Nicolas Cage has revealed that he played an important role in the early stages of Johnny Depp’s career by encouraging him to try acting in the 1980s.
In a recent interview with Variety, Cage said the two met in Los Angeles under unusual circumstances, as they were both dating the same woman. Initially, Depp “didn’t want” to like Cage, but the two eventually became close friends.
At the time, Depp was struggling financially and working odd jobs while trying to build a career as a musician. Cage said that at one point he suggested his friend should “give acting a try” and introduced him to his agent.
Through that connection, Depp landed his first opportunity in Hollywood, being cast in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), a debut that marked the beginning of his film career. Shortly afterward, he rose to prominence through the television series 21 Jump Street, which turned him into one of the most recognizable faces of his generation.
Cage recalled the episode with humor, emphasizing that there were no guarantees of success, but that he believed in his friend’s potential. Over the years, Depp built a career filled with major productions and became one of Hollywood’s most popular stars.
“No one becomes a phenomenon overnight. But it happened to him,” Cage said in a 2019 interview with The New York Times Magazine.
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