Best Johnny Depp Characters
In a way this is similar to best Johnny Depp movies, but I wanted to focus specifically on the characters this talented actor plays since the diversity of these guys really highlights how excellent and diverse an actor Johnny Depp can be. From the famous Captain Jack Sparrow, to less well known occultic book collectors and murdering writers, Johnny Depp has shown a range in Hollywood that few can match.
Johnny Depp is Edward Scissorhands
The year was 1990
1) "Edward Scissorhands," from the movie Edward Scissorhands by legendary director Tim Burton. This film was released in 1990, and I can still remember the strangeness of it. I was a little too young to realize the love story and its full melancholy, but this was a fantastic film that introduced audiences to one of the most unique characters to come out of recent Hollywood memory.Johnny Depp plays Edward Scissorhands. Unable to talk, but able to communicate, the tragedy of what he is comes forth because of what he can never be. "Edward Scissorhands" is a loving, caring, but in the end cursed character. This was a great role for Johnny Depp, which brought him away from the teenage pretty boy moniker and proved the depth of his ability to act as a dark, brooding, and interesting character in future films.
Remember the Old Glory of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton
Edward Scissorhands (Widescreen Anniversary Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
![Edward Scissorhands [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MNeF122%2BL._SL75_.jpg)
Edward Scissorhands [Blu-ray]
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
Edward Scissorhands (Full Screen Anniversary Edition)
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Edward Scissorhands: [screenplay]
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Edward Scissorhands (original release)
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What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
Johnny Depp as a brooding, trapped, teenager in an excellent drama
The next great Johnny Depp character was Gilbert Grape, from the movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape? which was released in 1993.This was a great choice for a film that took advantage of a young Johnny Depp's good looks, while putting him in a very dramatic role, proving Johnny Depp's dramatic acting skills were up to par with anyone else his age.
Gilbert Grape is in a dysfunctional family, with a mother who is freakishly overweight and never leaves the house, a mentally handicapped younger brother, and he's stuck with the frustration of his life, with being involved in an affair with a married woman, with life in general.
This is a sad, tragic character who is good, but very human. If you missed this film because of the funny title (as I did for years), rent or buy it. It's worth the view.
The Siskel & Ebert Review, in case you missed it
Siskel & Ebert review "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"
Siskel & Ebert's review of "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" from December, 1993. For more reviews, visit the Balcony Archive at www.AtTheMoviesTV.com or at www.RogerEbert.com
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Johnny Depp in What's Eating Gilbert Grape on Amazon
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Special Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
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Whats Eating Gilbert Grape 1ST Edition
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What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Amazon Price: $11.90 (as of 10/10/2008)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Amazon Price: $14.20 (as of 10/10/2008)
Johnny Depp as Ed Wood--One of the Strangest Men of Hollywood Lore
Another Tim Burton-Johnny Depp team up that led to a masterpiece
"Ed Wood," in Ed Wood, released in 1994. This was the first film that re-united Johnny Depp with Director Tim Burton. This film is shot in black and white and is about the enigmatic Hollywood director Ed Wood, who was known for his absolutely terrible movies, all science fiction or horror based. In fact, his Plan 9 From Outer Space advertises itself as the worst movie ever made. Wood often stole props at night from other movie studios, and had a very complex and strange group of friends to whom he was very loyal. This is one of the few movies in the IMDB data base that ranks as an 8.0 or higher.This film is shot in black and white, and Johnny Depp takes a far different role as the enigmatic and loyal Edward D. Wood, Jr.-widely considered the worst director of all time. This investigated the work and strange life of this "man," focusing on his touching friendships with washed up stars to the strange personal details of his life that were not known until far later.
Tim Burton adds the appropriate strangeness to an incredibly weird tale, and Johnny Depp puts in an incredible performance to produce an unforgettable movie
Ed Wood on Amazon
Ed Wood (Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
The Ed Wood Collection - A Salute to Incompetence
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
The Ed Wood Box (Glen or Glenda / Jail Bait / Bride of the Monster / Plan 9 from Outer Space / Night of the Ghouls / The Haunted World of Ed Wood)
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 10/10/2008)
Ed Wood
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Donnie Brasco: Johnny Depp as a Mobster
You can't pigeonhole this actor!
One of the things that great actors do early on in their careers is to take a variety of roles, so that they don't get pigeonholed into one type of a role or another. Johnny Depp certainly did that in 1997 when he starred opposite of Al Pacino in the movie "Donnie Brasco."Johnny Depp played the character Donnie Brasco. Johnny Depp stars as undercover FBI agent Joe Pistone, who goes under the name Donnie Brasco as he infiltrates the New York mob. This movie is based on a true story, making the story line all the more dramatic.
Donnie Brasco (Johnny Depp) falls into conflict as the undercover work goes on. He becomes good friends with Ruggiero, and Brasco keeps gathering evidence undercover. The struggles with undercover work become more than Brasco can bear. His marriage falls apart, the mafia expects a mole, and Brasco knows that if he walks away, his friend Ruggiero will be the one who is punished%u2026and maybe even killed.
Johnny Depp reveals the depth of psychology that his characters can achieve, and hit an entirely new level with this smart and dark true crime story.
Great Johnny Depp "Donnie Brasco" Stuff on Amazon
![Donnie Brasco (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fL61iOiVL._SL75_.jpg)
Donnie Brasco (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray]
Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Donnie Brasco (Extended Cut)
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Donnie Brasco
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business
Amazon Price: $13.62 (as of 10/10/2008)
Johnny Depp Meets Hunter S Thompson
Johnny Depp made another huge splash as "Raoul Duke" from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas released in 1998. This is the movie version of the psychedelic cult classic written by Hunter S. Thompson about his road trip across Western America.Depp plays the drugged out gonzo journalist Raoul Duke, who travels with his nearly psychotic lawyer searching for some abstract concept known as "the American Dream" while the two are constantly drunk and taking every pill known to man.
That pursuit shows the ugly under belly of several American sub cultures, and the insanity it all its full details. Johnny Depp is exceptional as Raoul Duke, and his performance ensures that this film stays close to its author's original intention and roots.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection
Amazon Price: $25.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
![Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [HD DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WVPHA35XL._SL75_.jpg)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [HD DVD]
Amazon Price: $13.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 10/10/2008)
Johnny Depp as an Occultic Book Dealer
Roman Polanski meets Johnny Depp in this excellent occult thriller
The next character is perhaps Johnny Depp's least known from this list. He played Dean Corso from Roman Polanski's The Ninth Gate, released in 1999.The union of director Roman Polanski with actor Johnny Depp was very successful in this exceptionally written 1999 occult thriller. Johnny Depp plays book dealer Dean Corso, a handsome, well groomed, and extremely knowledgeable antique book dealer who is also a total scum bag.
This leads to an intense story filled with murder, death threats, and a mysterious riddle as a wealthy collector hires Dean Corso to find copies of a book supposedly written by Lucifer himself.
Corso is never a hero, and never likable, though he is less hateful than several of the other characters, making for an intense film that is expertly paced, and finishes with a strong individual (yet necessarily understated) performance by Johnny Depp that definitely makes this one of his ten best characters.
Johnny Depp in the 9th Gate
The Ninth Gate
Amazon Price: $7.49 (as of 10/10/2008)
The Ninth Gate
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Stir of Echoes / The Ninth Gate
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The Ninth Gate
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Charlie Rose with Roman Polanski (March 9, 2000)
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
Johnny Depp as George Jung, Drug Lord
The next character is George Jung from the film Blow, released in 2001. This story is also based on a true story and is about George Jung (played by Johnny Depp) who grows up in a struggling family that eventually goes bankrupt.This memory haunts George, and so in the 1960s he begins dealing marijuana. This makes him very popular in California, but he goes to jail where he learns about cocaine. He brings cocaine to American and becomes wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.
But this also brings the dangers of this lifestyle, and eventually it breaks apart even his family, causing his wife to leave him and his relationship with his daughter to fall apart. All the money and power can't keep George Jung from facing judgment.
This character is played with exceptional depth by Johnny Depp, continuing a string of excellent movies that had long since cemented his reputation as one of Hollywood's best actors
Johnny Depp in Blow
Blow (Infinifilm Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 10/10/2008)
Charlie Rose with Jim Nantz; Ted Demme; Gary Giddins (April 9, 2001)
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
Johnny Depp? I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!
Perhaps one of Johnny Depp's most beloved characters
The next character is Captain Jack Sparrow from The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Dead Man's Chest (2006), & At World's End (2007). This may be Johnny Depp's most well known and beloved character.As Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp stormed onto the scene with a character who was incredibly charismatic, had mannerisms and a unique personality all his own, and didn't rely at all on Depp's good looks.
Captain Jack Sparrow is known world wide, and the Pirates Trilogy has combined to make over one billion dollars in total sales, making Johnny Depp's legendary pirate one of the most profitable of all time.
I'm Captain Jack Sparrow
Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $24.49 (as of 10/10/2008)
![Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61aiiPj-8uL._SL75_.jpg)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End [Blu-ray]
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
![Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61x9ZnCAkrL._SL75_.jpg)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $26.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Johnny Depp as Mort Rainey: Psycho Writer and Serial Killer
The next character is Mort Rainey, from the film Secret Window, released in 2004. In between stints as Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp played a strongly interesting, dark, and tormented character in writer Mort Rainey.Rainey, a successful author, is going through a hard divorce after finding his wife cheating on him, and while struggling with drinking a man appears, calling himself John Shooter, and accuses Mort of plagiarizing one of his stories.
Mort believes things should be fixed easily, as he can show the frightening Shooter than his version was written in 1995, two full year's before Shooter's. But everything goes wrong, and for some reason, he just can't get the copy to Shooter in time before strange and terrifying things start to happen.
Johnny Depp's portrayal of a tortured Mort Rainey, struggling against life and madness both, is a great display of Depp's cinematic abilities, and a chilling film, as well, based on the Stephen King short story.
Find Your Own Secret Window Amazon
Secret Window
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
![Secret Window [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ruKspcn3L._SL75_.jpg)
Secret Window [Blu-ray]
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
Secret Window, Secret Garden: Two Past Midnight (Four Past Midnight)
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
Two Past Midnight: Secret Window, Secret Garden [Book on Tape]
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Johnny Depp as the Creepy Willy Wonka
Burton and Depp team up for yet another classic!
Last, but certainly not least, is the character Willy Wonka from the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Be careful, though, this isn't Mom and Dad's loveable Willy Wonka!This was Johnny Depp's most recent project working together with director Tim Burton (he also did a voice in The Corpse Bride). First, this is not a remake of the original, this has to be considered another interpretation of the book. As any readers of Roald Dahl know, his works may have been fairy tale like, but they also often had aspects of Brothers Grim like darkness that are unfamiliar to many readers of children's books. This version of the film pays homage to that writing style.
Johnny Depp plays Willy Wonka as a strange, eccentric, and straight out weird character who is far different from the earlier version. He isn't the "family values" friendly version, as this time many of the children being picked off one by one seem almost planned by him, and there is an edgy undertone to everything in the chocolate factory.
This joint venture by Tim Burton and Johnny Depp was exceptional, and Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka is the one most likely to be remembered twenty years from now.
Johnny Depp is a Creepy Willy Wonka
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 10/10/2008)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Full Screen Edition)
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
![Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [HD DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LZC2-fY7L._SL75_.jpg)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [HD DVD]
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
![Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [UMD for PSP]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51S4F0D431L._SL75_.jpg)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [UMD for PSP]
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Which Tim Burton-Johnny Depp Project Did You Like Most?
There's four choices between Tim Burton-Johnny Depp Movies. Which one did you like best?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Much darker and stranger than the first.0 points
The Corpse Bride
One of my all time favorite films--Johnny Depp doe more...0 points
Johnny Depp Stuff on eBay
Odds and ends
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Reader Feedback from Johnny Depp Fans
Which character is your favorite? Which movie? Think I unfairly jilted one? Let me know!
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Barkely
MMmmmm, Johnny Depp, welcome to the Top Ten List group. Great pick for a subject! Posted December 11, 2007 |
What a lovely review of his characters, you'll have to add Sweeney to that soon enough! Five stars for the great information you provided. Johnny is love! ^__^
Posted November 27, 2007
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Clutterbugs
Depp is one of my favorite actors! I love all his movies. ***** for such a great review of his work! Posted November 19, 2007 |
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Karelmicek
Great lens. I like all Johnny Depp movies but "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and "Blow" are my most favourit. Posted November 19, 2007 |
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LadyRaine
Great lens! Posted November 19, 2007 |
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rockycha
Excellent Lens! High fives! carrie Posted November 19, 2007 |
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frances
Neat summary of some of the world's handomest man's best characters. Posted November 18, 2007 |
Johnny Depp Around the Web
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- Johnny Depp is Worth It
- Johnny Depp is reportedly receiving a $55 million payday for the next installment of ?Pirates of the Caribbean.? He is worth every single cent. He is one of the greatest actors in the English language. Have you seen his work in ?Ed ...
