Johnny Depp Biography

From LoveToKnow Celebrity

Actors come and go in Hollywood, but the Johnny Depp biography is the story of an actor with staying power. Depp has played many memorable and much-loved characters and has risen to the top of the A-list in the process.

Johnny Depp.

Early Johnny Depp Biography

Johnny Depp
Born As:	John Christopher Depp II
Birthdate:	June 9, 1963
Best Known As:	Actor
Website:	Johnny Depp fansite

John Christopher Depp II was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, on June 9, 1963. By 1970, Depp, his parents, his brother and two sisters relocated to Miramar, Florida. At the age of 16, he dropped out of high school to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star. Depp is a talented singer, songwriter and guitar player.

He enjoyed some local success with a couple of different bands. In 1983, Johnny Depp married Lori Anne Allison, a makeup artist, who introduced him to Nicolas Cage. After that meeting, Depp was interested in changing his career direction and began seriously considering acting.

Though Depp and Allison divorced only two years into their marriage, she was a big influence on his early acting career.

21 Jump Street

One of Johnny Depp's first film roles was as Glen Lantz, the boyfriend of Nancy in the horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street. This led to small roles on television and film, but Depp felt that he wasn't getting as many parts as he would have liked to.

In 1987, Depp starred in the television drama 21 Jump Street. The show was an instant success and Depp became a heartthrob for teen girls. The series ran for three years, but at the end, Johnny Depp was not comfortable with his public perception. He decided then that he would only take on roles that he felt suited him and that he could be proud of.

Blockbusters and Memorable Roles

Johnny Depp with girlfriend Vanessa Paradis

Since 21 Jump Street, Depp has played some very eccentric and fantastical characters. He is perhaps best known for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, a character that has earned him several nominations and awards.

Some of Johnny Depp's other movies, many of which stand out purely because of his portrayals of the main characters, include:

Edward Scissorhands
Benny and Joon
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Ed Wood
Don Juan DeMarco
Donnie Brasco
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Sleepy Hollow
Chocolat
Blow
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Public Enemies

Cameos and Voiceovers

Depp has also contributed voiceovers for animated shows, as well as cameo appearances on some popular TV shows and movies. Some of these are:

SpongeBob SquarePants
King of the Hill
Corpse Bride
The Fast Show

Johnny Depp Personal Life

After his marriage dissolved in 1985, Depp went on to date some well known actresses and other stars, including:

Winona Ryder
Sherilyn Fenn
Kate Moss
Jennifer Grey

Currently, Johnny Depp is in a long-term relationship with French actress Vanessa Paradis. The couple has two children together: Lily-Rose Melody, who was born on May 27, 1999 and John (Jack) Christopher, born on April 9, 2002.

Scandals and Arrests

While the Johnny Depp biography is mostly a success story, there have been a few times when he's had some bad publicity.

In 1999, Depp was arrested in London, England, after a physical fight with local paparazzi. Five years earlier, he had been arrested for trashing a hotel room in New York City. Depp was also the focus of an investigation, in which it was alleged that his nightclub, The Viper Club, was selling illegal drugs. This is the same establishment where River Phoenix died in 1993, and Depp was connected to the tragedy because Phoenix had died of an overdose.

More Johnny Depp Facts

Depp has recorded twice with the British pop group Oasis.
He has thirteen tattoos, including one that reads "Wino Forever." The tattoo originally said "Winona Forever," but after his breakup with Winona Ryder, he had the tattoo altered. Depp also has his mother's name, Betty Sue, and his children's names tattooed on his body.
Johnny Depp was a fan and close friend of the author Hunter S. Thompson. Depp has contributed a forward to one of Thompson's books, narrated his biography, and, when the author died in 2005, Depp paid for his extravagant funeral.