowan’s ejection from the Pogues, he launched a solo career with 1994’s The Snake , which featured Depp providing “weird guitar noises” on the punk-blues track “That Woman’s Got Me Drinking.” They reunited in 2010 to cover Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’s blues classic “I Put a Spell on You.”

Oasis collaborations, 1995–1996 Depp played guitar (and then-girlfriend Kate Moss shook a tambourine) for Oasis’s “Fade Away,” which appeared on a 1995 charity compilation. After vacationing with Noel Gallagher on the island of Mustique, Depp was invited back to the studio, this time to play slide guitar on the Be Here Now track “Fade In-Out.”

Iggy Pop, “Hollywood Affair” – 1999 Two decades after opening for Iggy as a member of the Kids, Depp and Pop reunited for this B-side from 1999’s Avenue B . The pair also performed the song on French television.

Vanessa Paradis — 2000–2013 Depp lent his musical talents to his longtime partner’s* fourth album, 2000’s Bliss , co-writing two songs, playing guitar on another, painting some of the artwork, and directing two of the LP’s music videos. In 2011, they covered Serge Gainsbourg’s “Ballade de Melody Nelson” for a tribute album, and in 2013, a year after they split up, Paradis released the album Love Songs , featuring Depp and their daughter Lily-Rose on “New Year.”

Chocolat and other soundtracks – 2000–present In 2000, Depp starred opposite Juliette Binoche in the romance Chocolat , playing an itinerant guitarist. He also contributed three impressive European jazz songs to the soundtrack, marking the first of several times he’d provide music for a film of his own. So far, that list includes Once Upon a Time in Mexico , The Rum Diary , The Lone Ranger , and Into the Woods . In 2011, while promoting The Rum Diary , Depp put together the JD Band for a few performances, including one where he shared the stage with Keith Richards in New York.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street  — 2007 Despite their long friendship, Tim Burton’s casting of Depp as the lead in Sweeney Todd seemed like an odd choice at first. But Burton’s hunch paid off, as Depp’s musical-theater chops earned him a Golden Globe, as well as a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

Glenn Tilbrook and the Fluffers, “Too Close to the Sun” — 2008 Depp hooked up with Squeeze front man Glenn Tilbrook to play guitar on this New Wave oddity from 2008’s Pandemonium Ensues .

Babybird — 2010–2011 As a longtime fan of the English indie group Babybird, Depp had the honor of playing guitar on their 2010 single “Unloveable” and directing its music video. He’d rejoin them the following year to record “The Jesus Stag Night Club,” a song about a group of guys who have a wild bachelor party with none other than Jesus. A spokesman for the Christian Coalition released a statement about the song: “One day Johnny Depp and his cronies will face the judgment of our Lord and they will burn in hell for this filth.”

Marilyn Manson, “You’re So Vain” — 2012 Depp playing guitar and drums for Marilyn Manson’s cover of Carly Simon’s hit? Makes total sense. Later in 2012, Depp joined Manson at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, performing “The Beautiful People” and “Sweet Dreams.”

Aerosmith , “Freedom Fighter” — 2012 Future Hollywood Vampire Joe Perry wrote this politically charged song for Aerosmith’s Music From Another Dimension! album and enlisted Depp to provide backing vocals. Depp’s played guitar at several Aerosmith gigs over the years, and joined Perry, Steven Tyler, and Alice Cooper for a set of covers at the Dark Shadows premiere party.

West of Memphis Soundtrack — 2012 Depp was already involved in asking for the release of the West Memphis Three by the time this documentary came out in 2012, performing at rallies alongside the likes of Patti Smith and Eddie Vedder. For the film, he covered Mumford and Sons’ “Little Lion Man,” a favorite song of former inmate Damien Echols, using the band name Tonto’s Giant Nuts. He also read one of Echols’s prison letters over a score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

Patti Smith, Banga  — 2012 Visiting Depp on the set of The Rum Diary , Patti Smith had a song idea, and, not wanting to forget it, asked Depp to record her singing it. When he sent her the tape, he added guitars and drums, giving Smith a backbone for her tune. They’ve since performed together a bunch, and Smith paid tribute to the actor with another track off 2012’s Banga , “Nine,” which she wrote for him as a birthday present.

Jup and Rob Jackson, “Street Runners” — 2012 Depp’s first foray into hip-hop came as the narrator — listed as Mr. Stench — on this Jup and Rob Jackson track. Depp doesn’t do any rapping himself, instead reading some beat-poetry-like lines about greed and life.

Steve Hunter , “Brooklyn Shuffle” — 2013 In a collaboration facilitated by Alice Cooper, Depp and Joe Perry joined guitarist Steve Hunter on this laid-back blues jam. Depp takes the second guitar solo, ably hanging with his more musically renowned friends.

Ryan Adams — 2014 A vocal Ryan Adams fan, Depp has joined the singer-songwriter onstage for a cover of Danzig’s “Mother” and in the studio, adding guitar to the Gimme Something Good B-side “Aching for More.” The collaboration went so well that they teamed up for another two songs on Adams’s 2015 EP No Shadow.

The New Basement Tapes , “Kansas City” — 2015 Producer T Bone Burnett formed a supergroup — Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, and Mumford and Sons’ Marcus Mumford — to write the music for a bunch of ‘60s-era Bob Dylan lyrics that were never actually recorded. When it came time to track “Kansas City,” Costello was out of town due to a prior engagement, so Burnett called on Depp to add a subtly forceful guitar part.

Hollywood Vampires — 2015–present Having Depp, Perry, and Cooper as Hollywood Vampires’ main members has its perks. When it came time to record their self-titled debut album, which features two original tracks and a bunch of covers, the group was able to enlist a ridiculous amount of guest stars, including Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Slash, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell, actor Christopher Lee, and many, many more. You can tell they’ve really made it by the fact that, less than 24 hours after their Grammy performance, they’re already the subject of an Illuminati conspiracy video:

*Correction: This article originally mischaracterized Depp’s relationship with Vanessa Paradis.

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Johnny Depp

American actor (born 1963) / from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, dear wikiwand ai, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:.

Can you list the top facts and stats about Johnny Depp?

Summarize this article for a 10 year old

John Christopher Depp II (born June   9, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of multiple accolades , including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA awards. His films , in which he has often played eccentric characters, have grossed over $8 billion worldwide, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars . [1] [2] [3] [4]

Depp began his career as a musician performing in several amateur rock bands before transitioning into film. He made his feature film debut in the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and appeared in Platoon (1986), before rising to prominence as a teen idol on the television series 21 Jump Street (1987–1990). He acted in independent films with auteur directors including 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). He made his directorial debut in 1997 with the independent neo-western The Brave . Depp has frequently collaborated with the director Tim Burton , including in 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 gained worldwide stardom for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the swashbuckler film series Pirates of the Caribbean (2003–2017). He also gained acclaim for starring in Chocolat (2000), and Finding Neverland (2004). Other films he has starred in include From Hell (2001), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Secret Window (2004), Public Enemies (2009), The Tourist (2010), The Lone Ranger (2013), Into the Woods (2014), Black Mass (2015), and Murder on the Orient Express (2017). He portrayed Gellert Grindelwald in the Wizarding World films Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018). His voice acting work includes Corpse Bride (2005), Rango (2011), and Sherlock Gnomes (2018).

Depp received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. [5] He was named People's Sexiest Man Alive twice in 2003 and in 2009. [6] During the 2010s, Depp began producing films through his company Infinitum Nihil . He also formed the rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry . Between 1998 and 2012, Depp was in a relationship with the French singer Vanessa Paradis , with whom he had two children, including the actress Lily-Rose Depp . From 2015 to 2017, Depp was married to the actress Amber Heard . Their divorce drew media attention, as both alleged abuse against each other and engaged in two highly publicized defamation cases : the Depp v. NGN and the Depp v. Heard trials. [7] [8]

Johnny Depp Biography

Johnny Depp

Intelligent actor who quickly progressed from stereotypical roles on television and in minor movies to offbeat and then more serious roles. He gained initial fame and critical exposure with his leading role in Tim Burton 's Edward Scissorhands (1990), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe. He worked again with Burton in the critically acclaimed film Ed Wood (1994), and in 1999's Sleepy Hollow. His other films include Donnie Brasco (1997), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), The Astronaut's Wife (1999), Chocolat (2000) and Before Night Falls (2000).

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Johnny Depp: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) Hardcover – November 30, 2007

• Part of series Greenwood Biographies
• Print length 224 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Greenwood
• Publication date November 30, 2007
• Dimensions 6.14 x 0.56 x 9.21 inches
• ISBN-10 0313343004
• ISBN-13 978-0313343001
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author.

Michael Blitz is Professor of English and Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York. He is the co-author of Arnold Schwarzenegger: A Biography (2006). Louise Krasniewicz is a senior research scientist in the American Section at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology. She is the co-author of Arnold Schwarzenegger: A Biography (2006).

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greenwood; First Edition (November 30, 2007)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0313343004
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0313343001
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 0.56 x 9.21 inches
• #12,304 in Movie History & Criticism
• #17,800 in Popular Culture in Social Sciences
• #30,776 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

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Johnny Depp : a biography

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Johnny Depp Bio, Age, Wiki, Height, Family, Wife, Net Worth, Facts

Johnny Depp is regarded as one of the most successful and marketable actors in the Hollywood industry who has been cast in a variety of roles throughout his acting career. Beginning his show business career in the 1980s, he is widely known for playing Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. He has been a part of several box office hit films like Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Tourist not to mention the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. He has received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times and won the Golden Globe Award for his role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. So, who is Johnny Depp? Here’s everything we know about the actor.

• 1 Johnny Depp Biography
• 3 Education
• 4 Johnny Depp Love and Married Life
• 5 Physical Statistics
• 6 Professional Statistics
• 7 Favorite Things
• 8 Johnny Depp Net Worth
• 9 Johnny Depp Facts

Johnny Depp Biography

Johnny Depp was born on the 9th of June 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, United States of America. He’s currently 61 years old.

• Father – John Christopher Depp (Civil Engineer)
• Mother – Betty Sue Palmer (née Wells) (Waitress)
• Siblings – Debbie Depp (Older Sister), Christi Dembrowski (Older Sister) (Film Producer), Daniel Depp (Older Brother) (Screenwriter)

During his childhood, he and his family lived in more than 20 different places, before settling in Miramar, Florida. He attended Miramar High School there but eventually dropped out of high school after his parent’s divorce to pursue a career as a rock musician.

Johnny Depp Love and Married Life

On December 20, 1983, Johnny Depp married makeup artist, Lori Anne Allison but their marriage lasted only for two years ending in 1985.

In 1986, he got engaged to actress Sherilyn Fenn but they never married. Their relationship didn’t last long. During this time, he was also reported to be engaged to actress Jennifer Grey.

In late 1989, Depp began dating his co-star Winona Ryder and got engaged after months. He also tattooed “WINONA FOREVER” on his right arm. But, this relationship also didn’t travel long eventually ending in 1993. After that, he changed the tattoo to “WINO FOREVER”.

Post this relationship, he dated British Supermodel, Kate Moss from 1994 to 1998.

Following his breakup with Moss, Depp began a relationship with French actor and singer Vanessa Paradis, whom he met while filming The Ninth Gate in France in 1998. They have two children, daughter Lily-Rose Melody Depp (born 1999) and son John “Jack” Christopher Depp III (born 2002). They separated in 2012.

In 2011, Depp began dating actor and model Amber Heard , whom he met on the set of The Rum Diary. They got engaged in 2013 and married in a private civil ceremony at their home in Los Angeles in February 2015. The following year, Heard filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2017.

Physical Statistics

Professional Statistics

In 1984, Johnny Depp had his breakthrough role as Glen Lantz in the horror slasher film A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Television Debut

Crime draIn 1985, he played Lionel Viland in an episode titled “Beasts of Prey” of the TV series Lady Blue.

Johnny Depp received acclaim for his roles in films such as Arizona Dream (1993), and Sleepy Hollow (1999). Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Finding Neverland (2004), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Pirates of the Caribbean series (2003 – Present), Alice in Wonderland (2010), The Tourist (2010), Dark Shadows (2012), The Lone Ranger (2013), and Transcendence (2014), among others.

Favorite Things

• Food – Mexican food, pork, and chicken
• People – Hunter S Thompson, Jack Kerouac, Banksy
• Bands – The Rolling Stones, Taraf De Haidouks, Beatles, Aerosmith, Oasis
• Color – Black
• Places – London, Miramar, Owensboro, New York, Los Angeles, Meudon, Paris, Saint-Tropez, Malibu, Miami, Norfolk
• Accessories – Fedora hat, wristbands, sunglasses, eyeglasses

Johnny Depp Net Worth

Depp is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. He takes $20 million upfront per film plus an additional 20% of the backend. His total net worth is estimated to be $150 million. He is best known for his lavish spending habits and according to his management company, The Management Group, with which he ties till 2016. He sued the company in 2017 for improperly managing his money.

As per the company’s claims, Johnny reportedly spends $3.6 million per year to maintain a 40-person full-time staff, $30,000 per month on wine, $150,000 per month on bodyguards, and $200,000 per month on private jet travel. He also reportedly spent $75 million to purchase more than 14 homes around the world including a 45-acre chateau in France, a horse farm in Kentucky, and several islands in the Bahamas. He owns several yachts, more than 45 cars, 12 storage facilities worth of memorabilia, and an art collection that includes works by artists such as Andy Warhol.

According to the available data on the internet, he owns a 150-year-old mansion in Somerset, England which is set amid Quantock Hills. He purchased his West Hollywood Mansion, located in West Hollywood California in 1996 and a villa named “Plan-de-la Villa” in 1998. He owns a yacht called “Vajoliroja yacht”, which is formed by the first two letters of his name, his then-wife Vanessa, and his kids Lily-Rose and Jack. Although he has several cars in his possession, his favorite car is the 1959 Corvette.

Johnny Depp Facts

Born in Kentucky, Johnny was brought up in Florida.

He started his career as a musician who is good at playing guitars and drums. He has collaborated with the famous singer for their albums and with various bands.

It was actor Nicolas Cage who advised him to try acting.

He was almost by the Disney executive as they couldn’t understand his portrayal of the fictional pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in the first installment of the franchise. Today, the franchise is one of Disney’s highest-grossing film series.

Depp is the founder and CEO of the production company Infinitum Nihil where his sister, Christi Dembrowski, serves as president.

He was honored with César, France’s national film award in 1999.

In 2008, Depp won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture for his role in Sweeney Todd.

In 1994, he was arrested for having caused significant damage to the New York Hotel suite. However, the charges were dropped against him after he agreed to pay $9,767 in damages.

He has 13 tattoos, highlighting various important persons and events in life.

He earned a Guinness Record for being the highest-paid actor with $75 million in 2012.

Johnny Depp donated $2 million to Great Ormond Street Hospital as gratitude for curing his daughter of E. coli, which resulted in temporary kidney failure.

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Ethnicity of Celebs | EthniCelebs.com

• 1 Actor/Actress / 4 Musician / D

Johnny Depp

by ethnic · March 26, 2014

Depp in 2008

Birth Name: John Christopher Depp II

Place of Birth: Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, United States

Date of Birth: June 9, 1963

Ethnicity: English, along with small/distant amounts of Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French/French-Canadian, Dutch, Flemish Belgian, and German, as well as 3/2048 African

Johnny Depp is an American actor, producer, and musician. He is the star of the films A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Platoon , Cry-Baby , Edward Scissorhands , Benny and Joon , What’s Eating Gilbert Grape , Ed Wood , Dead Man , Donnie Brasco , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , Sleepy Hollow , Chocolat , the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Finding Neverland , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride , The Libertine , Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street , Public Enemies , Alice in Wonderland (2010), and its sequel; Dark Shadows (2012), The Lone Ranger (2013), Black Mass , and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald , and the series 21 Jump Street . Johnny was selected People Magazine’s “ Sexiest Man Alive ” in 2003, and again in 2009. He has often worked with director Tim Burton . He is a member of rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires, with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry . He also founded film production company Infinitum Nihil.

Johnny is the son of Betty Sue (Wells), a waitress, and John Christopher Depp, a civil engineer. He was raised partly in Miramar, Florida. He has two children, including actress and model Lily-Rose Depp , with his former partner, French singer, model, and actress Vanessa Paradis .

Much or most of Johnny’s ancestry traces back to England. He also has small amounts (to varying degrees) of Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French, French-Canadian, Dutch, Flemish Belgian, and German, ancestry, as well as 3/2048 African ancestry (through Elizabeth Key Grinstead, who is his ancestor twice over). Johnny’s patrilineal line is generally traced to Pierre Deppe, a Huguenot, who was born, c. 1706, in France, and to Pierre’s wife, Angelica/Angeline LeVillian/le Villian.

Both of Johnny’s parents, as well as all of Johnny’s grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents, were born in Kentucky. Johnny has stated, on several occasions, that he has or likely has Native American ancestry (of varying tribes, most often Cherokee). For example :

I guess I have some Native American somewhere down the line… My great grandmother was quite a bit of Native American, she grew up Cherokee or maybe Creek Indian. Makes sense in terms of coming from Kentucky, which is rife with Cherokee and Creek.

It does not appear that this Native American ancestry has been documented. All of Johnny’s grandparents and great-grandparents are listed as “White” on United States Censuses. No verified Native American ancestry has been produced for Johnny Depp.

LOS ANGELES – MAY 18: Depp arrives for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” US Premiere in Hollywood, CA, 2017, photo by  DFree

Johnny’s paternal grandfather was Oren Larry Depp (the son of Oren Richard Depp and Effie A. Palmore). Johnny’s grandfather Oren was born in Barren County, Kentucky. Johnny’s great-grandfather Oren was the son of John Burkes/Burks Depp and Mariba Elizabeth Reneau. Effie was the daughter of Andrew H. Palmore and Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” McCreary.

Johnny’s paternal grandmother was Violet Mattie Grinstead (the daughter of Robert Fauntleroy “Roy” Grinstead and Mary E. Bailey). Roy was the son of Christopher Tompkins Grinstead and Martha S. “Mattie” Sanders. Mary was the daughter of Joseph Taylor Bailey and Martha Ann Mansfield.

Johnny’s maternal grandfather was Walter Everett/Everette Wells (the son of Richard Mack/Mac Wells and Annie/Anna Cooper). Richard was the son of Commodore Perry Wells and Rebecca Ann “Beckie” Litteral/Little. Johnny’s great-grandmother Anna was the daughter of William M. “Bill” Cooper and Sallie/Sarah Kelly/Craft.

Johnny’s maternal grandmother was Bessie Whitaker (the daughter of Branch Whitaker and May/Mae Slone). Branch was the son of William C. Whitaker and Sirilda/Sarilda/Serilda Fletcher/Fletchet. May was the daughter of Wiley Slone and Amanda Bradley.

Johnny is descended from a woman, Martha, who was born in 1612, and who was of African descent. Martha had a daughter, Elizabeth Key Grinstead, married to William Grinstead, who were Johnny’s ancestors. Elizabeth’s father, Thomas Key, was caucasian, of English descent. Elizabeth was the first woman of African ancestry to successfully take legal action to free herself from slavery. This happened in 1656. Johnny is descended from Martha twice (on one family tree, she is both one of his eight times great-grandmothers, and one of his nine times great-grandmothers). That would mean that Johnny is of 3/2048 African ancestry.

Some family trees state that Johnny’s nine times great-grandmother was a woman named Nicketti Opechancanough, who is said to have been of Powhatan Native American ancestry. If true, that would make Johnny of 1/2048 Powhatan Native American descent. However, stories about her are believed to be a myth. Scholarly research and records dispute the existence of Nicketti Opechancanough.

Sources: Genealogies of Johnny Depp – https://famouskin.com http://www.geni.com http://www.genealogy.com https://www.wikitree.com

Genealogy of Johnny’s paternal grandparents, Oren Larry Depp and Violet Mattie Grinstead – http://www.findagrave.com

Johnny’s paternal grandfather, Oren Larry Depp (“Laramore Depp”), on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Johnny’s paternal grandmother, Violet Mattie Grinstead (“Violet M. Grinstead”), on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Johnny’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Christopher Tompkins Grinstead and Martha S. “Mattie” Sanders, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy and obituary of Johnny’s mother – https://www.findagrave.com

Johnny’s maternal grandfather, Walter Everett/Everette Wells (“Everette Wells”), on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Johnny’s maternal great-grandmother, Annie/Anna (Cooper) Wells, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Johnny’s maternal great-great-grandparents, William M. “Bill” Cooper and Sallie/Sarah Kelly/Craft, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Johnny’s maternal grandmother, Bessie Whitaker, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Article about Johnny’s ancestor, Elizabeth (Key) Grinstead – http://www.womenhistoryblog.com

Celebs with similar background:

• Lily-Rose Depp

Tags: African African American b1963 Belgian Dutch English Flemish French French Canadian German Huguenot Irish Northern Irish People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive Scots-Irish Scottish Welsh

Curious about ethnicity

769 Responses

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Another thread that is off the rails into Crazytown. Johnny is a white guy.

Only in Northern Europe are features like blond hair with blue eyes the majority. All over south Europe, olive skin, brown eyes and dark hair are the norm. Go to Bulgaria and see for yourself. Go to Madrid. Or Albania. And of course central/south Italy, Greece. Central/south France. And go to northern Europe to Scotland, Wales and Ireland and you will see natives that are curly haired with black hair, dark eyes and olive skin tone EVERYWHERE. Andie MacDowell is a perfect example of this ,100% of you —-hats ignore people like her.

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Johnny Depp’s ‘Modi’ Biopic to Premiere at San Sebastian Film Festival

Johnny Depp’s second directorial effort, “Modi — Three Days on the Wings of Madness,” will make its debut at the San Sebastian Film Festival next month.

The film, which stars Riccardo Scamarcio as famed Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, is set to premiere in the festival’s out of competition strand. According to its synopsis, “Modi” is “a tale of art, love and rejection” that “follows a 72-hour whirlwind of chaotic events through the streets and bars of a Paris torn apart during World War I.” It also stars Stephen Graham, Al Pacino and Antonia Desplat.

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“Modi” marks Depp’s return to directing after his 1997 debut with the critically panned “The Brave.”

More to come…

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