9 Incredible Johnny Depp Characters

Our guide to the good, the bad and the strange roles the award-winning actor has portrayed

by Meghan Bogardus, AARP The Magazine | Comments: 0

Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

Master of Disguise

En español | Johnny Depp has played heroes and criminals alike. Next up, the 52-year-old portrays mobster Whitey Bulger in Black Mass, out on Sept. 18. Take a look at nine of his most memorable roles and how they fall along the hero-to-villain spectrum.

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Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection

Paternal

Sir James Matthew Barrie, Finding Neverland
In the role of Peter Pan author Barrie, Depp sweetly plays father figure to three children who inspired the famous story.

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Courtesy Everett Collection

Eerily Childlike

Edward Scissorhands, Edward Scissorhands
Sure, he may be a little creepy looking — and his hands wouldn’t be TSA-approved — but Edward is entirely pure of heart.

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Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Impishly Sweet

Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Wonka’s pretty weird, and it sort of seems like he’s taking out children one by one in dastardly ways — but his intentions are good.

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Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

Kindly Cuckoo

Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland
The Mad Hatter’s actually a really nice guy; he’s just a little crazy.

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Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

Knavish

Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean
Sparrow spends a great deal of these films acting in his own self-interest, yet somehow he always ends up doing the right thing.

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Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Noble but Tempted

Donnie Brasco, Donnie Brasco
This undercover cop gets a little too deep into his fake Mafia life.

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Courtesy Everett Collection

Corrupting

George Jung, Blow
He’s a drug kingpin who introduced America to cocaine — whose street name is the film’s title.

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DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection

Pure Evil

Sweeney Todd, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
His haircuts and shaves end with a slit throat — and then his deceased patrons end up in meat pies.

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Courtesy of Warner Brothers

Diabolical

Whitey Bulger, Black Mass
Depp’s latest character is considered one of the most infamous violent criminals.

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