You’ve heard him play in rock bands, you’ve seen him act in movies such as “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Platoon”. Then, you saw him star as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Disney box office hits, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Read this informative article and learn some little known facts about Johnny Depp you probably don’t know!
Early Life
Unlike many other celebrities like John Wayne, Tom Cruise and Charlie Sheen, Johnny Depp kept his real name instead of changing it when he entered showbusiness. He was born John Christopher Depp II on June 9, 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky. (He grew up in Florida.) His father was an engineer and his mother Betty Sue worked as a waitress. (His parents later divorced when he was 15.) A brother Danny, and sisters Debbie and Christie rounded out the Depp family.
His Teenage Years
A little known fact about Johnny Depp is that he began smoking cigarettes at the young age of twelve. He now smokes his own rolleys, preferring Bali Shag brand tobacco and Rizla cigarette paper.
At the same age, Johnny Depp decided to teach himself how to play the guitar. It took him two years to do it, but he finally succeeded.
While other teens who loved rock ‘n roll had posters of their favorite artists plastered across their bedroom walls, Depp’s bedroom looked like an art museum instead. He thinks highly of Vincent Van Gogh and had reproductions of his art hung up instead.
Of course, being that Depp is a musician himself, he has always loved music. His favorite rocker is Keith Richards. In fact, he designed his Jack Sparrow character in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies to be a mixture of Richards, cartoon skunk “Pepe Le Pew” and Dean Martin.
School life was rather exciting with Depp around. He mooned a teacher and got suspended. At age 17, Johnny Depp dropped out of high school to pursue his love of music and start a rock band.
His Life Now
Another little known fact about Johnny Depp is that he has two silver skull rings, one for each ring finger. The rings, along with his penchant for sword fighting, seems to make him the perfect choice for a lead in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Actually, he wears the skull rings to remind him that life is short and every moment needs to be lived to the fullest.
Actor Johnny Depp earned $10,000,000 for starring in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” in 2003. He raked in an additional $20,000,000 for starring in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” in 2006. Yet, he loves to shop at thrift shops to look for unique bargains. (Depp also loves antique stores.) In fact, Depp found a nine foot tall fiberglass rooster at a thrift store. He purchased it and had it placed it in his home. Depp calls it “my nine-foot cock.”
While he’s not afraid of giant roosters, another little known fact about Johnny Depp is that the 5’10” actor suffers from Coulrophobia, which is a fear of clowns.
And finally, Johnny Depp of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” fame lives with his longtime girlfriend, Vanessa Paradis, and their daughter, Lily-Rose Meldody Depp, in France. Lily-Rose was born in 1999, and is the absolute apple of her father’s brown eyes.
