Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp, full name John Christopher Depp II, born June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, is an American actor, producer, and musician. Depp has received numerous honors, including ten Golden Globe nominations, one of which he won for Best Actor for his role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). He has also been nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Actor, among other prestigious accolades. Depp’s cinematic journey began with his debut in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), but it was his role as a teen idol on the television show 21 Jump Street (1987–1990) that catapulted him to fame. His later works would see him evolve into one of Hollywood's most versatile actors.[1]
He garnered critical acclaim for his portrayals of the eccentric screenwriter-director Ed Wood in the film Ed Wood (1994), the undercover FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone in Donnie Brasco (1997), the writer J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland (2004), and the notorious Boston gangster Whitey Bulger in Black Mass (2015). Depp’s commercial success includes notable performances in Sleepy Hollow (1999), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005), Public Enemies (2009), Alice in Wonderland (2010), The Tourist (2010), Rango (2011), Into the Woods (2014), and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) along with its 2018 sequel. Additionally, he is widely recognized for his iconic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series (2003–present).
Depp is one of the highest-grossing film stars globally, having appeared in films that have collectively grossed over $3.7 billion at the U.S. box office and more than $10 billion worldwide. His earnings have once placed him in the 2012 Guinness World Records as the highest-paid actor in the world, with a reported income of $75 million. Depp has also maintained a fruitful partnership with director Tim Burton, collaborating on eight films together. In 2015, he was honored as a Disney Legend.
Beyond acting, Depp has nurtured a passion for music, performing with bands such as Rock City Angels and forming the rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires alongside Alice Cooper and Joe Perry.
目录
Early Life and Ancestry
Johnny Depp was born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, to Betty Sue Palmer, a waitress, and John Christopher Depp, a civil engineer. As the youngest of four children, Depp’s childhood was characterized by frequent moves. He and his siblings lived in more than twenty different homes before settling in Miramar, Florida, in 1970. Depp’s parents divorced when he was 15, and his mother later remarried Robert Palmer, whom Depp has described as an influential figure in his life. Depp fondly remembers Palmer, paying tribute to him during a Grammy performance, recounting a memorable toast shared by his stepfather.
At the age of 12, Depp received a guitar from his mother, which sparked his passion for music. After his parents’ divorce, Depp dropped out of Miramar High School to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. Despite attempts to return to school, his principal encouraged him to follow his passion for music. He was a member of the local band The Kids from 1980 to 1984, which later rebranded as Six Gun Method before disbanding. He also collaborated with the band Rock City Angels and co-wrote their song “Mary,” which appeared on their debut album Young Man's Blues.
In 1983, Depp married Lori Anne Allison, the sister of the bassist and singer of his band. While she worked as a makeup artist, Depp took on various odd jobs, including working as a telemarketer. During their marriage, his wife introduced him to actor Nicolas Cage, who encouraged him to pursue acting. Depp and Allison divorced in 1985.
Depp’s ancestry is predominantly English, with some French, German, and Irish roots. He also claims to have Native American ancestry, though his assertions have been met with skepticism. Despite facing criticism from the Native American community for his portrayal of the character Tonto in The Lone Ranger (2013), Depp's role was supported by LaDonna Harris, a member of the Comanche Nation, who adopted him as an honorary son. However, Depp’s connections to Native heritage remain controversial. In 2019, a Dior ad featuring Depp and Native American imagery was criticized for cultural appropriation and racism.
Career Highlights
1984–1989: Early Roles and 21 Jump Street
Depp’s acting career began with a small role in the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), where he portrayed the boyfriend of the protagonist Nancy Thompson. His role in the film marked the start of a successful career, which would later lead to his iconic roles in television and film. Depp became a teen idol in the late 1980s after landing the lead role in the Fox series 21 Jump Street, where he played an undercover police officer infiltrating high school students. Although this series launched his career and brought him fame, Depp felt constrained by the “product” image it forced upon him. He later vowed only to take roles that resonated with him personally, setting the stage for the unconventional and varied career that followed.
1990–2002: Independent Films and Early Collaborations with Tim Burton
In 1990, Johnny Depp took on the role of the titular character in Tim Burton's *Edward Scissorhands*, a film that marked the beginning of a lasting creative partnership between the two. Depp portrayed the misunderstood, gentle scissor-handed man in a tale of beauty, isolation, and love, alongside Dianne Wiest and Winona Ryder. The film was both a critical and commercial success, grossing millions and cementing Depp’s status as a leading actor in Hollywood. Producer Scott Rudin once remarked that Depp seemed to embody Burton’s own creative essence, a sentiment with which Depp agreed, though Burton himself distanced from the comparison. Depp referred to Burton as "a brother, a friend, and a brave soul" in his foreword to *Burton on Burton*, a book of interviews with the director.
Depp’s first film release of 1990 was John Waters' *Cry-Baby*, a musical comedy set in the 1950s. Though it was not a commercial hit at the time, the film later achieved cult classic status among audiences.
The next two years saw Depp’s presence in the film world diminish, with the exception of a brief cameo in *Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare* in 1991, part of the *A Nightmare on Elm Street* franchise. However, Depp made a striking return to the screen in 1993 with three very different films. He starred in the romantic comedy *Benny and Joon* as an eccentric, silent-film enthusiast who becomes a quirky love interest to a mentally ill woman. The film became a sleeper hit. Later that year, Depp took on the role of Gilbert Grape in *What’s Eating Gilbert Grape*, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Juliette Lewis. The film, a poignant portrayal of a dysfunctional family, earned Depp praise for his portrayal of a deeply compassionate and self-sacrificing man. His final 1993 release, *Arizona Dream*, a surrealist comedy-drama by Emir Kusturica, received positive reviews for its whimsical tone and Depp's engaging performance.
In 1994, Depp reunited with Tim Burton for *Ed Wood*, a biographical film about one of the most inept directors in Hollywood history. Depp’s performance as the optimistic, tirelessly enthusiastic Ed Wood was met with widespread critical acclaim, with *The New York Times* calling him "an established, certified great actor." Depp himself admitted that the role reignited his passion for acting, especially after a period of personal disillusionment with the film industry.
The following year, Depp starred in three very different roles. In *Don Juan DeMarco*, he played a man who believes he is the world's greatest lover, opposite the legendary Marlon Brando. Depp also appeared in Jim Jarmusch's *Dead Man*, a black-and-white Western that, despite its mixed critical reception, was lauded for its atmospheric and experimental nature. Depp’s final film of the year, *Nick of Time*, a thriller about an accountant forced to assassinate a politician to save his daughter, was both a commercial and critical disappointment.
In 1997, Depp took on the role of Joseph D. Pistone in *Donnie Brasco*, a crime drama about an undercover FBI agent infiltrating the mafia. His performance as a conflicted agent with a growing sense of loyalty to the criminals he was investigating was universally praised, with the film becoming both a box office and critical success. Also in 1997, Depp ventured into filmmaking, making his directorial debut with *The Brave*, a film in which he starred as a Native American man who agrees to appear in a snuff film in exchange for money to support his family.
Depp’s friendship with the countercultural writer Hunter S. Thompson led him to portray the author in *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* (1998), Terry Gilliam’s eccentric adaptation of Thompson’s famous novel. Depp’s portrayal of Thompson’s alter ego, Raoul Duke, became one of his most iconic performances. The following year, Depp returned to work with Burton once again, starring in *Sleepy Hollow*, a gothic retelling of Washington Irving’s classic tale. Depp’s portrayal of Ichabod Crane, a fragile and psychologically complex detective, was inspired by a variety of iconic figures, including Angela Lansbury and Basil Rathbone.
Known for his commitment to roles that piqued his personal interest rather than those designed for box office success, Depp often found himself cast as "iconic loners"—complex, misunderstood characters that stood apart from society. He has referred to some of his less commercially successful films as "studio-defined failures," noting that they often struggled with poor marketing and studio mismanagement.
2003–2011: Pirates of the Caribbean and a New Era of Commercial and Critical Triumph
In 2003, Depp achieved global fame with his role in *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl*. The film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures, was a major box-office success, and Depp’s performance as the eccentric, swaggering pirate Captain Jack Sparrow became an instant cultural phenomenon. His portrayal of the character, which he based on rock star Keith Richards and the cartoon skunk Pepé Le Pew, earned him widespread acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Despite initial concerns from the studio, who were unsure of Depp's unconventional take on the character, Jack Sparrow quickly became a beloved figure among audiences.
In the following years, Depp continued to demonstrate his versatility. In 2004, he portrayed Scottish author J.M. Barrie in *Finding Neverland*, a film about the man who created *Peter Pan*. His tender performance in the film earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Depp next collaborated with Burton once more in 2005 for the film *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*, where he portrayed the eccentric Willy Wonka. The film, a commercial success, received positive reviews, and Depp was again nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. That same year, Depp voiced the character Victor Van Dort in Burton’s stop-motion animated film *Corpse Bride*, once again showing his adaptability to both live-action and animated roles.
Through this period, Depp’s career was marked by a mix of commercial success and critical acclaim, as he continued to gravitate towards unconventional roles that allowed him to explore the quirks and complexities of his characters.
2012–Present: Career Challenges and New Ventures
In 2012, Depp reunited with Tim Burton for *Dark Shadows*, a film adaptation of the gothic soap opera that had captured Depp's imagination during his childhood. Starring alongside Burton regulars such as Helena Bonham Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Eva Green, the film, though a personal project for Depp, did not resonate with audiences, leading to a waning of his star appeal in the U.S. That same year, Depp made a brief return to the *21 Jump Street* franchise, appearing alongside his original co-stars Peter DeLuise and Holly Robinson in a comedic cameo for the film adaptation, which took the show’s tone in a new direction.
The following year, Depp portrayed Tonto in *The Lone Ranger* opposite Armie Hammer. His casting as a Native American character sparked controversy over "whitewashing," and despite high hopes, the film became a commercial failure, costing Disney Studios a staggering $190 million loss. Depp’s next project was a supporting role as The Wolf in *Into the Woods* (2014), a film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, though his part was a minor one.
In 2015, Depp took on a significantly darker role, playing infamous Boston mobster Whitey Bulger in *Black Mass*. The performance was met with critical acclaim, earning him a third nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award. Depp also filmed a cameo for *London Fields*, a project that remained shelved until 2018, when it was finally released, though to limited audiences.
2016 proved to be an intriguing year for Depp, as he portrayed a satirical version of Donald Trump in *Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie*, a Funny or Die production. His performance, marked by sharp comedic timing, was well-received, with many calling it a moment of unexpected brilliance. The same year, Depp returned to the role of the Mad Hatter in *Alice Through the Looking Glass*, the sequel to *Alice in Wonderland*. Additionally, Depp joined the *Fantastic Beasts* universe as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, a role he was set to reprise in future sequels.
Depp had also been cast as Dr. Jack Griffin, the Invisible Man, in Universal’s *Dark Universe*, a reboot of their iconic *Universal Monsters* franchise. However, after *The Mummy* (2017), the first film in the series, underperformed both critically and financially, the planned universe was put on hold, and Depp was eventually written out of the project.
In 2016, Depp also lent his talents to a volunteer project titled *The Black Ghiandola*, collaborating with David Lynch, J.K. Simmons, and other notable filmmakers. The short film, about a young man risking his life to save a girl in a post-apocalyptic world, was released in 2017. That same year, Depp reprised his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow in *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales*. He also appeared in an ensemble cast in *Murder on the Orient Express*, a new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous mystery novel.
In 2018, Depp voiced the character Sherlock Gnomes in *Sherlock Gnomes*, a sequel to *Gnomeo & Juliet*. He also starred in *City of Lies*, a film based on Randall Sullivan's *LAbyrinth*, which explored the investigations into the murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. Despite a strong performance, the film’s release was delayed and ultimately screened only at the Noir Film Festival in Italy. Depp also starred in *Richard Says Goodbye*, a poignant comedy-drama about a professor facing terminal illness, which premiered at the Zurich Film Festival.
Depp's final 2018 release, *Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald*, saw him return to the role of Grindelwald. His involvement in the *Fantastic Beasts* franchise, however, came under fire due to the ongoing domestic violence allegations against him. Amid this controversy, Depp stepped down from his role in the series in November 2020, following the outcome of his libel case against *News Group Newspapers*, which found the allegations against him to be "substantially true."
In 2020, Depp portrayed the renowned photographer W. Eugene Smith in *Minamata*, an independent drama that premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film, which explores Smith’s work documenting the devastating effects of mercury poisoning in Japan, is set to be released in 2021, marking another chapter in Depp’s ever-evolving career.