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Actor Biography - Johnny Depp |
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Kentucky-born Johnny Depp developed an interest in music at an early age growing up in Florida. Before his career as an actor he was in a rock band named Kids. It was his participation in Kids that pushed him to migrate to Los Angeles, a haven for young musicians as well as other artists.
After his band broke up he took the advice of a friend and turned to acting. Depp’s first major acting role was in Nightmare on Elm Street. From there he earned roles in other films such as Slow Burn and Platoon. His breakthrough role came when he joined the cast of the Fox television show 21 Jump Street as undercover detective Tim Hanson. He starred on 21 Jump Street for four seasons before jumping back to the big screen for his first leading role in John Water’s Cry Baby.
Depp’s film credits include roles in the crime thriller From Hell with Heather Graham, Blow opposite Penelope Cruz, Chocolat with Juliette Binoche, The Astronaut’s Wife, and Ninth Gate. Depp also has a consistent working relationship with director Tim Burton, starring in Burton’s films Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
In 1998, Depp had the lead role in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, inspired by the Hunter S. Thompson novel. He also played lead in Finding Neverland with Kate Winslet and the period drama The Libertine opposite Samantha Morton.
Depp has been nominated for multiple awards throughout his career. He earned a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of the title character in Edward Scissorhands and for his work in Benny & Joon. Depp’s depiction of one of this country’s most eccentric B-movie directors in Ed Wood garnered him with his third Best Actor Golden Globe nomination. Depp received an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actor’s Guild award for his portrayal of Captain Jack in Jerry Bruckheimer’s adventure film Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.
Additional acting credits include starring opposite Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Donnie Brasco co-starring Al Pacino, the western Dead Man, Don Juan De Marco with Marlon Brando and Faye Dunaway, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape with Leonardo DiCaprio, Arizona Dream with Jerry Lewis, Secret Window, and Nick of Time.
Depp made his feature directorial debut in The Brave, a film based on Gregory McDonald’s novel. Depp starred in the film and co-wrote the screenplay with his brother D.P. Depp.
