John Christopher Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, producer, and musician. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). He is known for his portrayal of eccentric characters in films such as Edward Scissorhands (1990), Sleepy Hollow (1999), and Alice in Wonderland (2010). Depp has also had success in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, in which he played the lead role of Captain Jack Sparrow.
Depp was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, the youngest of four children of Betty Sue Palmer (née Wells), a waitress, and John Christopher Depp, Sr., a civil engineer. Depp's ancestry includes English, German, Irish, and Cherokee. He was raised in Florida and dropped out of school at the age of 15 to become a rock musician. He later pursued an acting career, making his film debut in 1984 in A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Throughout the 1980s, Depp appeared in a number of teen-oriented films, including Platoon (1986), Cry-Baby (1990), and Edward Scissorhands (1990). He gained critical acclaim for his role as the eccentric title character in Edward Scissorhands, and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance.
In the 1990s, Depp appeared in a number of successful films, including Donnie Brasco (1997), Sleepy Hollow (1999), and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). He received critical acclaim for his role as Inspector Abberline in Sleepy Hollow and won the Golden Globe Award for Best actor for his performance in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007).
In the 2000s, Depp appeared in a number of high-profile films, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Alice in Wonderland (2010), and the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. He received widespread praise for his portrayal of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland and reprised the role in its sequel, Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).
In addition to his acting career, Depp is a musician and has released two albums with his band, the Hollywood Vampires. He is also a partner in the production company Infinitum Nihil, which has produced a number of his films.
Depp has been involved in a number of legal disputes, including a highly publicized divorce from actress Amber Heard and a lawsuit against his former business managers for mismanaging his finances. Despite these controversies, Depp remains a popular and respected figure in the film industry.
Depp has had a long and successful career in Hollywood, but he has also faced a number of personal and legal challenges. In 2001, he was arrested for trashing a hotel room in Vancouver, Canada, and later plead guilty to vandalism.
In 2012, Depp's mother, Betty Sue Palmer, died at the age of 81. Depp was very close to his mother and her death had a profound effect on him.
In 2015, Depp married actress Amber Heard, but the marriage was tumultuous and the couple divorced in 2017. During the divorce proceedings, Heard accused Depp of domestic abuse, which he denied. The divorce was settled out of court, with Heard receiving a settlement of $7 million, which she donated to charity.
In 2017, Depp filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard, claiming that she had lied about the abuse allegations. The lawsuit is ongoing.
In 2018, Depp faced financial troubles and filed a lawsuit against his former business managers, claiming that they had mismanaged his finances and cost him millions of dollars. The lawsuit was later settled out of court.
Despite these legal and personal challenges, Depp has continued to work as an actor and has received praise for his performances in films such as Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). He has also released two albums with his band, the Hollywood Vampires, and has continued to work with his production company, Infinitum Nihil.
Depp is known for his dedication to his craft and his willingness to take on challenging and unusual roles. He has worked with some of the biggest directors in the film industry, including Tim Burton, Martin Scorsese, and Gore Verbinski, and has consistently delivered strong performances in a wide range of genres. Despite the ups and downs of his personal and professional life, Depp remains one of the most respected and popular actors in Hollywood.