Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp — Complete Biography, Career, Films, Awards & Legacy

Short summary: John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, musician and producer known for his transformative character work, long collaborations with director Tim Burton, and breakout role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Johnny Depp Podcast

Early Life

Johnny Depp was born John Christopher Depp II on June 9, 1963. He grew up in Florida and moved frequently during childhood. Depp left high school to pursue music before turning to acting in the early 1980s; his first major exposure came from the TV series 21 Jump Street, which made him a teen idol and opened the door to film roles.

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Career Beginnings

Depp's early film appearances included supporting roles and genre pictures. He worked hard to distance himself from teen-idol status by choosing unconventional roles and collaborators, which led to his long-standing creative partnership with director Tim Burton.

Breakthrough and Major Roles

Depp's international breakthrough came when he played Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). The role became iconic and led to multiple sequels and worldwide box-office success. Depp is also known for his leading roles in Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Selected Filmography (highlights)

Year	Title	Role
1990	Edward Scissorhands	Edward
1998	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas	Raoul Duke
2003	Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl	Captain Jack Sparrow
2004	Finding Neverland	J. M. Barrie
2007	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street	Sweeney Todd
2005	Corpse Bride	Voice - Victor Van Dort
2010	The Tourist	Frank Tupelo
2013	Black Mass	Whitey Bulger
2023	Jeanne du Barry	King Louis XV

Awards & Nominations

Johnny Depp has been nominated for multiple major awards, including three Academy Award (Oscar) nominations for Best Actor — for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Finding Neverland (2004), and Sweeney Todd (2007). He has won other awards and recognitions from film bodies and fan-based awards over his career.

Music, Art & Other Work

Besides acting, Depp is a musician and has played guitar with several bands and artists. He’s also involved in art projects — in 2024 he announced a tarot-inspired art collection and continued to work in music projects and live performances.

Personal Life

Depp has two children and has had several high-profile relationships. In recent years his personal life and court cases received intense public attention; since 2022 he has focused on music, art and selective acting projects.

Johnny Depp has been married twice. His first marriage was to Lori Anne Allison — they wed on December 24, 1983, and the divorce was finalized on March 7, 1986. His second marriage was to Amber Heard — they married on February 3, 2015, in a civil ceremony (followed by a celebration on Depp’s private island in the Bahamas) and their divorce was finalized in January 2017, after Heard filed for divorce on May 23, 2016.

Legacy & Public Perception

Johnny Depp is widely recognized for his chameleon-like performances and for bringing unusual, stylized characters to mainstream audiences. While his career has had controversies, his influence on modern character acting and popular film franchises remains significant.