Is there a celebrity more mysterious than Johnny Depp? He’s not only one of Hollywood’s most successful and recognizable actors, but he seems to fly under the radar despite his stardom.
And even if you’re one of the biggest fans out there, likely, you haven’t heard some of the strange facts about this infamous actor!
With my article, I’m going to take an inside look at 10 amazing facts about Johnny Depp that you probably didn’t know – from childhood activities to modern-day habits.
1. He used to work for Oasis!
You may not have known it, but Johnny Depp has had his share of musical accomplishments. Not only did he have his own band, but he also once collaborated with the English rock band, Oasis.
On their 1997 track Fade In-Out, he lent his skills as the lead slide guitar and gave the song a unique sound. Check it out in this video!
This was an unexpected move from a Hollywood star, yet one that showed off Johnny Depp’s impressive range of talents.
From films to music, this multi-talented actor continues to draw attention through his ability to take on different and surprising roles.
2. A Nightmare on Elm Street was his first film.
Johnny Depp’s debut on the big screen was in the 1984 classic horror flick ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street.’
That’s right, the attractive character that viewers probably had the hots for was Johnny Depp.
He first starred alongside Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, and Ronee Blakley as protagonist Glen Lantz in a story about multiple people killed in their sleep by Freddy Kruger. Aside from creating an iconic villain, this movie also gave birth to one of Hollywood’s greatest stars: Johnny Depp.
The actor gained recognition through his chilling performance, taking fright behind closed eyes to an entirely new level while making us gasp at every corner.
People had no idea this would be his introduction to showbiz, but it certainly left a mark!
3. Johnny Depp is famous because of Nicolas Cage.
Johnny Depp’s career wouldn’t have taken off without the help of Nicolas Cage. Nicolas persuaded him to pursue acting by helping him secure his first agent.
Johnny repaid Nicolas with a heartfelt gesture in 2007 – he offered to take over his debt!
This inspiring story only shows us how important friendship and guidance can be in taking us to success. These two actors will forever be tied together through their incredible stories.
So if you want to thank somebody for Johnny Depp’s stardom, think no further than Nicolas Cage!
4. He’s not an Oscar winner!
We can all agree that Johnny Depp is incredibly talented, but it may shock you that he has never won an Oscar!
Despite being nominated for Best Actor three times for his performances in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Finding Neverland, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – Depp has yet to secure an Academy Award win.
This is a surprise given his impressive performance as Edward Scissorhands and Willy Wonka. It’s time Hollywood recognizes the incredible work Depp puts into every one of his roles!
5. Johnny Depp was twice named the “Sexiest Man alive”!
No surprise here: Johnny Depp is no stranger to being named the “Sexiest Man Alive.” This screen superstar was blessed with this honor not just once but twice! People magazine recognized his good looks and movie star charisma in 2003 and 2009.
It’s hard to argue with such commendations as he truly is a Hollywood icon whose style, wit, and on-screen presence make him a fan favorite.
His career has been decorated with leading roles in some of the most iconic blockbusters of our time, and his ability to bring any character to life has kept him relevant for decades.
So, it’s no wonder he was given the title of “Sexiest Man Alive” twice – proving that age is just a number for having real sex appeal.
6. He is a successful businessman.
Johnny Depp is not only a celebrated actor but also a successful businessman. He recently teamed up with HarperCollins publishers and signed a deal for an imprint named after his company.
This project, called The Unraveled Tales of Bob Dylan, will draw on detailed interviews conducted by best-selling historian Douglas Brinkley.
7. He owns a production company.
Johnny Depp has his own production company, Infinitum Nihil, which he founded in 2004 and serves as CEO, actor, and producer. His sister, Christi Dembrowski, takes the role of president in the business.
This production house has produced hits such as The Rum Diary (2011), Hugo (2011), directed by Martin Scorsese, Dark Shadows (2012), directed by Tim Burton, and many more projects.
He’s also been working for four years on a documentary about Keith Richards, who is famously one of Depp’s good friends over time. What made this project even better is that most of their time was spent listening to Richards talk about himself and sharing stories about his inspirations.
On top of that, he recently announced a collaboration with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall to bring back a remake of The Thing Man which will be reimagined and starring Depp as Nick. At the same time, they look for Nora’s counterpart.
8. Disney executives almost fired Johnny Depp.
The world knows Johnny Depp for his iconic portrayal of Jack Sparrow in The Curse of the Black Pearl. However, they don’t know that Disney executives nearly fired him while shooting for the first film because they couldn’t understand his unique take on the Pirate captain.
Fortunately, other higher-ups in the studios recognized Depp’s talent and allowed him to continue with the role. We all know why: Captain Jack Sparrow was a huge hit with audiences worldwide, becoming one of Disney’s most profitable franchises!
It’s also interesting to note that Johnny Depp took inspiration from Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards, an idol of Depp. Eventually, the two ended up playing a father and son duo on-screen in Pirates of the Caribbean 5!
9. He even got to pay a special tribute to his friend!
Johnny Depp is well-known for his big-heartedness, and he has certainly proven it by honoring his late friend Hunter S. Thompson.
Rather than choose a traditional funeral for his family, Hunter’s dying wish was to have his remains shot out of a cannon. This expensive request wouldn’t surprise those familiar with Thompson’s wild spirit. Yet instead of shrugging off the unusual idea, Johnny spent $3 million to fulfill Hunter’s dying wish.
“I just want to send my pal out the way he wants to go out,” Johnny said in a heartfelt tribute and display of true friendship. With Johnny’s help, Hunter was given a proper send-off in the best way imaginable – showing how much they cared for each other to the very end!
Check out this video with Joe Rogan where he talks more about how was the planning for this crazy funeral.
10. When it comes to wine, he has an extremely expensive taste.
Johnny Depp’s taste in wine is, quite frankly, outrageous.
The star has admitted to spending an average of $30,000 a month on his favorite bottles.
This means that he easily goes through over a hundred bottles per year! The actor loves to indulge in the finer things in life regarding his drinks.
However, it wasn’t until recently that the issue started to cause him financial trouble. Understandably so – that’s a lot of money to be spending on wine every month! Nevertheless, it is evident that Johnny Depp shows no signs of slowing down and continues to treat himself to luxurious bottlings now and then.
In conclusion, Johnny Depp is an amazing, unique actor with many interesting stories to tell. From his ability to transform into different characters for movies to his musical career and hidden talents, Johnny Depp is a real-life legend in many eyes.
There’s no doubt that he will always be remembered for his fascinating artistic works as well as for the flair and creativity he brings to every role.
