Johnny Depp’s first film role came in the 1984 horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, a defining movie in 1980s teen horror. The film, directed by Wes Craven, revolves around Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) and her desperate attempts to rally help against a child murderer stalking teenagers in their dreams. Depp played Glen Lantz, Nancy’s boyfriend, who, despite his flaws, supports her throughout. Despite being a newcomer, Depp’s “good looks” were initially the only thing saving him from being cut after a poor audition, threatening to end his movie career before it began.
The casting process was a challenge for Wes Craven and his team because New Line Cinema was still an independent studio at the time, lacking the budget to cast well-known actors. As a result, they sought fresh talent, but Depp’s first audition alarmed casting director Annette Benson and Craven’s wife, Mimi Craven. Depp’s agent, Ilene Feldman, praised his potential, but Mimi recalled the initial reaction harshly:
He comes, he reads. He sucks. He wasn’t an actor,
Mimi said.
Annette and I are looking at Wes, and he scratches Johnny’s name off. He said, ‘Well, he was terrible.’
This response suggested Depp’s chance for the role had all but disappeared. However, a surprising turn came when Wes Craven’s daughter and her best friend encountered Depp during the auditions and became captivated by him.
How a Young Fan Changed Depp’s Career Path
Wes Craven’s daughter and her friend’s admiration for Depp’s appearance altered the course of his audition’s outcome. Mimi Craven described their reaction vividly:
They were squealing [over him].
She added,
They were that high-pitched. Only dogs can hear the thing that young girls do. And Annette looks at Wes.
This unexpected enthusiasm led Craven and his team to reconsider Depp’s potential despite his lackluster initial read-through. This moment proved pivotal, ultimately securing Depp’s first role and launching his acting career.
Depp has since reflected on this experience with both humor and gratitude, recognizing the audition as a turning point that could easily have gone in a different direction. His entry into acting was far from traditional, as he was primarily a musician at the time and had no formal acting background.
Johnny Depp’s Reflection on His Early Career and Wes Craven’s Influence
At the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, following Wes Craven’s death, Depp paid tribute to the filmmaker and recounted the circumstances surrounding his audition. He acknowledged the important role Craven’s daughter played in his casting:
I read scenes with [Craven’s] daughter when I auditioned for the part,
Depp said, adding,
At the time, I was a musician. I wasn’t really acting.
He also expressed amazement at Craven’s decision to hire him despite his inexperience:
I always think of her for putting me in this mess, and certainly Wes Craven for being very brave to give me this gig.
In A Nightmare on Elm Street, Depp’s character Glen Lantz serves as a supportive presence for Nancy Thompson, even as others dismiss her warnings about the danger posed by Freddy Krueger (played by Robert Englund). Depp’s sincere delivery and engaging screen presence helped create a believable teen romance, adding depth to the film’s terror. Although Depp has since become a Hollywood A-lister, this early role demonstrates how Wes Craven’s faith in an unknown actor can shape a career and leave a lasting impression on genre cinema.
