40 Strange Facts About Johnny Depp That Reveal What He’s Really Like
Who exactly is Johnny Depp? Audiences probably know him more for his bounty of kooky characters — Captain Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, and Edward Scissorhands — than the real man behind the many masks. But we have seen glimpses of the actual person behind the scenes over the years. And these little-known details about Depp may throw some light on the inscrutable star.
1. He once worked as a pen salesman
Even A-listers have worked bad jobs. And Johnny Depp, long before fame, was a pen salesman. “I marketed pens — on the phone,” he told Interview in 2014. “You promise [customers] all these things if they buy a gross of pens. It was just awful. But I actually think that was the first experience I had with acting.”
2. Record breaker
In 2012 Depp made his way into the Guinness Book of World Records. And as you might have guessed, it was for the amount of money he got paid for his movie roles that year. The total amount? A staggering $75 million. Not bad, eh?
3. Early life
You might not be surprised to learn that it doesn't say "Johnny Depp" on Depp's birth certificate. In fact, his full name is John Christopher Depp II. His dad, who shares his name, was a civil engineer, and his mother — Betty Sue Palmer — was a waitress.
4. Directing Brando
In 1997 Depp made his feature film directorial debut with a movie called The Brave. He starred in the movie, too, and even co-wrote the script. He also had Marlon Brando appear in the Neo-Western! So how come you've never heard of The Brave? Well, it never got released in the U.S., that's why.
