Nicolas Cage introduced Johnny Depp to a very important person, and the rest, as they say, is Hollywood history.

via: The Things

During the defamation case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, a lot of information that was once unknown about the mysterious actor came to light. We learned he had a cocaine problem while dating Amber Heard, we learned he is often late for work, and he at one point was spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on wine. We also learned that Johnny Depp has a tendancy to let people live in his houses rent free, as a lot of Amber Heard’s friends and family once did.

During his testimony, Johnny Depp told the story of his life and how he came to be the world-famous icon that he is today. He opened up about his abusive mother, why he turned to drugs in the first place, and how his friends helped him get his life back together. He also explained how one of those famous friends started his career.

According to Johnny Depp’s official testimony, he owes the majority of his career to one man, fellow actor Nicolas Cage. That’s right, one of the most memed actors in the world is responsible for giving the public one of the most beloved actors of his generation. But how? How on Earth did Nic Cage give the world Johnny Depp?

8Johnny Depp Was Abused As A Child

Here is the abridged life story of Mr. Depp’s childhood. Johnny Depp was born in Kentucky but eventually moved with his family to Florida. According to Depp, his mother was physically and emotionally abusive to him and his siblings growing up. For example, Depp had to get work done to fix his eyes when he was a boy, and his mother used to mock him by calling him names like “one eye.”

7He Eventually Forgave His Mother

As a boy, Johnny Depp took solace in music and learned how to play the guitar. His love of music helped him handle his abusive upbringing. For the record, Depp did eventually forgive his mother and paid for her medical treatment at the end of her life.

6Johnny Depp Fled To Los Angeles To Become A Musician

Depp dropped out of high school when he was 16 to become a musician. When he was 20, he and his band, The Kids, moved from Florida to Los Angeles but eventually fell apart. Depp also moved to get away from his mother’s abuse. The Kids soon broke up and Depp was left jobless.

5The Band Did Help Him Meet His First Wife

While his music career did not work out, Depp did end up meeting his first wife thanks to the band. Not only that, but it would be his wife who made the introduction that changed Johnny Depp’s life forever.

4Johnny Depp Made Friends With Nic Cage

As it became apparent that Depp’s musical career wasn’t working out, a new friend Depp had made in Los Angeles stepped in to help. Yes, that friend was Nicolas Cage. According to Depp’s testimony in court, the two had become friends after his wife at the time, make up artist Lori Ann Allison, introduced them somewhere between 1983 and 1984. Cage was just starting to become a star thanks to his family connections, Cage is the nephew of Godfather director Francis Ford Copalla.

3Nic Cage Introduced Johnny Depp To His Agent

Depp had no real desire to become an actor, but Cage insisted that Depp was a natural and told him to at least give acting a try. Depp, who needed the work, conceded to Cage, who then introduced him to his agent, Eileen Feldman. This would end up being a major turning point in Johnny Depp’s life and career.

2Depp Got Cast In Wes Craven’s ‘Nightmare On Elm Street’

Feldman helped Depp to get his breakthrough role in the classic Wes Craven horror film, Nightmare On Elm Street, the first film in the Freddy Krueger franchise. Depp, as horror fans already know, played Glen, A.K.A. the guy who gets sucked into a bed. The film was a resounding success for everyone involved, especially Johnny Depp even though he has one of the smallest parts in the movie.

1The Rest Is History

We all know the rest of the story. After Nightmare on Elm Street, Johnny Depp soon became the star of his own show, 21 Jump Street. He was then a supporting player in Oliver Stone’s classic Vietnam War movie Platoon.

Then he got lead roles in films directed by 2 legendary directors in the same year. In 1990, Depp starred in Cry Baby which was directed by the king of camp John Waters. He also starred in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. Before he was 30 Depp had already worked with Wes Craven, Oliver Stone, Tim Burton, and John Waters. There are actors in Hollywood who have been working for 30 years and who haven’t accumulated such a resume.

Then, of course, he got his iconic role as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of The Caribbean as well as his many other roles. To think, all of this happened because Depp’s wife introduced him to the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola. It just goes to show that you never know what will happen when you meet new people.