Born John Christopher Depp in Owensboro, Kentucky, on June 9, 1963. Raised in Florida, he dropped out of school at age 15 in hopes of becoming a rock musician. He fronted a series of garage bands, including The Kids, which once opened for Iggy Pop. Depp got into acting after a visit to LA with his former wife, who introduced him to actor Nicolas Cage. He made his film debut in 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street. In 1987, he shot to fame when he replaced Jeff Yagher in the role of undercover cop Tommy Hanson in the popular TV series 21 Jump Street. In 1990, after numerous roles in teen films, his first of a few great collaborations with director Tim Burton came about when he portrayed the title role in Edward Scissorhands. Following the film's success, Depp carved a niche for himself as a serious, somewhat dark, idiosyncratic performer, consistently selecting roles that surprise critics and audiences alike. He continued to gain critical acclaim and increasing popularity by appearing in many features before re-joining with Burton in the lead role of Ed Wood. In 1997, he played the undercover FBI agent in the factually based film, Donnie Brasco, opposite Al Pacino; in 1998 he appeared in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and then in 1999 he appeared in the Sci-fi horror, The Astronaut's Wife. The same year, he teamed up again with Burton in Sleepy Hollow, brilliantly portraying Ichabod Crane. Depp has played many characters in his career including another factually based character, Inspector Fred Abberline in From Hell (2001). He stole the show from screen greats such as Antonio Banderas in the finale to Robert Rodriguez's Mariachi trilogy Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) the same year as the marvelous family blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl playing a character that only the likes of Depp could pull off... Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp has been announced as joining up again with Tim Burton in the screen adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Apart from his on-screen life Depp has dated several female celebrities off-screen, including failed engagements to Jennifer Gray, Winona Ryder and Kate Moss. He was married to Lori Anderson in 1983 but then divorced in 1985. Currently Depp is living with French singer/actress Vanessa Paradis with whom he has two children; Lily-Rose Melody born in 1999 and Jack born in 2002.
JOHNNY TRIVIA
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#1). [1995]
Daughter, with Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose Melody Depp, born. [27 May 1999]
Arrested for being in a fight with paparazzis in front of a restaurant in London. [January 1999]
Ranked #67 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world [1996]
Voted EMPIRE's (UK) "sexiest male movie star of all time" [1995]
River Phoenix died outside his L.A. club The Viper Room at 8852 Sunset Boulevard.
Featured on a rock album from British band, 'Oasis'. Depp plays lead slide guitar on the track, "Fade In-Out". Oasis's own lead guitarist was too drunk to perform it himself, so celebrity pal Depp stepped in and nailed the lead on one take.
Arrested for trashing a New York apartment [1994]
Ex-fiancees: Sherilyn Fenn, Jennifer Grey, Winona Ryder.
When engaged to Winona Ryder, he had 'Winona forever' tattooed on his arm. After the broke up he had the n and a surgically removed to simply say 'Wino forever'!.
Played as guitarist in a band called "The Kids"
Currently plays in a band called "P"
Grew up in Florida.
Brother of D.P. Depp
Adopted Goldeneye, the one-eyed Andalusian horse who played Gunpowder, Ichabod Crane's steed, thereby saving him from the glue factory. (2000)
Got his "Betty Sue" tattoo May 31, 1988
Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001".
Son Jack, born to him and Vanessa on April 10, 2002 in Neuilly, France, weighs in at just over 7 lbs.
Chosen #2 on E!'s 25 sexiest entertainers list
With Chuck E. Weiss, Depp paid a reported $350,000 for Central nightclub and turned it into the Viper Room. Other stars in contention to buy the club in 1993 included Arnold Schwarzenegger and (separately) Frank Stallone.
Lists British comedy 'The Fast Show' (renamed 'Brilliant' for US TV) as his favourite TV programme of all time. He used to take tapes of the series on tour with him to keep him amused. Made a guest appearance in the last ever sketch in its last ever episode.
Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2001.
Wrote the foreword to Mark Salisbury's biography of Tim Burton, 'Burton on Burton'. He credits Burton's belief in him for rescuing him from being "a loser, an outcast, just another piece of expendable Hollywood meat".
Appears in Tom Petty's 1991 music video, "Into The Great Wide Open".
Johnny's two children with Paradis, have the same names of the 2 main characters in "Legend" (1985) - Lily (b. 1999) and Jack (b.2002).
His long-time girlfriend, Vanessa Paradis, is a popular singer/ songwriter in her native country, France; as well as an aspiring actress.
Gave Noel Gallagher a white guitar with the letter "P" on it, which Noel reguarly plays during Oasis' gigs. "P" is the name of a band that Depp was in.
Has a song about him by famed Chicago street artist, Wesley Willis
Parents: John Christopher and Betty Sue Palmer
He wanted some of his teeth to be goldcapped for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), but knew that the directors would never agree, so he went out and got lots more than he wanted capped. He then showed the directors, and they decided to make him give up a few, so he got some taken off. He had only gotten the extras so he could negotiate with the directors, while pretending that he wanted all his teeth capped.
Resides in France and Los Angeles.
Siblings: Danny, Christy, Debbie
People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" for 2003.
Before Depp turned it into The Viper Room, the building was owned by famous gangster, Bugsy Segal.
Chosen as E!'s Entertainer of the year (2003).
According to the liner notes in the _Once Upon A Time in Mexico (2003)_ soundtrack CD, he wrote his own theme music, the music for Sands (Track 9 on the CD).
Shot all of his scenes in 9 days for _Once Upon A Time in Mexico (2003)_ , but after his filming was done he didn't want to leave. So he suggested to 'Robert Rodriguez' that he play a small part, the priest that Antonio Banderas talks to in the church, and use his Marlon Brando impression.
Reportedly based his portrayal of Ichabod Crane in _Sleepy Hollow (1999)_ on Withnail, from Withnail and I (1987), as played by Richard E. Grant.
Has been in 7 films where the title contains the name of the character he plays: Edward Scissorhands (1990), Donnie Brasco (1997), Don Juan DeMarco (1995), Ed Wood (1994), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Cry-Baby (1990) and J.M. Barrie's Neverland (2004).
Persuaded actor Rey-Phillip Santos to give acting a try.
His son is named after him (John Christopher Depp) but is called Jack for short.
Received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 19 November 1999. Tim Burton and Martin Landau were guest speakers.
His niece Megan works for popular online entertainment magazine TYCP.
One of the reasons Depp wanted to do Secret Window (2004) was because he said he'd always wanted to play a character named 'Mort'.
Was ranked #5 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties