His surname comes from a French Huguenot immigrant, Pierre Dieppe, who settled in Virginia around 1700. ĭepp is of primarily English descent, with some French, German, Irish, and West African ancestry. He co-wrote their song "Mary", which appeared on their debut Geffen Records album Young Man's Blues. The Kids split up before signing a record deal in 1984, and Depp began collaborating with the band Rock City Angels. In December 1983, Depp married makeup artist Lori Anne Allison, the sister of his band's bassist and singer.
In addition to the band, Depp worked a variety of odd jobs, such as in telemarketing. After modest local success in Florida, the band moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of a record deal, changing its name to Six Gun Method. In 1980, Depp began playing in a band called The Kids. He attempted to go back to school two weeks later, but the principal told him to follow his dream of being a musician. He dropped out of Miramar High School at 16 in 1979 to become a rock musician. ĭepp's mother gave him a guitar when he was 12, and he began playing in various bands. His parents divorced in 1978 when he was 15, and his mother later married Robert Palmer, whom Depp has called "an inspiration". Depp's family moved frequently during his childhood, eventually settling in Miramar, Florida, in 1970. John Christopher Depp II was born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, the youngest of four children of waitress Betty Sue Palmer ( née Wells) and civil engineer John Christopher Depp.
2.5 2021–2022: Big-Screen Return and multiple European film awards.2.3 2003–2011: Pirates of the Caribbean, commercial and critical success.2.2 1990–2002: Independent films and first collaborations with Tim Burton.He is the father of French-American actress and model Lily-Rose Depp. Depp describes himself as a victim of cancel culture. Depp later sued Heard for defamation in Virginia after she wrote an op-ed saying she was a public victim of domestic violence. In 2018, Depp claimed that Heard had abused him before he unsuccessfully sued the publishers of British tabloid The Sun for defamation under English law. Their divorce drew media attention as Heard alleged that Depp had been abusive throughout their relationship. Wizarding World films Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018).įrom 2015 to 2017, Depp was married to actress Amber Heard. During the 2010s Depp began producing films through his company, Infinitum Nihil, and formed the rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, before starring as Gellert Grindelwald in the Warner Bros. In 2012, Depp was one of the world's biggest film stars, and was listed by the Guinness World Records as the world's highest-paid actor, with earnings of US$75 million. He received critical praise for Finding Neverland (2004), and continued his commercially successful collaboration with Tim Burton with the films Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), where he portrayed Willy Wonka, Corpse Bride (2005), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), and Alice in Wonderland (2010).
In the 2000s, Depp became one of the most commercially successful film stars by playing Captain Jack Sparrow in the Walt Disney swashbuckler film series Pirates of the Caribbean (2003–2017). Depp also began collaborating with director Tim Burton, starring in Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), and Sleepy Hollow (1999).
These included What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Benny and Joon (1993), Dead Man (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). In the 1990s, Depp acted mostly in independent films, often playing eccentric characters. He is the recipient of multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTAs.ĭepp made his debut in the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), before rising to prominence as a teen idol on the television series 21 Jump Street (1987–1990). John Christopher Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, producer, musician and painter.