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Johnny Depp- The Psyco’s Savior
By: Lacey Desper
The following is intended as Satire. Some quotes have been taken slightly out of context for the
purpose of the story. The author has purposely done so to convey a purpose and a story line.

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Lacey Desper
Professor Dixon
Comp 1
5 May 2011
Johnny Depp – The Psyco’s Savior
We all know Johnny Depp. I have discovered through my research and combing of his
personality a secret nobody has uncovered before. My research has led me to believe that Johnny
Depp has Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD.) In this paper I shall explain why I believe this.
People with MPD get labeled as crazy. I believe MPD has been a blessing for Depp. It has
evolved Depp into a superstar.
Most people have seen the excessively exaggerated view of MPD from the movie Me,
Myself, and Irene and others, like it. This view is how most people actually view MPD. The
actual scientific definition is:
Existence within an individual of two or more distinct
personalities, each of which is dominant at a particular time. The
personality dominate at any particular time determines the
individual’s behavior. Each individual personality is complex and
integrated with its own unique behavior patterns and social
relationship. (Theory Psychology)
In general the extra personalities are not crazy as portrayed in the media. The research I have
done on MPD has amazed me especially when I correlate it to Johnny Depp.
I would first like to talk about the causes of MPD. All research that I have read has stated
that MPD is caused by some form of trauma. It is believed to be an off branch of Post Traumatic

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Stress Disorder. I could not find any actual verbalization of Depp admitting that he has suffered a
trauma but, his behavior leads me to believe there is. Stating, himself that he has “hillbilly rage”
and is a known suffering alcoholic. There was even an incident in New York in 1994 which led
to him being arrested. Which when asked about it he stated. “I had these sort of self- destructive
periods” (Smith). As well as the director of the Pirates movies stated that “within minutes,
Johnny was in Marlon’s lap with, I think a bottle of gin.”(Smith.) When you realize that he is an
A list actor and the number of celebrities that have the same problem for example Lindsey
Lohan, Brittany Spears, and Heath Ledger to name a few. It leads one to believe that being
famous is very stressful. Which I believe is the stress is causing the MPD in Depp.
I believe that the MPD has been a blessing in disguise for Depp. When you think of the
characters that he has pulled off Jack Sparrow, Sweany Todd, Willy Wonka, Edward
Scissorhands just to name a few. He is the greatest actor to have ever lived in my opinion. Depp
himself stated that he is not ready to give up on Jack Sparrow stating “I’ll be in a deep, dark
depression saying goodbye to him.” (Smith) also explaining how it is rough to get himself out of
the out of role of Jack Sparrow once he is in character. “It’s a horrible process. I didn’t want to
go through yanking them off and putting them back on” (Smith). He went as far to say that
Sparrow made him feel like he was an outsider on the inside a part of him had become Jack
Sparrow.
This goes a long way to explain how I believe Depp could be diagnosed with MPD.
Though most psychological disorders are not permanent there are ways to find clarity. Johnny
believes that he has found a cure for all of his problems. Stating that when his daughter was born
there was clarity and he was not angry anymore. That it was the most purely selfless moment he
had ever experienced in his life. Which I believe explains a lot about his career. He had an epic

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career before his daughter was born and now we are seeing the beginning of the end of his career
from my point of view. Two of Depp’s most recent movies Rango and The Tourist in my opinion
are the worst of his career. I fear for what is to come with Depp in control of himself and the
inner demons repressed.

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Annotated Bibliography
Smith, Sean. ”Johnny Depp: Unlikely Superstar.” The Norton Field Guide to Writing with
Readings, Bullock, Richard, Goggin Maureen Daly, 2007, pg. 768-775
The author sits down with Johnny Depp to talk to him about his career and his rise to
fame. How being a movie star has affected his life and where it has taken him from where he
began.
Paris, Joel. “Review-Essay: Dissociative Symptoms, Dissociative Disorders, and Cultural
Psychiatry.” Transcultural Psychiatry (1996) 33: 55. Web PDF
The author takes a look at five different psychologist’s books and their views on
dissociative personality disorder and MPD. Discuss what the different viewpoints are on if MPD
actually exists and what causes it.
Oppenheimer, Louis. “Self or Selves?: Dissociative Identity Disorder and Complexity of the
Self-System.” Theory Psychology (2002) 12: 97 Web PDF
To discuss the difference and the new discoveries in psychology about dissociative
identity disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association. Also to discuss what causes
the occurrence of dissociative identity disorder.

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Annotated Bibliography
Smith, Sean. ”Johnny Depp: Unlikely Superstar.” The Norton Field Guide to Writing with
Readings, Bullock, Richard, Goggin Maureen Daly, 2007, pg. 768-775
The author sits down with Johnny Depp to talk to him about his career and his rise to
fame. How being a movie star has affected his life and where it has taken him from where he
began.
Paris, Joel. “Review-Essay: Dissociative Symptoms, Dissociative Disorders, and Cultural
Psychiatry.” Transcultural Psychiatry (1996) 33: 55. Web PDF
The author takes a look at five different psychologist’s books and their views on
dissociative personality disorder and MPD. Discuss what the different viewpoints are on if MPD
actually exists and what causes it.
Oppenheimer, Louis. “Self or Selves?: Dissociative Identity Disorder and Complexity of the
Self-System.” Theory Psychology (2002) 12: 97 Web PDF
To discuss the difference and the new discoveries in psychology about dissociative
identity disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association. Also to discuss what causes
the occurrence of dissociative identity disorder.