What You Don't Know About Jack Depp
Correction 8/10/22: An earlier version of this article misstated the date of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's wedding. They married in February 2015, not 2016.
Just about everyone knows that actor Johnny Depp is embroiled in a defamation trial with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, since their not-so-private court case has been televised worldwide (via CNN). Before they were married, Johnny was in a long-term relationship with actress, model, and singer Vanessa Paradis, and over the course of their romance, the pair became parents to kids Lily-Rose and Jack Depp.
Both of the actor's kids are all grown up now (as of this writing, Lily-Rose is 22, and Jack is 20). Johnny has always spoken quite highly of his children, and in a 2014 interview, he briefly spoke about them to the Inquirer.net, saying, "My kids—I am more and more proud [of them] ... The kids have turned out so well. They are good, smart kids. They are polite and caring."
While Johnny's daughter, Lily-Rose, has become a full-fledged Hollywood star in her own right and, like her father, has a knack for the spotlight, it's quite the opposite for her younger brother, Jack. So, who is this quiet young man who resembles his famous father from his younger days? Let's take a look at everything you don't know about John Christopher Depp III, also known as Jack Depp.
He is fluent in French
Jack Depp was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, and, at a young age, he and his sister, Lily-Rose Depp, were taught to speak French. For awhile, they primarily both lived in Paris and traveled to the States often, but after their parents separated, they mainly attended the same private school in Southern California. While chatting with Keira Knightley for Interview Magazine, Lily-Rose shared that she and Jack would often use French as their secret language in school in America. "When my brother and I were at the same school, whenever we wanted to say something that was going to stay just between us, we could say it in French and nobody would understand," she said.
Lily-Rose also told the actress that she speaks French with her mother's side of the family and English with her father's. The "Voyagers" actress said that, in fact, she always speaks French with her mother and that when she and Jack were growing up, it was essential to their mother that they learn the language.
Jack Depp was kept out of the spotlight as a child
Many celebrities have no problem sharing some of the most intimate details of their lives, including their children. However, a handful like to keep their offspring off the grid and away from the paparazzi. When Jack Depp and his sister, Lily-Rose Depp, were younger, their mother, Vanessa Paradis, did her best to keep her children away from the limelight for them to have a normal childhood. "I indeed keep them away from the cameras, because I don't want our children to be forced to share in our fame against their will. They didn't ask for that," the model stated in an interview with French magazine Weekend Knack (via People).
The mother of two also shared that, while she enjoyed living with her family in Los Angeles, she preferred being abroad with Jack and Lily-Rose. "Only, in the south of France you can live much more anonymously," she added (via People).
Jack Depp's parents were never strict but always truthful
Even though Jack Depp's mother, Vanessa Paradis, made a point to shield her children from the limelight, neither she nor Johnny Depp were strict parents when it came to raising their kids. In an interview with British Vogue, Lily-Rose Depp spoke about her parents and explained how she was never rebellious when growing up because of her upbringing. She stated, "They've always trusted me to be independent and make my own decisions. There wasn't really anything to rebel against."
When Vanessa and Johnny decided to separate in 2013, they made a point to be honest with their kids. According to Us Weekly, during an interview with "CBS This Morning," the actor stated that he and his ex told Jack and Lily-Rose the truth about their breakup and that both were coping quite well. He added, "When you have children, there is no room for lies, no room for anything but the truth. Anything other than that is a bad example, I believe."
Johnny Depp's son has inherited his parents' artistic background
Jack Depp's parents are both talented people, so it's no surprise that the young man has taken after his famous parents regarding his gifted abilities. According to his father, Johnny Depp, Jack is into drawing and music but doesn't have the acting bug like his sister, Lily-Rose Depp. "My boy Jack ... draws really super well. He also plays music very well. He's got a good feel for that," he said in an interview for the Inquirer.net. "Aside from school plays and things, he hasn't shown any desire to become an actor. Whew!"
While speaking to Rolling Stone in 2018, Johnny shared that when he learned that Jack had started a band, he was extremely gratified. He jokingly stated that, at that moment, he didn't need a DNA test to tell him that Jack was his son, reiterating, "That's my kid."
His father loves him very much
Jack Depp's famous father, Johnny Depp, likes to keep his life with his children private. He speaks little of them to the public, but, when he does, it's obvious how much he loves his children. He shared with Rolling Stone that he makes sure that both his son, Jack Depp, and his daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, feel loved. "With my kids," he said, "they're told 75 times a day that they're loved."
That love for his son and daughter is a main reason why the actor wants to clear his name in his high-profile defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. He's stated that he's there to be honest and that he doesn't want to subject his kids to further scrutiny. "I wanted to clear my children of this horrid thing that they were having to read about their father that was untrue," Johnny noted while on the stand (via The Sunday Times).
During a sit-down chat with GQ in 2018, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor discussed the infamous People magazine cover photo of a bruised Amber. Johnny said he was sure it wasn't easy for his son to have his friends think his dad had done the awful things that Heard has alleged. He didn't understand why they should have to endure any of the drama, telling GQ, "Why did he have to go through that? Why did my daughter have to go through that?"
Jack Depp reportedly once had a health scare
Reportedly, in 2018, Vanessa Paradis missed the 2018 premiere of her movie "Knife and Heart" because son Jack Depp, who was 16 at the time, had fallen ill. During the screening, the film's director, Yann Gonzalez, said he had been notified that the actress would have to miss the premiere to attend to her son, telling reporters, "Unfortunately, Vanessa Paradis could not join us this evening. She had to be absent because of the serious health problems of her son," according to French outlet Public.
While the Depp family never made a statement about what allegedly landed Jack in the hospital, this isn't the first time the family has dealt with a severe ailment. In 2007, Lily-Rose Depp spent a couple of weeks in the hospital after experiencing kidney failure from an E-coli infection. As dad Johnny Depp accepted the Rhonda's Kiss Healing and Hope Award in 2016 for his advocacy work for cancer patients in need, he briefly spoke about his daughter's illness, saying he'd been with his children in a London hospital for three weeks, not knowing "if she was going to make it or not" (via People).
Two days after Jack was reported to be under the weather, a source, who had spotted him at his mother's Paris apartment, told People he was "doing better." Thankfully, he was, because that weekend, Jack's mother, with her children by her side, wed Samuel Benchetrit (via the Daily Mail).
He and his sister have a close relationship
Jack Depp and his older sister, Lily-Rose Depp, are only three years apart, so they grew up together and even attended the same schools for most of their lives. While Lily-Rose keeps most of her life under wraps, it would appear that she and her brother, Jack, have a close bond, as she often shares photos of her and Jack with her Instagram fans.
In 2020, Lily-Rose posted some throwback photos of her and Jack on Instagram to celebrate his 18th birthday, captioning the pics, "My little baby Jackie is 18. My baby bro, my heart and soul, happy birthday. I love you SO MUCH!" A few of her fans commented on her post how much they thought Jack looked like his father. One stated, "Looks like his daddy in his younger years," while another wrote, "Aww cute, he looks like his daddy."
Jack Depp has elected for a quieter life
Unlike his famous sister, Lily-Rose Depp, Jack Depp does not seem interested in following in his father's footsteps and, as such, lives his life out of the public eye. He is rarely photographed, keeps quite a low profile, and doesn't have any social media accounts as far as we know. According to Lily-Rose, a sense of privacy had been instilled in them since they were younger.
While appearing on "The Drew Barrymore Show," the actress and model revealed that she doesn't share a lot of her life with the public, saying that "growing up in a family" as she did is how she learned about privacy early on. "I always learned the importance of privacy and valuing that and keeping things just for yourself," she explained, adding that it's something she's carried into both her life and career. We guess that Jack's privacy is something that is equally important to him.
He has been linked to model Camille Jansen
In 2020, Jack Depp and his reported girlfriend, French model Camille Jansen, were out and about in the U.K. (via the Daily Mail). It appears that the pair kept a low profile since they rarely were photographed together, and Jansen had not spoken about her beau on social media. However, when Depp turned 18, Jansen did take to her Instagram to share an adorable tribute to her boyfriend in celebration of his special day. Alongside a photo, with her hands wrapped around Depp, who hid his face underneath a bucket hat, Jansen wrote, "Happy birthday my love."
A fan commented on the photo, inquiring whether the two were still a couple, to which another user responded that they had broken up but that Jansen was still friendly with his sister, Lily-Rose Depp. However, we don't know for sure the current status of their relationship, and no official statement from Jansen has been released to the media — just as Depp prefers, it seems.
He had a minor role in a Kevin Smith film
In 2009, when Johnny Depp's children were young, he shared that he didn't want them to become actors. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star revealed, "I honestly hope that Lily-Rose and Jack don't want to become actors — that's my greatest fear!" (via Parade). Well, that wish only came true for one of his kids, as Lily-Rose is pursuing an acting career. And while Jack hasn't truly followed in the family business, he did appear in one film. In 2016, Jack had a small role in the twisted comedy-horror movie "Yoga Hosers," a spin-off of Kevin Smith's film "Tusk." The flick was a family affair for Jack. His famous family was involved in the movie, including his sister Lily-Rose, who portrayed Colleen Collette alongside Haley Quinn Smith as Colleen McKenzie.
Lily-Rose and Smith play the main characters, two teenage yoga enthusiast BFFs who rely on their yoga skills to take on an evil presence who's threatening their weekend party plans (via IMDb). In "Yoga Hosers," Jack played a kid named Wayne who is seen at a convenience store register where the teens work. On their way out, he makes fun of Colleen M. and gives Colleen C. the middle finger, all while munching on a box of Lucky Charms. Jack totally stole the show in this hilarious scene. Unfortunately, moviegoers probably won't see him in another film, but hey, as the saying goes: "Never say never."
Johnny Depp says the abuse allegations against him hurt his son
Recently, Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard were embroiled in a legal battle that stemmed from an op-ed Heard wrote for The Washington Post in which she discussed her experience with sexual abuse. While Heard never mentioned Depp by name, he claimed that her allegations made it difficult for him to land movie roles and, most importantly, made him out to be an abuser to his kids.
During an interview with British GQ, the actor talked about how Heard's allegations affected his family. He stated, "I'm sure it wasn't easy for my 14-year-old boy to go to school ... With people going, 'Hey, look at this magazine, man. What, your dad beats up chicks or something?' Why did he have to go through that?" During Depp's 2022 testimony, he made it known that he wanted to clear his name for not only his own sake, but for his children's as well. He told the jury that while he did fight with Heard during their relationship, he never put his hands on her and remarked, "I wanted to clear my children of this horrid thing they had to read about their father, that was untrue" (via Hollywood Life).
When the trial concluded, Heard was ordered to pay Depp for damaging his reputation (via The New York Times). Jack Depp has not made a statement regarding his father's lawsuit, and probably won't, since he has never spoken to the media.
Jack Depp reportedly didn't like Amber Heard
In February 2015, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard exchanged vows, but after only being married for a little over a year, Heard filed for divorce (via NBC News). Not long after the news broke, TMZ reported that their marriage had been sour for a while, and it had a lot to do with the relationship between Depp's family and Heard. According to the outlet, quite a few sources have stated that not only did Depp's mother dislike his wife, but so did his sisters, his daughter Lily-Rose Depp, and his son Jack Depp.
While Jack has never publicly made a statement about his relationship with the "Magic Mike XXL" actress, it came out that Jack had been bothered by her behavior during an argument with his father. During Heard's testimony during her defamation trial against her ex, she was questioned about a fight the pair had gotten into while vacationing with Jack and Lily-Rose in the Bahamas. In an audio recording, Johnny can be heard telling his then-wife that her screaming had totally freaked out his son, and that her behavior was uncalled for. If Jack hated Heard, it wouldn't be too surprising, especially after he allegedly heard her screaming and yelling at his father.