In Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Johnny Depp reprises the most popular and beloved character of his career, Captain Jack Sparrow. How did Depp transform himself from an '80s teen TV idol to one of the most talented and idiosyncratic actors in film today?
You can always trace a direct line through a few important roles to illustrate what led to an actor's current success. So let's look at nine pivotal performances that track the evolution of Johnny Depp.
21 Jump Street (1987)
After a few small roles (including Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning Platoon and Wes Craven's Nightmare on Elm Street), Depp got his big Hollywood break when he was chosen to replace Jeff Yagher in Fox's '80s cop series. As Tommy Hanson, a baby-faced undercover agent who investigates high school crimes, Depp became a teen idol almost instantly. As soon as his contract expired in 1990, however, Depp fled the series to explore more substantive work -- only, as it turns out, to return 20 years later for a cameo in Hollywood's big screen adaptation.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Following John Waters' kitschy '50s musical Cry-Baby, Johnny Depp stumbled upon one of the most important milestones of his career: his first project with career collaborator Tim Burton. As the scissor-limbed lead -- a part the studio originally wanted for Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks or Robert Downey, Jr. -- Depp drew positive critical reviews for the first of his many "misunderstood" roles. Grossing over $55 million domestically, Edward Scissorhands was declared a box office success allowing Depp to continue his work as leading man.
Ed Wood (1994)
With two more critically-approved performances under his belt (in Benny & Joon and What's Eating Gilbert Grape?), Depp paired up with Tim Burton again for his first biographical role. To prepare for the part of cross-dressing cult filmmaker Ed, Depp studied the upbeat mannerisms of Andy Hardy, Mickey Rooney and Casey Kasem, and turned in a performance that the New York Times called evidence of him being "certified great actor."
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Depp went undercover again in the late '90s, this time to play real-life FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone (a.k.a. Donnie Brasco) in Mike Newell's crime drama. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and Depp proved that he could hold his own opposite Hollywood heavyweights like Al Pacino, who played Brasco's mob mentor Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero.
The Brave (1997)
On the heels of Donnie Brasco, Depp made his directorial debut with The Brave, a bleak film that he and his brother adapted from a Gregory McDonald novel. Depp also starred in the project as a poor American Indian, who after being released from jail, agrees to be tortured and killed in exchange for $15,000 that will be awarded to his family following his death. (Marlon Brando co-starred as the eccentric making Depp's character this grim offer.) The film premiered at Cannes and received mixed reviews before being released in theaters outside of the U.S. Nearly 14 years later, Depp has just agreed to direct again, this time a Keith Richards documentary.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Speaking of Keith Richards: After rebounding from The Brave with the box office smash Sleepy Hollow (another collaboration with Burton) and some mid-range successes like Chocolat and Blow, Depp jumped aboard Gore Verbinski's big-budget family adventure and crafted a truly original character that initially confounded Disney executives. With a performance that owed much to Richards' rock 'n' roll persona (as well as Hunter S. Thompson, whom Depp played in the cult favorite Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), the swaggering pirate earned the star his first Oscar nomination. Meanwhile, the film itself grossed $654 million worldwide, making Depp the centerpiece to one of Disney's most lucrative franchises. To think: it all started as a theme park ride.
Finding Neverland (2004)
Depp exercised more restraint in Marc Forster's semi-autobiographical drama about Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie. After a series of off-the-wall characters, some viewers criticized Depp's performance as the peculiar Edwardian author for not being risky enough. Regardless, the film earned positive reviews and Depp received his second Oscar nomination.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Depp traded in his pen for a straight razor when he and Tim Burton reunited to adapt Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning musical for the big screen. In a departure for Depp -- whose career has been built around artistic departures -- the actor sang over eight of Stephen Sondheim's numbers in the film. Although Depp's voice was panned for being "thin," critics agreed that his performance was a powerful one and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded him his first Golden Globe after seven previous nominations.
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Depp followed Todd up with work in Michael Mann's Public Enemies, but returned to the comfort of CGI blockbusters with Alice in Wonderland. Acting opposite Mia Wasikowska's angelic title character, Depp starred as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's take on the Lewis Carroll fantasy classic. The latest Burton-Depp collaboration grossed over $1 billion worldwide, and the two will team again for Dark Shadows next summer. Consistently one of the top stars in the world -- he was named the most powerful male movie star by Forbes earlier this week -- Depp goes back to the blockbuster well once more with On Stranger Tides.