Johnny Depp

John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II was born on June 9, 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky, to Betty Sue Palmer (née Wells), a waitress, and John Christopher Depp, a civil engineer. He was raised in Florida. He dropped out of school at age 15 and fronted a series of music-garage bands, including one named 'The Kids'. After marrying Lori A. Depp, he took a job as a ballpoint-pen salesman to support himself and his wife. A visit to Los Angeles, California, with his wife proved fortuitous when he met actor Nicolas Cage, who encouraged him to pursue acting. This led to Depp's film debut in the low-budget horror film *A Nightmare on Elm Street* (1984), in which he portrayed a teenager victimized by the dream-stalking demon Freddy Krueger. He gained wider recognition in 1987 when he replaced Jeff Yagher in the role of undercover cop Tommy Hanson in the popular TV series *21 Jump Street* (1987). In 1990, following several roles in teen-oriented films, Depp began a series of collaborations with director Tim Burton, playing the title character in *Edward Scissorhands* (1990). The film's success established Depp as a serious, somewhat dark, and idiosyncratic performer, known for selecting roles that surprised critics and audiences alike. He continued to gain critical acclaim and popularity through a variety of film roles before reuniting with Burton in the lead role of *Ed Wood* (1994). In 1997, he portrayed an undercover FBI agent in the fact-based film *Donnie Brasco* (1997), opposite Al Pacino; in 1998, he appeared in *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* (1998), directed by Terry Gilliam; and in 1999, he starred in the sci-fi/horror film *The Astronaut's Wife* (1999). That same year, he reteamed with Burton in *Sleepy Hollow* (1999), playing Ichabod Crane. Depp has portrayed a wide range of characters throughout his career, including the fact-based role of Insp. Fred Abberline in *From Hell* (2001). He delivered a standout performance in Robert Rodriguez's "mariachi" trilogy finale, *Once Upon a Time in Mexico* (2003), sharing the screen with Antonio Banderas. In 2003, he starred in the family blockbuster *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), playing the charismatic and roguish Capt. Jack Sparrow, a role that contributed to the film's massive success and earned him an Oscar nomination. He played the central character in the Stephen King adaptation *Secret Window* (2004); portrayed the kind-hearted novelist James Barrie in the fact-based film *Finding Neverland* (2004), co-starring with Kate Winslet; and played Rochester in the British film *The Libertine* (2004). Depp reunited with Burton for the film adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* (2005), and later appeared in *Alice in Wonderland* (2010) and *Dark Shadows* (2012). Off-screen, Depp has dated several female celebrities and was engaged to Sherilyn Fenn, Jennifer Grey, Winona Ryder, and Kate Moss. He was married to Lori Anne Allison in 1983, but divorced her in 1985. Depp has two children with his former long-time partner, French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis: Lily-Rose Melody, born in 1999, and John Christopher "Jack" III, born in 2002. He married actress and producer Amber Heard in 2015, and they divorced a few years later.