Johnny Depp marks 60th birthday with tribute to late pal Jeff Beck amid attempts to reinvent public image
Johnny Depp began his 60th birthday on June 9, on a reflective note, paying a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and band member Jeff Beck before commemorating the personal milestone in his life. This mellowed downside to the actor is a major departure from his notorious party-centric reputation and the scandalous picture painted about him in the tabloids thanks to his domestic affairs.
Despite recently canceling concerts due to an ankle fracture, Depp took to the stage on the evening of June 8, marking his return to public performances. Rather than basking in his own success, he chose to honor his close friend Beck, who tragically died at 78 from bacterial meningitis earlier this year.
Beck's untimely death profoundly affected Depp, especially as he was in the process of rebuilding his life following a protracted legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard. Throughout the contentious court proceedings, intimate and uncomfortable details about Depp's life were exposed, captivating the world with a courtroom spectacle that some believed was fit for a Hollywood film adaptation.
Drugs at 11
As Depp reflects on his 60th birthday, let’s take a retrospective look at his eventful journey, from a troubled childhood to recent scandals, encompassing the chaotic path he has traversed. Dropping out of school at 16 to join a band called ‘The Kids’, which later became ‘Six Gun Method', marked the beginning of his unconventional path. It was during this time that he met Nicolas Cage, who introduced him to acting and helped him secure an agent.
Depp's struggles with substance abuse trace back to his childhood, where he endured an absent father and suffered from his mother's irrational beatings. He turned to drugs at the age of 11, seeking solace and numbness from his pain. By 14, he had experimented with various substances, setting the stage for his ongoing battle with addiction.
High-profile relationships and heartbreaks
While his career soared in the 1990s, so did his personal challenges, and he gained a reputation as a dedicated partier. Engagements with Jennifer Grey and Sherilyn Fenn, a controversial relationship with Winona Ryder, and a connection with Kate Moss punctuated this period. However, everything changed when he met French actress Vanessa Paradis. Their relationship resulted in the birth of their children, Lily-Rose Depp and Jack Depp.
Following his separation from Paradis, Depp became involved with Amber Heard, whom he met on the set of 'The Rum Diary' in 2009. The subsequent years witnessed a series of ups and downs, culminating in a highly publicized trial.
Depp’s return to the screen
Recently, Depp returned to acting with the French film 'Jeanne du Barry', filmed in Paris after the conclusion of the trial. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where Depp received a touching seven-minute standing ovation, leaving him visibly moved.
One of his significant setbacks was Disney's decision to remove him from the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' series, citing a desire for a fresh approach. During his downtime, Depp is often found secluded in his 19th-century mansion, nestled within an expansive 850-acre estate in Somerset, England.