Johnny Depp Photographed by Phillip Saltonstall in 1987

These amazing photographs of a young Johnny Depp were taken by Phillip Saltonstall around 1987, showcasing his signature early‑career aesthetic: tousled hair, leather jacket, cigarette in hand—epitomizing his brooding, rebellious charm.

In 1987, Johnny Depp was rapidly becoming a pop culture phenomenon and a major teen idol. He had already made his film debut in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and appeared in Platoon (1986), but it was his role as Officer Tom Hanson in the TV series 21 Jump Street that catapulted him to stardom in 1987. The TV series instantly made him a household name and a massive sex symbol for young audiences. He was on the covers of teen magazines like Tiger Beat and Teen Bop, and his brooding good looks and smoldering eyes were widely admired. Girls everywhere had crushes on him.

Even early in his career, Depp possessed a unique charisma that set him apart from other “flavor-of-the-month” heartthrobs. He had an intrinsic magnetism that made him engaging to watch, even when he reportedly appeared bored on screen in later seasons of 21 Jump Street (as he disliked the teen idol label).

While he was initially noticed for his looks, there were early indications that he was more than just a pretty face. Critics and audiences would later realize he could truly act, even though he took a while to shed the “teen heartthrob” status. He was seen as having a deeper, more artistic sensibility than his image suggested.

Interestingly, Depp himself was uncomfortable with the “teen idol” label and the “product” image that 21 Jump Street created. He wanted to pursue more challenging and interesting roles, which he would famously do in the 1990s with films like Cry-Baby and Edward Scissorhands, often deliberately choosing roles that “de-glamorized” him.