Hollywood legend Johnny Depp turns 60 today, following what has been a decorated and drama-filled career in the acting industry.
Depp is one of the most well-known actors on the globe, having starred in a multitude of flicks over the years – from Edward Scissorhands to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
His ability to truly transform a character is something that has become his trademark – he most famously modeled Captain Jack Sparrow on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
Over the past few years, Depp has spent an increased amount of time away from the big screen and public life, and has been in and out of the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Depp has been in and out of the headlines in recent years. Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty
Born in Kentucky in 1963, Depp moved to Los Angeles during his early 20s with his band, where he was advised by none other than Nicolas Cage to pursue a career in acting. After his band broke up, Depp landed a role in the 1984 TV series A Nightmare On Elm Street, Marca reported. While Depp wasn’t necessarily interested in becoming an actor, he admitted it paid the bills.
In the late 80s, Depp became a teen heartthrob when he appeared in 21 Jump Street, before making his big screen debut alongside Winona Ryder in 1990’s Edward Scissorhands.
However, his most iconic role was definitely as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, from 2003 to 2011. By 2012, the Guinness World Records listed Depp as the world’s highest paid actor, with a net worth of $75 million.
Sadly, over the past few years Depp’s reputation has somewhat soured following his highly-publicized court cases and relationship with ex-wife Amber Heard. In fact, The Hollywood Reporter called the actor a “persona non grata”, writing: “It wasn’t just the erratic and violent behavior that unmade Johnny Depp as one of the world’s most bankable stars. It was his unquenchable thirst for revenge.”
Heard and Depp have been engaged in several legal disputes over the past few years. Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty
In early 2021, Heard and Depp had been engaged in one of the most talked-about court cases after Depp sued the actress for defamation – arguing that an op-ed she penned for The Washington Post in 2018 had falsely painted him as an abusive partner.
After almost a month of testimony and expert evidence, the judge ruled in favor of Depp in June, awarding him $15 million in damages. Heard won one of her counterclaims against her former husband and was awarded $2 million.
