Editing Johnny Depp (section)

== Early life ==
Depp was born on June 9, 1963, in [[Owensboro, Kentucky]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Monitor |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=June 14, 2013 |issue=1263 |page=40}}</ref><ref name=peoplebio>{{cite web |url = http://www.people.com/people/johnny_depp/biography |title = Celebrity Central: Johnny Depp |work = [[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date = June 19, 2012 |archive-date = June 8, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120608042454/http://www.people.com/people/johnny_depp/biography |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barraclough|first=Leo|date=July 6, 2020|title=7 Things You Need to Know About Johnny Depp's U.K. Trial|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/global/johnny-depp-sun-trial-amber-heard-1234698986/|access-date=May 20, 2021|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|quote=...over the case brought by John Christopher Depp II against Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers...|archive-date=May 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520085129/https://variety.com/2020/film/global/johnny-depp-sun-trial-amber-heard-1234698986/|url-status=live}}</ref> the youngest of four children of waitress Betty Sue Depp (née Wells; later Palmer)<ref>{{cite web |first=Philiana |last=Ng |url=http://www.etonline.com/news/189599_johnny_depp_mother_betty_sue_palmer_dead/ |title=Johnny Depp's Mother Dies After Long Illness |website=Etonline.com |date=May 25, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318044632/http://www.etonline.com/news/189599_johnny_depp_mother_betty_sue_palmer_dead/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and civil engineer John Christopher Depp.{{sfn|Blitz|Krasniewicz|2007|p=1}}<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=pLBnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22BETTY+SUE%22+%22WELLS%22+%22DEPP%22 The Genealogist] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626204824/https://books.google.com/books?id=pLBnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22BETTY+SUE%22+%22WELLS%22+%22DEPP%22 |date=June 26, 2019 }}, "Richard T. Oren Depp (1879–1912); m. Effie America Palmore. 9th gen. Oren Larimore Depp; m. Violet Grinstead. 10th gen. John Christopher Depp; m. Betty Sue Wells. 11th gen John Christopher Depp II (Johnny Depp), b. 9 June 1963, Owensboro. See Warder Harrison, "Screen Star, Johnny Depp, Has Many Relatives in Ky.", Kentucky Explorer (Jackson, Ky), July–August 1997, 38–39. 247 Barren Co."</ref> Depp's family moved frequently during his childhood, eventually settling in [[Miramar, Florida]], in 1970.<ref name=tca>Stated on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]'', 2002</ref> His parents divorced in 1978 when he was 15,<ref name=tca /><ref name=people1999>{{cite journal |title = Keeping His Head |first = Kyle |last = Smith |journal = [[People (magazine)|People]] |date = December 13, 1999 |url=https://people.com/archive/keeping-his-head-vol-52-no-23/ |access-date = December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622035739/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20130037,00.html |archive-date = June 22, 2012 }}</ref> and his mother later married Robert Palmer, whom Depp has called "an inspiration".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/5635464/Johnny-Depp-interview-for-Public-Enemies.html|title=Johnny Depp interview for Public Enemies|last=Hiscock|first=John|date=June 25, 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|access-date=May 23, 2011|archive-date=January 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129143611/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/5635464/Johnny-Depp-interview-for-Public-Enemies.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/02/15/johnny-depps-grammy-song-toast-his-late-stepfather/80424092/|title=Johnny Depp's Grammy song is a toast to his late stepfather|last=Alexander|first=Bryan|date=February 16, 2016|work=USA TODAY|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=August 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807223243/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/02/15/johnny-depps-grammy-song-toast-his-late-stepfather/80424092/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Depp's mother gave him a guitar when he was 12, and he began playing in various bands.<ref name=tca /> He dropped out of [[Miramar High School]] at 16 in 1979 to become a rock musician. He attempted to go back to school two weeks later, but the principal told him to follow his dream of being a musician.<ref name=tca /> In 1980, Depp began playing in a band called The Kids.

After modest local success in Florida, the band moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of a record deal, changing its name to Six Gun Method. In addition to the band, Depp worked a variety of odd jobs, such as in telemarketing. In December 1983, Depp married makeup artist Lori Anne Allison,<ref name="peoplebio" /> the sister of his band's bassist and singer. The Kids split up before signing a record deal in 1984, and Depp began collaborating with the band [[Rock City Angels]].<ref name="sleaze">{{cite web|title=Sleaze Roxx |work=ROCK CITY ANGELS |url=http://www.sleazeroxx.com/bands/rockcityangels/rockcityangels.shtml |access-date=July 3, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508015710/http://www.sleazeroxx.com/bands/rockcityangels/rockcityangels.shtml |archive-date=May 8, 2006}}</ref> He co-wrote their song "Mary", which appeared on their debut [[Geffen Records]] album ''Young Man's Blues''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rock City Angels – Mary|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ8uQTVx3iw|publisher=YouTube|access-date=August 13, 2013|archive-date=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407091108/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ8uQTVx3iw|url-status=live}}</ref> Depp and Allison divorced in 1985.<ref name="peoplebio" />

Depp is of primarily English descent, with some French, German, Irish and African American ancestry.<ref>{{cite book|title=Johnny Depp: A Modern Rebel|last=Robb|first=Brian J.|publisher=Plexus Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-85965-385-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/johnnydeppmodern0000robb}}</ref><ref name="USAToday2013" /> [[Elizabeth Key Grinstead]], one of the first African Americans in the [[Thirteen Colonies|North American colonies]] to sue for her freedom and win, is an eighth great-grandmother.<ref name="USAToday2013">{{cite web |first=Ann |last=Oldenberg |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/06/26/depp-hammer-roots-justice-freedom-fighters/2458909/ |title='Lone Ranger' stars have roots in historic figures|website=USAToday.com |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=June 27, 2013 |archive-date=June 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627113816/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/06/26/depp-hammer-roots-justice-freedom-fighters/2458909/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His surname comes from a French [[Huguenot]] immigrant, Pierre Dieppe, who settled in [[Virginia]] around 1700. In interviews in 2002 and 2011, Depp claimed to have Native American ancestry, "I guess I have some [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] somewhere down the line. My great-grandmother was quite a bit of Native American. She grew up [[Cherokee]] or maybe [[Muscogee|Creek Indian]]. Makes sense in terms of coming from Kentucky, which is rife with Cherokee and Creek Indian."<ref name="EW">{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/05/08/johnny-depp-tonto-lone-ranger/ |title=Johnny Depp on 'The Lone Ranger' |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=May 8, 2011 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-date=July 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708131555/http://www.ew.com/article/2011/05/08/johnny-depp-tonto-lone-ranger |url-status=live }}</ref>

Depp's claims came under scrutiny when ''[[Indian Country Today]]'' wrote that Depp had never inquired about his heritage or been recognized as a member of the [[Cherokee Nation]].<ref name="exploiting" /> This led to criticism of Depp, from the Native American community, as Depp has no documented Native ancestry,<ref name="exploiting">{{cite web|title=Disney Exploiting Confusion About Whether Depp Has Indian Blood|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/06/17/disney-exploiting-confusion-about-whether-depp-has-indian-blood-149941|date=June 17, 2013|access-date=August 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705002853/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/06/17/disney-exploiting-confusion-about-whether-depp-has-indian-blood-149941|archive-date=July 5, 2013}}</ref> and Native community leaders consider him "a non-Indian"<ref name="exploiting" /><ref name="AIFT">{{cite web|title= Sonny Skyhawk on Johnny Depp, Disney, Indian Stereotypes and White Film Indians|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/06/11/sonny-skyhawk-johnny-depp-disney-indian-stereotypes-and-white-film-indians-149841 |last=Toensing |first=Gale Courney |date=June 11, 2013|access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715084025/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/06/11/sonny-skyhawk-johnny-depp-disney-indian-stereotypes-and-white-film-indians-149841 |archive-date= July 15, 2013|quote=Yet [Disney] has the gall and audacity to knowingly cast a non-Native person in the role of an established Native character. ... American Indians in Film and Television's argument is not so much with Johnny Depp, a charlatan at his best, as it is with the machinations of Disney proper. The controversy that will haunt this endeavor and ultimately cause its demise at the box office is the behind-the-scenes concerted effort and forced manipulation by Disney to attempt to sell Johnny Depp as an American Indian. American Indians, as assimilated and mainstream as they may be today, remain adamantly resistant to anyone who falsely claims to be one of theirs.}}</ref> and a [[pretendian]].<ref name="Mouallem">{{cite news|author=Mouallem, Omar|author-link=Omar Mouallem|url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2019/5/22/18634743/aladdin-middle-eastern-muslim-representation-hollywood|title='Billionaires, Bombers, and Bellydancers': How the First Arab American Movie Star Foretold a Century of Muslim Misrepresentation|work=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2021|quote=Though not a 'pretendian' to the degree of Iron Eyes Cody, the Sicilian American impostor of 'Keep America Beautiful' fame, or Johnny Depp for that matter, Lackteen appropriated Native American culture.|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717233225/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2019/5/22/18634743/aladdin-middle-eastern-muslim-representation-hollywood|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="APTN-2">{{cite news |author=Murray, John |url=https://www.aptnnews.ca/investigates/cowboys-and-pretendians/ |title=APTN Investigates: Cowboys and Pretendians |work=[[Aboriginal Peoples Television Network]] |date=April 20, 2018 |access-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007175631/https://www.aptnnews.ca/investigates/cowboys-and-pretendians/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Jago">Jago, Robert (February 1, 2021). [https://nationalpost.com/opinion/robert-jago-criminalizing-pretendians-is-not-the-answer-we-need-to-give-first-nations-control-over-grants "Robert Jago: Criminalizing 'Pretendians' Is Not the Answer; We Need to Give First Nations Control over Grants."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108215536/https://nationalpost.com/opinion/robert-jago-criminalizing-pretendians-is-not-the-answer-we-need-to-give-first-nations-control-over-grants |date=November 8, 2023 }} ''[[National Post]]''. Retrieved June 19, 2023.</ref> Depp's choice to portray Tonto, a Native American character, in ''[[The Lone Ranger (2013 film)|The Lone Ranger]]'' was criticized,<ref name="exploiting" /><ref name="AIFT" /> along with his choice to name his rock band "Tonto's Giant Nuts".<ref name="ICTnuts">{{cite web|title=Is 'Tonto's Giant Nuts' a Good Name for Johnny Depp's Band?|work=[[Indian Country Today Media Network]]|date=May 22, 2013|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/05/22/tontos-giant-nuts-good-name-johnny-depps-band-149470|access-date=May 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524200540/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/05/22/tontos-giant-nuts-good-name-johnny-depps-band-149470|archive-date=May 24, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ICTybarra">{{cite web |last=ICTMN Staff |url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/06/12/video-tito-ybarra-greets-indian-country-phat-johnny-depp-149865 |title=Tito Ybarra Greets Indian Country as 'Phat Johnny Depp' |work=[[Indian Country Today Media Network]] |date=June 12, 2013 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725211948/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/06/12/video-tito-ybarra-greets-indian-country-phat-johnny-depp-149865 |archive-date=July 25, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Keene1">{{cite web |last=Keene |first=Adrienne |url=http://nativeappropriations.com/2012/12/native-video-round-up-johnny-depp-identity-and-poetry.html |title=Native Video Round-Up: Johnny Depp, Identity, and Poetry |work=Native Appropriations |date=December 3, 2012 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222155500/http://nativeappropriations.com/2012/12/native-video-round-up-johnny-depp-identity-and-poetry.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Bogado1">{{cite web |last=Bogado |first=Aura |url=http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/11/five_things_to_celebrate_about_indian_country.html |title=Five Things to Celebrate About Indian Country (Humor) |work=[[ColorLines]] |date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-date=January 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131191716/http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/11/five_things_to_celebrate_about_indian_country.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During the promotion for ''The Lone Ranger'', Depp was formally adopted as an honorary son by [[LaDonna Harris]], a member of the [[Comanche Nation]], making him an honorary member of her family but not a member of any tribe.<ref name="8Tribes">{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Nohemi M. |date=May 15, 2022 |title=Johnny Depp's History of Racism and Broken Promises to Native Americans |url=https://eighttribes.org/johnny-depps-history-of-racism-and-broken-promises-to-native-americans/ |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=Eight Tribes|archive-date=December 6, 2022|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206205551/https://eighttribes.org/johnny-depps-history-of-racism-and-broken-promises-to-native-americans/|quote=While promoting The Lone Ranger, Depp was made an honorary son by LaDonna Harris, a member of the Comanche Nation. Although now an honorary member of his family, he is not a member of any tribe.}}</ref><ref name="Eonline">{{cite web |last=Gornstein |first=Leslie |date=May 23, 2012 |title=Why Can Johnny Depp Play Tonto, but Ashton Kutcher and Sacha Baron Cohen Get Slammed? |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/318280/why-can-johnny-depp-play-tonto-but-ashton-kutcher-and-sacha-baron-cohen-get-slammed |access-date=June 21, 2022 |website=E! Online |archive-date=June 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621134133/https://www.eonline.com/news/318280/why-can-johnny-depp-play-tonto-but-ashton-kutcher-and-sacha-baron-cohen-get-slammed |url-status=live }}</ref>