Is Johnny Depp in the first Nightmare on Elm Street

Johnny Depp launched his movie career with Wes Craven's A Nightmare On Elm Street. The late, great Wes Craven wrote and directed the 1984 film and drew on a number of influences while creating the iconic villain of A Nightmare On Elm Street, Freddy Krueger. The initial idea came from a series of articles about people dying in their sleep with no explanation, particularly one chilling account of a teenager trying desperately to stay awake and dying shortly after falling asleep.

While creating A Nightmare On Elm Street's Freddy, Craven drew on a childhood memory of watching a drunken man from a window, who noticed the young Craven and stared back to frighten him. The director figured an early fear of mankind would be of bears and other wild animals, so Freddy's razor-finger glove evokes an animal's claw. His red and green sweater came from another article revealing those colors are difficult for the human eye to process together, making the killer a painful optical effect. Initially, Craven wanted Freddy to be older and sought to cast character actor David Warner (The Omen), but when this fell through Robert Englund was cast as Freddy Krueger for the dark energy he brought during an audition.

As for Johnny Depp, A Nightmare On Elm Street was the young actor's first movie role. Producers initially sought Charlie Sheen (Two And A Half Men) for the part of Glen Lantz, the boyfriend of lead character Nancy, but his salary was more than the low-budget production could afford. Glen was written to be more of a jock character, but it was Craven's teenage daughter who vouched for Depp's star quality.

Who Was Johnny Depp’s Nightmare On Elm Street Character?

Is Johnny Depp in the first Nightmare on Elm Street

Everett Collection

Johnny Depp has been a Hollywood actor for three decades, a leading man for a quarter-century, and a dependable international box office draw in high-profile blockbusters for 10 years. For a guy that mainstream, the 50-year-old also remains one of the most defiantly oddball performers in movies. (Just look at the Kabuki-makeup/bird-headdress costume he dreamed up for his role as Tonto in the forthcoming The Lone Ranger.) Considering how universally known he and his hit movies are, it’s worth remembering that there are many less-explored corners of his filmography, works informed by that same eccentricity and complete immersion in his roles that finally made him a worldwide star as Capt. Jack Sparrow a decade ago. Here’s a look at 11 Depp roles you may have forgotten, including many typically disarming Depp performances in movies that are ripe for rediscovery.

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Was Johnny Depp's first movie Nightmare on Elm Street?

Depp's first major role was in the 1984 classic horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street, playing the boyfriend of the heroine, Nancy Thompson, (played by Heather Langenkamp) and one of 's victims.

Was Johnny Depp in Freddy's Nightmare on Elm Street?

1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street famously served as the big screen debut of one Johnny Depp, but one little tidbit you might not be aware of is that the Oscar-nominated actor also returned for a brief cameo in the sixth installment of the slasher series.

Which one is Johnny Depp in Nightmare on Elm Street?

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Johnny Depp as Glen Lantz - IMDb.

How did Johnny Depp get on Nightmare on Elm Street?

Depp's role was originally meant to be played by Charlie Sheen (Platoon, Wall Street), but Craven's daughter convinced her father to cast Depp instead.

What character did Johnny Depp play in Freddy Krueger?

Glen Lantz (1964-1981) is a fictional character from the A Nightmare on Elm Street series of films. He was portrayed by Johnny Depp in A Nightmare on Elm Street in what was his acting debut. Johnny Depp also appeared in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, although his only appearance was a cameo.