Biography - Johnny Depp

Published by MELLE

Johnny Depp first came to prominence in the TV series '21 Jumpstreet', since then he has swapped his leather jacket for a pirate hat and continues to attract huge cinema audiences.

Originally from Kentucky, he started out in music, performing in a band called 'The Flame' which toured with Iggy Pop. Unfortunately, they were not as successful as they hoped, and the group disbanded soon afterwards.

In 1983, Depp married actress Lori Allison, who later introduced him to Nicholas Cage. Shortly afterwards, he took the role of Glen Lantz in 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', by Wes Craven, before enrolling in acting classes at the Loft Studio in Los Angeles, to work on his acting skills. In 1987 his hard work paid off and he starred in '21 Jump Street' as Tom Hanson.

Eager not to be typecast in pretty-boy roles, he launched himself into the world of cinema in 1990, with a Tim Burton film, 'Cry Baby'. Another Tim Burton role followed in 'Edward Scissorhands' a year later, starting what was to become a long-term collaboration, with 'Ed Wood' in 1994 and 'Sleep Hollow' in 1999. After 'Arizona Dream' and 'Dead Man', Depp took a turn behind the camera in 1997 as director of 'The Brave'.

2003 saw Depp as the hilarious Captain Jack Sparrow in 'Parates of the Caribbean', confirming him as one of the best comic actors of his generation.

After a string of relationships with high-profile women like Winona Ryder and Kate Moss, Depp now lives in the South of France with his partner Vanessa Paradis and their two children.