Johnny Depp’s dating history has been brought to light following a long-running legal battle with Amber Heard. During his time in Hollywood, Depp has had plenty of star-studded relationships, but it seems it’s been difficult for him to find one that lasts. While you might think you know everyone that Depp has dated, you might be surprised at some of his lesser-known famous flings along the way. From two broken marriages and three engagements, follow along as we retrace Johnny Depp’s dating history and outline a timeline of his famous flings:
Lori Anne Allison
One relationship that many Johnny Depp fans may not know about is his first marriage to makeup artist, Lori Anne Allison. The couple tied the knot in 1983 when Depp was just 20 years old. The couple met through Allison’s brother, who played in a band with Depp. While the two split in 1985, the relationship did play a significant role in Depp’s life and many credit Allison for jumpstarting his career. Allegedly, Allison introduced Depp to Nicolas Cage, who introduced him to his agent. This move allowed Depp to secure an audition for A Nightmare on Elm Street, his first on-screen role in 1984.
Courtesy: Everett Collection.Sherilyn Fenn
Following his split from Allison, Johnny Depp moved on to fellow actress Sherilyn Fenn. The pair began dating in 1985 after they met on the set of a student film, and would go on to eventually star together in Twin Peaks. Depp and Fenn went on to date for three-and-a-half years, and Fenn even made an appearance on a 1987 episode of Depp’s TV show 21 Jump Street. Depp did pop the question during their relationship, but the couple ended up calling it quits in 1988.
(c) Spelling Entertainment/ Courtesy: Everett Collection.Jennifer Grey
The next year, Depp had a whirlwind romance with Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey. The two were super private about their relationship and never publicly confirmed that they were dating. In her 2022 memoir, Out of the Corner, Grey opened up about the relationship and revealed that they met through their agent at the time and that Depp proposed to her within two weeks of them meeting. She described Depp as “ridiculously beautiful” and “surprisingly open, funny, quirky and sweet,” but added that he later developed anger and jealousy issues, which led to her decision to call off the engagement after nine months.
Vestron Pictures/courtesy Everett CollectionWinona Ryder
Depp’s next love was with actress Winona Ryder. He spotted her at the premiere of Ryder’s 1989 film Great Balls of Fire and instantly felt a connection. “It was a classic glance, like the zoom lenses in West Side Story, and everything else gets foggy. I knew then,” Depp told Rolling Stone in 1991. The duo officially met a few months later through a mutual friend and went on to co-star in the 1990 film, Edward Scissorhands. Both their careers skyrocketed during this time and the couple went on to have a highly-publicized relationship, before eventually splitting in 1993. Famously, during their courtship, Depp got “Winona Forever” tattooed on his bicep.
Winona Ryder & Johnny Depp (Photo by Barry King/WireImage)Juliette Lewis
While it hasn’t been confirmed, there were rumors that Johnny Depp dated Juliette Lewis in 1993. The two co-starred in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape in 1993, and were rumored to have had a short-lived romance at the time. Some believe that their relationship was strictly professional, while others think Depp acted as a rebound for Lewis coming out of her failed relationship with Brad Pitt. Regardless of whether the relationship occurred or not, it seems the two left things on a positive note and remain on good terms. They were photographed together in 2016 while attending The Art of Elysium HEAVEN Gala.
(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Art of Elysium)Ellen Barkin
The following year, Depp moved on with new girlfriend Ellen Barkin. The actress was nine years his senior and had just separated from her husband, Gabriel Byrne. The couple dated briefly and had a relatively public relationship, but things eventually fizzled. During his UK trial, more details about their relationship emerged and Depp claimed that Barkin still held a “grudge” against him for not wanting to make their relationship more official. He revealed that they had a casual relationship “which lasted for months on and off really because she was making the film I was making at the time,” and added that “she wanted a proper relationship with me and I did not want that.”
(Photo by Barry King/WireImage)Kate Moss
Kate Moss and Johnny Depp were one of the most iconic couples of the ’90s. Moss was 11 years younger than Depp when they met and she was beginning to peak in the modelling and fashion industry. The couple were known for their partying antics and ended up having quite a tumultuous relationship. Famously, Johnny once trashed a hotel room with Moss and was arrested later that year for almost $10,000 worth of damage. The couple dated from 1994 to 1998 and despite their arguments, Moss has shared that Johnny took care of her and she trusted him.
AP Photo/Rhonda BirnbaumVanessa Paradis
Johnny Depp’s next long-term love was with French singer Vanessa Paradis in 1998, following his split from Kate Moss. Depp and Paradis first met while he was still dating Moss, but crossed paths a year later in the lobby of Hotel Costes in Paris. After a year of dating, the couple welcomed their first child, Lily-Rose into the world. Three years later, they also welcomed a boy, John Christopher. Fourteen years into their relationship, the couple sadly called it quits in 2014, which Paradis later revealed was largely due to their hectic schedules and inability to spend quality time together.
Photo By Hahn/Khayat/ABACAUSA.COMAmber Heard
Johnny Depp met actress Amber Heard in 2009 on the set of The Rum Diary, and the two began dating in 2011. In 2015, Depp and Heard wed in an intimate ceremony in the Bahamas. The couple had a messy split which began in 2016 when Heard filed for divorce after 15 months of marriage. The pair went on to have a highly publicized court battle after Amber claimed Johnny abused her, and Johnny decided to sue for defamation.
AP Photo/Joel Ryan, File
