Johnny Depp

As USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, Johnny Depp "clearly has a blast transforming his handsome self into some strange cinematic characters." Depp's career took off in 1987 when he signed up to play a cop on the television series 21 Jump Street . His good looks earned him plenty of attention―and plenty of money. But Depp had no interest in being a TV star or a teen idol. He wanted interesting roles in challenging films. He disappeared into the title roles in Edward Scissorhands , What's Eating Gilbert Grape , Donnie Brasco , and Ed Wood . Then in 2003, a new Depp character introduced the actor to a new generation of moviegoers. He became Captain Jack Sparrow―the gold-toothed, swaggering, and completely untrustworthy leader of the Pirates of the Caribbean. In his third decade as an actor, Depp is respected by critics and popular with a wide range of fans. He's at the top of his career―and still having a blast.