Johnny Depp is one of the most recognized actors in the world. The Pirates of the Caribbean actor has been working in the industry since the 1980s and has starred in successful films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and the TV show 21 Jump Street.
Depp moved to LA at the age of twenty to pursue a music and acting career and was helped by Nicholas Cage to get his big break and became one of the highest-paid actors. However, the actor was reportedly a telemarketer who sold pens before he made it big in the movies.
Johnny Depp Used To Sell Pens Before Making It Big In Hollywood
In the 80s, Johnny Depp became the heartthrob of the nation when he starred in the hit TV show 21 Jump Street. While the actor had already starred in films such as Platoon, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Private Resort, Depp rose to national stardom and was known as a teen idol due to the show’s popularity. He was only twenty-four at the time.
Depp has since gone on to become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood and has headlined films such as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Donnie Brasco, and Alice in Wonderland. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the actor is worth $150 million.
Before all the fame and fortune, however, the actor reportedly worked as a telemarketer. Depp has just landed in LA along with his band The Kids and all of them had taken up a job to make ends meet. He mentioned in an interview with Digital Spy that he considered his pen salesman job to be his first role. He said,
“I would call people up and say, `How do you do, this is Edward Quartermaine.’ You’d guarantee them [customers] a grandfather clock or a trip to Greece. The couple of times that I actually got people to buy the pens, they only agreed because they wanted the grandfather clock.”
The actor was reportedly earning $50 a week and made no sales as he would reveal the truth to the customers when his supervisor was not around.
Nicholas Cage Helped Johnny Depp Get His First Audition
While Johnny Depp has been considered to be one of the greatest actors of the century, he maintains that he ended up with his lucrative career by accident. Depp initially came to LA to pursue his music career and had moved to the city of dreams with his bandmates. However, the band split up and Depp had to figure out a job. He was reportedly introduced to Nicholas Cage by his then-wife Lori Ann Allison.
Depp revealed his journey as an actor and how Cage helped him break into the industry during his testimony at his infamous trial against Amber Heard. He said,
“I ended up (in) acting by accident…I remember I was filling out a couple of job applications with a friend of mine…He happens to be an actor less known than he is now, Nicolas Cage. I was filling out applications at video stores, and clothing stores just to be able to pay the rent… Nic Cage said why don’t you meet my agent… cause I think you’re an actor… You could be an actor… I said I’ll meet anybody. I’ll do anything at this point.”
Depp ended up auditioning for the classic horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street and the rest is history.
