When this pretty boy leapt to stardom in the '80s, no one could have predicted that he would become one of the most revered thespians of his generation. A former rock-and-roll wannabe, Depp segued into acting with a handful of big-screen supporting roles. With his stunning cheekbones and pouty lips, he became an instant sex symbol on the TV series
21 Jump Street. After graduating from the small screen, Depp shrewdly eschewed the traditional leading-man route, playing offbeat characters in films helmed by edgy directors: John Waters, Terry Gilliam, and his most frequent collaborator, Tim Burton. Off screen he cultivated a bad-boy image with a string of high-profile romances (Winona Ryder, Sherilyn Fenn, Kate Moss) and trashed hotel rooms. But Depp matured both personally and professionally in the '00s, earning Oscar nods and making a stable home with his girlfriend Vanessa Paradis and their children. In 2007, he proved that, despite his megastar status, his family was his top priority when he interrupted the shoot of
Sweeney Todd to be by his sick daughter's bedside.
Johnny Depp Fast Facts:
- Left school as a teenager to pursue music, and went on to play in many bands (including one that opened for Iggy Pop).
- Got his start in acting after his ex-wife introduced him to her former boyfriend, Nicolas Cage, which ultimately landed Depp a role in 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street.
- Owner of the Viper Room, an L.A. club on the Sunset Strip that was the site of River Phoenix's drug-related 1993 death.
- Has received numerous awards and nominations for his talent and good looks, including People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 2003 and a spot on GQ's Top 10 Greatest Actors of Our Generation in 2005.
- Johnny Depp Relationships:
- Winona Ryder - Ex-fiancée
- Kate Moss - Ex-fiancée
- Jennifer Grey - Ex-fiancée
- Vanessa Paradis - Significant Other
- Betty Sue Palmer - Mother
- Christie Dembrowski - Sister
- Daniel Depp - Brother
- Debbie Depp - Sister
- Jack John Christopher Depp III - Son
- John Christopher Depp - Father
- Lily-Rose Melody Depp - Daughter
- Lori Allison - Ex-wife
- Johnny Depp Awards:
- 2003 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
- 2004 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
- 2005 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
- 1991 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1994 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1995 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 2004 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 2006 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 2007 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 2008 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Winner
- 2007 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
