Johnny Depp, swashbuckler at 50

Johnny Depp, one of Hollywood's most versatile stars turns 50 today. Widely hailed as one of the sexiest actors of the eighties, the Pirates of the Caribbean star managed to successfully reinvent himself with the times and gave Hollywood some of its most memorable characters. Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, the Mad Hatter Sweeney Todd, Willy Wonka and Jack Sparrow are just some of his famous roles which have become etched in every cinegoers' mind.

Here's a pictorial look at his journey as he turns a year older.

Born in Kentucky, John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II's father was a civil engineer his mother, a waitress. He has a brother and two sisters, one of whom acts as his manager. The family moved frequently during Depp's childhood, changing locations at least 20 times before settling in Miramar, Florida.

His parents' divorce affected the 15-year-old Johnny hugely and he took to vandalism and narcotics. A year later, he dropped out of high school hoping to become a rock musician.

After playing as a frontman in several garage bands, Johnny finally joined The Kids and found himself making $25 a night at Florida's nightclubs.

By the age of 20, he was married to make-up artist Lori Anne Allison, five years his senior. Lori introduced Johnny to actor Nicolas Cage who advised helped him get an audition. The actor made his debut in the low-budget horror film, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), where he played a teenager who falls prey to a dream-stalking demon.

It was no looking back for the actor after that as he acted in number of films and TV serials and shot to stardom in the role of undercover cop Tommy Hanson in the popular TV series, 21 Jump Street.

In 1990, he was firmly established as a leading Hollywood actor with the Tim Burton movie Edward Scissorhands, where he played a sad-faced, tragic hero who had scissors for hands. The film was the first of a career long association with Burton. The actor and the director went on to do eight films together. Johnny carved a niche for himself by taking on unconventional roles. The actor has said that he specifically chose to appear in films that he found personally interesting, rather than those he thought would succeed at the box office.

He gained critical acclaim in films like Ed Wood, Donnie Brasco opposite Al Pacino, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Astronaut's Wife and Sleepy Hollow.

In 2003, Johnny Depp's biggest success came with Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in which he played the suave, roguish Captain Jack Sparrow. It was a smash hit, fetching over $200 million at the US box office in the first four weeks. Johnny Depp reprised his role in all four Pirates films made so far and has been roped in for the fifth movie.

In 2004, the actor came up with his own production company, Infinitum Nihil. He is the founder and CEO, while his sister, Christi Dembrowski, serves as president. The company's first production venture was the 2011 film, The Rum Diary. He later went on to produce Hugo (2011) directed by Martin Scorsese and his latest movie with Tim Burton, Dark Shadows.

The actor will soon be seen on the silver screen in the movie The Lone Ranger, an action adventure western comedy film based on the American Old West character serials of the same name.

Johnny Depp was recently awarded the Fashion Icon prize at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards in 2012.

The actor also received the MTV Generation Award, the show's version of a lifetime achievement trophy, at this year's MTV Movie Awards. He performed with music band The Black Keys accompanying the band on guitar.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star was recently adopted as an honorary son by LaDonna Harris, president of Americans for Indian Opportunity which makes him a honorary member of the Comanche Nation.

Johnny Depp is currently dating actress Amber Heard. The pair reportedly met on the sets of the film The Rum Diary (2011).

Johnny Depp is one of Hollywood's reformed bad boys. The actor was accused of selling drugs at his own club, The Viper Room in 1993. The following year, he was arrested for smashing and trashing a New York suite. In 1999, he was arrested in London for getting into a fight with paparazzi outside a restaurant.

Johnny Depp has been nominated for three Academy awards for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2004), Finding Neverland (2005), and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2008). He won his first Golden Globe Award in 2008 for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd.

The actor will soon be seen on the silver screen in the movie The Lone Ranger, an action adventure western comedy film based on the American Old West character serials of the same name

Mr Depp's much awaited Pirates of the Caribbean 5 will be released in 2015. He is reportedly all set to star in the movie Into The Woods which is Rob Marshall's film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's fairytale-inspired musical. Depp is likely to play a childless baker, who travels into the woods with his wife to find the witch who cast the curse on them.

Here's wishing Johnny Depp a very happy birthday and many more films to come.