Johnny Depp takes the lead as a staggering, gold toothed antihero in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," opening today.
Early years: Depp was born June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Ky. He grew up in Florida. Depp's early teen years were spent locked in his room playing guitar. His parents divorced, and Depp dropped out of school at 16, hoping to make it as a musician. His most successful band, The Kids, once opened for an Iggy Pop concert.
Career: Depp moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a pen salesman. A chance meeting with Nicholas Cage convinced Depp to try acting. He studied at the Loft Studio, and debuted in1984's "Nightmare on Elm Street." Depp's career took flight when he joined the TV series "21 Jump Street," where he played an undercover cop from 1987-90.
The '90s brought film success with "Edward Scissorhands," "Benny & Joon," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Ed Wood," "Dead Man," and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Then came "The Astronaut's Wife," and "Chocolat," and in 2001, "Blow" and "From Hell." "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" was released in 2002.
Personal: Depp married and divorced Lori Allison. He has been involved with actresses Jennifer Grey, Winona Ryder, Sherilyn Fenn, and model Kate Moss.
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Depp was owner of the Viper Room, in 1993, when the Los Angeles nightspot became famous as the death scene of actor River Phoenix. Phoenix died of a drug overdose while partying at the club.
Now, Depp, French singer/actress Vanessa Paradis and their two children live in France.
In his words: (On changing French fries to freedom fries) "I wanted to write a letter to them just to thank them, just for proving globally that they were absolute imbeciles."
Web link: www.johnnydeppfan.com
Compiled by Carol Bradley Bursack
Sources: Associated Press, Imdb.com, Johnnydeppfan.com
