This article has been updated since its initial 10/14/22 publish date to include more updates regarding Johnny Depp’s public appearances and fan events.
Johnny Depp has been busy working on new movies Jeanne du Barry and Modigliani since winning his highly publicized defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard – but he still found time to sign autographs for loyal fans and pose for photos this month.
The Fantastic Beasts alum appeared in a viral clip online this week after he was filmed talking to a fan. When requested, he then slipped into his iconic Pirates of the Caribbean character, Captain Jack Sparrow, impressing those around him in the video. While Depp began speaking to the fan normally at the start of the clip, he then took on the beloved pirate’s slurred way of speaking while talking about rum in character.
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Reprising the Role of Jack Sparrow
Many fans online then shared the clip, with some finding it “touching” to see Depp reprise the role, even for a little bit, and others were taken aback by his clean-shaven face, with some “wondering” if it was really him. A screenshot of Depp from the fan interaction was recently posted to The Daily Mail‘s Instagram account, and many users left comments about the Oscar nominee’s physical appearance.
“He has to stop drinking. It’s aged him so much,” wrote one commenter while another added, “He really needs some facial hair.” Someone else agreed, writing, “He looks better w the facial hair” after the outlet put the recent photo of Depp beside a more recognizable Jack Sparrow close-up shot.
Jack Sparrow is here Johnny Depp ( via christinekelly838) pic.twitter.com/g6BbgQoIUs
— ReemDepp – #JohnnyDeppKeepsWinning (@ReemDepp) October 23, 2022
Hanging with Fans in his Hometown
Depp was also spotted in his hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky over the weekend, and stopped to take photos with fans. The star posed with locals, and allegedly asked fans to keep his visit a secret until after he left the city, according to Fox19Now.
#JohnnyDepp made a surprise return to his hometown of #Owensboro in #Kentucky over the weekend.
The musician & actor, 59, paid a visit to family living in the city & cool with fan selfies. pic.twitter.com/wYO6jxtmKm
— Mr Pål Christiansen (@TheNorskaPaul) October 26, 2022
Johnny Depp made a pit stop in his hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky https://t.co/sqUphAvUtt
— Evening Standard (@standardnews) October 25, 2022
Signing Autographs in New York City
On October 8th, Depp also seemed “different looking” to fans while signing autographs at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York. He met with them just ahead of his performance with 78-year-old musician Jeff Beck.
Many fans took to social media and online comments sections to say that they thought that the What’s Eating Gilbert Grape actor – who was sporting a clean-shaven face, reflective sunglasses, and a pinstripe baker hat – looked almost unrecognizable, with a few even comparing him to 73-year-old Black Sabbath rocker Ozzy Osbourne, and many more simply refusing to believe that the man in the pictures was the Edward Scissorhands star!
"That's not Johnny Depp"
"That's not Johnny Depp. End of story," one fan wrote in the comments section of a New York Post article displaying some of the pictures from the signing. "That’s not Depp… that’s an imposter," another added. "He looks toothless too," wrote another, adding, "I agree with you, that is not him. I'm not in denial either, it just isn't."
"I think that's his stunt double, Donny Depp," joked another fan. "That is not him. NO way," exclaimed another fan in disbelief. "You guys got the wrong dude lol," yet another fan claimed, while many others thought that the resemblance to Ozzy Osbourne was almost uncanny.
Ozzy Osbourne?
"Brian Johnson? Ozzy Osbourne?" one fan asked. "Lol. He always looked unwashed, and now he looks like an unwashed Ozzy Osbourne," another reader commented. "At this point Depp might wish he was Ozzy," quipped another. "Eek. He looks terrible. How sad. This is what happens when you drink every day for 30 years," wrote another, adding, "Seriously. Without the cosmetic surgery and daily Botox, he'd look even worse. If you want to accelerate the aging process, keep drinking. By the time you're 60, you'll look like Ozzy and Johnny."
Fans react on Twitter
Looks like Johnny's homeless grandfather pic.twitter.com/0IBg6y7W0T
— PVBMV (@PpVBMV) October 10, 2022
Twitter was also flooded with comments about the Sweeney Todd actor's appearance, with one person asking, "Who is this and what have you done with Johnny?" followed by three facepalm emojis. "I don’t think that’s him lol," stated one fan. "Looks like Johnny's homeless grandfather," wrote another fan, alongside a side-by-side picture of the actor from his younger days and a picture from the signing.
Another user wrote: "Making fun of people's appearance is stupid and mean and doesn't get you anywhere but Johnny Depp is literally rotting he looks scary af, there is clearly something wrong with his health."
