Johnny Depp, born in Kentucky on June 9th 1963 has followed a bizarre road, consequently
landing him as one of today`s top Hollywood actors.? Born John Christopher Depp
II, young Depp was originally interested in pursuing a music career. Following a
move to Florida, and his parents divorce by age 16, Depp strayed from his peers
and siblings and reclused within a life of drugs and alcohol.? Teenage Depp dropped
out of school to pursue a career in rock and roll music. Over the next few years,
Depp fronted numerous garage bands - the most famous entitled The Kids, opened for
Iggy Pop.? Perhaps more importantly, the success of The Kids furnished Depp with
a rising sense of popularity and accomplishment - ironically shot down by Iggy Pop
himself during a back-stage confrontation.
Determination and hope for stardom inspired the band to relocate to Los Angeles.?
Depp married by age 20 to Lori Allison, the band`s make-up artist.? As his band
struggled among the competitive West-coast market, Depp (under suggestion from his
wife) decided to try acting.? An introduction to Nicolas Cage reluctantly persuaded
Depp to audition.? Depp`s first film debut was in Wes Craven`s major motion picture
A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984).? Unable to regain momentum, The Kids spilt-up
soon after the movie`s release and Depp diverged from his first love, music, to
follow a life of acting.? A small role in Platoon (1986) by Oliver Stone followed.
Unwilling at first, Fox pursued Depp to star in a new series entitled 21, Jump Street.?
Although Depp felt this show "beneath him," it actually catapulted his success as
an actor and turned him into a t eenybopper idol.
His next unanimously appraised piece was Edward Scissorhands (1990) - thought
by Depp to downplay his unwanted pretty-boy reputation.? The success of this movie
established his well known choice for odd and unusual roles - essentially carving
a niche for himself as a serious and somewhat dark performer who always surprises
audiences with his choice of roles.
His divorce to Lori Allison catalyzed engagements to multiple love interests
including Sherilyn Fenn and Jennifer Gray.? His decision to take the role in Edward
Scissorhands led to the start of a relationship with his then costar Winona Ryder.?
Depp described her as "the one," despite their break up three years later.
Next came an extraordinary run of movie roles casted for Depp.? Within five years,
starting in 1993, Depp starred in an array of movies including: What`s Eating Gilbert
Grape, Benny and Joon, Arizona Dreaming, Nick of Time, and Jim Jarmusch`s Dead Man.?
It was during this time of stressful success that Depp began to relapse.? Again,
an unhappy Depp began using drugs and alcohol to escape from reality.? Stuck in
the depths of disillusion, troubled Depp started an on-off relationship with supermodel
Kate Moss (1996); almost simultaneously being arrested twice for both trashing his
NY hotel room and fighting a member of the paparazzi (1999).? Although his life
was in and out of shambles, on screen Depp continued to establish himself as an
incredible actor.
In 1998, Depp split with supermodel Kate Moss and started a relationship with
French singer Venessa Paradis, relocating to Paris with his two children (Lily-Rose
and Jack) in hope to pursue a more normal life.? Ironically, the next role he played
was perhaps one of the farthest from normal - casted as Hunter S. Thompson in Terry
Gilliam`s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.? Work opportunities continued and Depp
continued acting, starring in such films as: The Source, The 9th Gate (shot in Paris
where he met Paradis), Tim Burton`s Sleepy Hollow, and the Oscar nominated Chocolat;
all the while, Depp managed to continue his musical interests by appearing in an
array of music videos (including Tom Petty`s "The Great Wide Open"), producing music
with his band P, and directing several videos for his wife (2001).