Johnny Depp, vindicated? The story of a Hollywood icon

Johnny Depp, a heartthrob to many movie and TV fans in the 1980s and 90s, is getting closer and closer to the age of 60. He's had a tough time behind him, however, with one of the most followed legal battles in Hollywood history and some serious blows to his reputation.

Johnny Depp has always been somewhat rebellious. Born John Cristopher Depp on 9 June 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky, he dropped out of school at the age of 16 and joined a band. His group 'The Kids' was so successful that it even opened for Iggy Pop concerts at some point.

In 1983, the young Johnny Depp married Lorie Anne Allison, a professional make-up artist. She introduced him to Nicolas Cage who would, in turn, introduce Depp to Hollywood stardom.

Thanks to his friendship with Nicolas Cage, Depp made his first steps on the big screen in the horror film "A Nightmare on Elm Street" by Wes Craven.

Johnny Depp played a series of supporting roles, notably in Oliver Stone's war movie 'Platoon.' In 1987, he landed the lead role in '21 Jump Street,' a hit series for teenagers.

Johnny Depp became a teenage idol. Posters of him as a 'hunk' would hang on millions of adolescents' walls.

To break the image of the cute hunk, Depp accepted a role in the film 'Cry Baby.' It would gave his career another turn.

In the 1990s, Johnny Depp would gain the reputation of a Hollywood bad boy. He opened the nightclub 'The Viper Room' in 1993 took on the appearance of a rock star.

When Johnny Depp crossed paths with director Tim Burton, his career changed for good. Burton offered him one of his greatest film roles: 'Edward Scissorhands.' The duo Tim Burton-Johnny Depp would continue working together on at least five films.

Johnny Depp met actress Winona Ryder in 1989 during a premiere, and they fell madly in love with each other. Their starring roles in 'Edward Scissorhands' reflected the bond they had in real life.

Johnny and Winona's relationship would last for four years. He even had "Winona Forever" tatooed on his arm. After they split up, he changed the text to "Wino Forever."

Johnny Depp and model Kate Moss got together in 1994. Their romance was all over the media. Many commentators adored the couple, but they split up in 1997.

After a series of great films, including 'Donnie Brasco' and 'Sleepy Hollow,' Johnny Depp received a César of Honour in 1999 for his entire career.

Johnny Depp and the French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis began a love affair in 1998 which would last for 14 years. Together they had 2 children. A solid and idealized couple, they shocked fans when they separated. Despite their differences, Vanessa and Johnny have remained on good terms.

Johnny Depp is a fan of weird and original roles. Examples are his performances in 'From Hell' and 'Chocolat.' To the delight of his fans, he doesn't hesitate to shake up his oeuvre.

Johnny Depp made his mark in cinema history and scored big film hits in the 2000s. His mythical role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' saga raised him to the rank of mega star.

In 2010, the actor went back to work with his beloved director Tim Burton. They made a screen adaptation of 'Alice in Wonderland.' His impressive transformations earned Depp the nickname 'the chameleon of cinema.' Here, he plays the Mad Hatter, a role that confirms his genius.

Johnny Depp worked with Angelina Jolie in the thriller 'The Tourist.' The film would become a huge success, although the co-stars are said to have disliked each other.

In 2011, while shooting 'The Rum Diary,' Depp met the actress Amber Heard. She was 21 years younger than him. Their stormy relationship, covered extensively by the media, would be the beginning of his downfall.

Head over heels in love, the couple got married in 2015. The marriage lasted only a year. It was a notorious affair that damaged Depp's reputation, especially when Amber Heard accused him of domestic violence.

After the controversy of his stormy marriage, Depp's professional image seemed to be fading as well. He tried to win the approval of audiences in productions such as 'Murder on the Orient Express' and the latest instalment of 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' but the reviews were mixed.

Forbes calculated in 2015 and 2016 that Johnny Depp was the most 'overpaid' actor of the year. This meant that, for each dollar spent on the actor, the smallest profits were coming back in from his movies.

By 2018, Depp's personal affairs appeared to be encroaching on his career. One of his last remarkable roles was that of Gellert Grindelwald in the 'Fantastic Beasts' saga - a series of blockbusters from the creators of 'Harry Potter.'

At times, the handsome actor appeared unrecognizable. What happened to the handsome brunette of yesteryear? The actor looked thin, tired and seemed to have lost his mojo.

In recent years, while still working on film projects, Depp returned to his old love: music. He even went on tour with his rock band 'Hollywood Vampires,' consisting of Alice Cooper, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Tommy Henriksen, Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots), Matt Sorum (ex-Guns N' Roses) and Bruce Witkin, along with Depp himself.

The actor's past with Amber Heard continued to haunt him, though. In July 2020, Depp went to court because 'The Sun' called him a "wife-beater" and Heard accused him of domestic abuse during their time as a couple. He lost on nearly all counts.

Even though Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder testified in favor of Depp, the court found it legitimate for 'The Sun' to call him a "wife-beater."

The legal fees of this case ran up millions, Forbes reported. They would be even greater when the actor sued Amber Heard in the US for libel. Although he 'won' this case with a $15 million award in damages, versus 2 million from his end to Amber Heard, the actor had spent a lot of money in his attempt to clear his reputation.

The continuous legal battles and media reports clearly tainted the actor's reputation. Among the consequences for Johnny Depp in Hollywood was Disney's decision to no longer cast him as Jack Sparrow in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and his forced resignation from the starring role of 'Fantastic Beasts III.'

Johnny Depp clearly strayed a long way from the successful movie star who won an award for his entire oeuvre at the end of the 20th century. Now that he appears to have been 'vindicated' by the 2022 libel trial, will he return to the fame from a decade ago?