THE FACTS
| Full Name: |
John Christopher Depp II |
| Date of Birth: |
June 9, 1963 |
| Birth Place: |
Owensboro, Kentucky, USA |
| Nicknames: |
Mr. Stench, Colonel Depp |
| Current Residence: |
Johnny Depp owns homes in L.A., USA and in the village of Plan de la Tour (near St. Tropez), France. |
| Family: |
Mother, Betty Sue Palmer and father, John Christopher Depp (divorced when Johnny was 15), D.P. Depp (brother), Debbie (sister) and Christie Dembrowski (sister) |
| Marital Status: |
Lives with long-time girlfriend Vanessa Paradis and their children Lily-Rose Melody (born in 1999) and Jack - John Christopher Depp III – (born in 2002) |
THE CAREER
Johnny Depp originally dreamt of a music career and at 18, he went to L.A. with his band “The Kids” to pursue that dream. The band experienced some success, but never made it big.
Struggling to support himself and his wife, he was encouraged by Nicolas Cage to audition for acting jobs and Depp soon got a role in the film “A Nightmare on Elmstreet” (1984). The role led to his big break-through as under-cover cop Tom Hanson in the hit TV-series “21 Jump Street” (1987). However, Depp was unhappy with the way he was portrayed in the series and with the “heart-throb” image and left the series in 1990.
In 1990, just as he thought his career was over, Johnny Depp landed a role in the film “Edward Scissorhands” which sparked a friendship with director Tim Burton and led to several collaborations with him, most recently the 3D fantasy film "Alice in Wonderland". Johnny Depp has since "Edward Scissorhands" become known for taking on quirky roles in an effort to remove himself from the “heart-throb” image of the “21 Jump Street” days.
Despite critical acclaim for his acting talents, Hollywood producers have been reluctant to work with Johnny Depp and he has had a reputation for being blockbuster-poison. However, after taking on the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Disney hit trilogy “Pirates of the Caribbean”, this is no longer the case. The role also gave Depp his first Academy Award nomination in 2003.
For more information on his films go to Filmography
MY IMPRESSION OF JOHNNY
I can’t tell you what Johnny Depp is like as a person, because I don’t know him any better than any other obsessed fan. You’ll have to form your own opinion of him just as I have. All I can do is give you my impression of him…
Acting…As far as his acting talents go, I believe that his films speak for themselves…after all, you probably wouldn’t have wandered on to this site if you didn’t think that he’s absolutely brilliant!
Other talents…However, acting is not Mr. Depp’s only talent. He is also by all accounts a great guitar-player – The band Oasis wouldn’t have allowed him to play on their album if that was not the case - and if you read some of the introductions and forewords written by him, you may also find that he’s a good writer.
Intelligent…I strongly believe that Depp is highly intelligent…he often mentions books that he’s read, he seems to know an awful lot about an awful lot of subjects, and he seems to me like a well-spoken person in interviews.
Integrity…It is often mentioned that Johnny Depp takes on the quirky roles to escape an image as a heart-throb, but it has a lot to with integrity as well. He only takes on roles that he finds interesting and challenging; he never takes part in a film simply because it might turn into a blockbuster hit. He manages to stay who he is and doesn’t let fame and fortune change him. To me, that says integrity and I applaud him for it.
Humble…Depp doesn’t consider himself a film star and even seems embarrassed when others put that label on him. He never forgets to thank his fans who he refers to as his boss. He is very humbled by his fame and the devotion of his fans and very appreciative.
Family…Anyone who has ever heard Depp speak about his children and ‘his girl’ cannot possible doubt his devotion to them. He has in several interviews stated that becoming a father was like being reborn. And to me it’s very obvious that it has calmed him down and he seems to have found peace within himself.
Yes, I know I’m making Depp sound practically perfect and perhaps I am blind to his faults, but in all honesty, I have yet to find something that will make me think of him as any less than fantastic. If you want to form your own impression of him I suggest a film marathon complete with DVD extras followed by watching and reading as many interviews as you can possibly find.
Source: The Internet Movie Database
© Depp Appreciation
