Johnny Depp is an American actor, musician and filmmaker who has been one of the most popular and distinctive movie stars in the world since the 1980s. Born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, Depp, 63, is best known as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and for his long collaboration with director Tim Burton on films including Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | John Christopher Depp II |
| Age | 63 years old |
| Date of Birth | June 9, 1963 |
| Birthplace | Owensboro, Kentucky, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Partner | Not publicly in a relationship (as of 2026); previously married to Lori Anne Allison and Amber Heard; previously in a long-term relationship with Vanessa Paradis |
| Net Worth | Approx. $150 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2025) |
| Known For | Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd, 21 Jump Street |
Who Is Johnny Depp?
Johnny Depp is an American actor, musician and filmmaker, known for playing eccentric, offbeat characters in films that have grossed more than $10.8 billion worldwide. He has received an Actor Award, a Golden Globe Award and nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards. He began his career as a teen idol on the television series 21 Jump Street (1987-1991), then deliberately chose unusual roles that set him apart from other stars of his generation.
Depp’s best-known role is Captain Jack Sparrow, the drunken, charismatic pirate in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean series, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. He is also known for his collaborations with Tim Burton, including Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), for which he earned an Oscar nomination. Like Tom Cruise, Depp has headlined a blockbuster franchise for many years, and he co-starred with Leonardo DiCaprio in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), for which DiCaprio earned an Academy Award nomination.
Early Life & Background
John Christopher Depp II was born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, to John Christopher Depp, a civil engineer, and Betty Sue Palmer, a waitress. The family moved often, and Depp grew up mainly in Miramar, Florida, where he played guitar in garage bands. At 16, he dropped out of high school to try to become a rock musician, joining the band The Kids, which opened for Iggy Pop and toured Florida.
Depp moved to Los Angeles to pursue music, and through a connection with actor Nicolas Cage, he was cast in his first film, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), in which his character is famously killed by a bed. He then appeared in the comedy Private Resort (1985) and in the television series 21 Jump Street, in which he played undercover police officer Tom Hanson. The show made him a teen idol, a label he resisted as he looked for more challenging film roles.
Johnny Depp’s Career
Depp’s film breakthrough came with Edward Scissorhands (1990), Tim Burton’s film in which he played a gentle man with scissors for hands, opposite Winona Ryder. He followed it with What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994), Donnie Brasco (1997), in which he played an undercover FBI agent, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). In 1999 he starred in Sleepy Hollow, also directed by Burton, and in The Astronaut’s Wife.
In 2003, Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, a performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination and made the film a global hit. He returned as Sparrow in four sequels, most recently Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). In the same period he played J. M. Barrie in Finding Neverland (2004), earning a second Oscar nomination, Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd (2007), earning a third Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award.
Depp also played the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010), which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, and Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts series (2016-2018). In 2023 he returned to film as King Louis XV in the French film Jeanne du Barry, and in 2024 he directed Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness, a film about the Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. He is also a guitarist in the supergroup Hollywood Vampires, with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry.
Facts About Johnny Depp
- Johnny Depp was born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, and is 63 years old.
- He has been nominated for three Academy Awards, for Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland and Sweeney Todd.
- He played Captain Jack Sparrow in five Pirates of the Caribbean films.
- He is a guitarist in the rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires.
- He directed the 2024 film Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Johnny Depp?
Johnny Depp was born on June 9, 1963. He is 63 years old.
How tall is Johnny Depp?
Johnny Depp is 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) tall.
Who is Johnny Depp’s partner?
Johnny Depp is not publicly in a relationship as of 2026. He was previously married to Lori Anne Allison (1983-1985) and Amber Heard (2015-2017), and was in a long-term relationship with Vanessa Paradis from 1998 to 2012.
What is Johnny Depp’s net worth?
Johnny Depp’s net worth is approx. $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth (2025).
What is Johnny Depp best known for?
Johnny Depp is best known for Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd and 21 Jump Street.