LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tony Angelotti, a daredevil stunt performer, found himself in the enviable position of stepping into Johnny Depp's shoes as his body double in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise. With unwavering fearlessness, Angelotti flawlessly executed Jack Sparrow's most iconic stunts.
Amidst the countless challenges and injuries in Angelotti's adventurous career, one stands out. It was a remarkable instance when Angelotti witnessed Depp becoming "extremely angry."
Who is Tony Angelotti?
Angelotti, an accomplished stunt performer, began his career at Disneyworld and MGM Studios before landing the opportunity to work on the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise. He served as Depp's body double in iconic films, 'The Curse of the Black Pearl', 'Dead Man's Chest' and 'At World's End', Angelotti demonstrated his exceptional skills and expertise. Despite facing numerous challenges and enduring injuries along the way, he has persevered as a stunt coordinator, forging a successful career that spans decades.
Johnny Depp's fury on set
Depp's portrayal of the flamboyant Captain Jack Sparrow in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies left an indelible mark on pop culture. However, behind the scenes, an incident during filming left the renowned actor seething with anger. Recalling a fight scene with Orlando Bloom's character, Angelotti revealed that he narrowly escaped a significant injury.
"Orlando - the fights, they'll get really intense and fast," Angelotti explained, adding, "And Orlando I think got lost at one point, and went to another direction. And I ducked back, and the tip of his blade caught right near my eyebrow. I was okay, it was literally like a nick. A hair closer would have left a decent mark," per Metro. While the director dismissed it as a minor scratch, Depp reacted fiercely.
“Johnny got up out of his chair, walked right over to this guy, and said, ‘We’re not doing a f*****g thing until he gets looked at by the medic,'” Angelotti recalled, adding, "And you could have heard a pin drop on that set. And it was like, 'Thank you, Johnny!' And of course, the medic was there in a split second and it was fine. That’s the rare occasion that I saw him, he blew a gasket."
Tony Angelotti and Johnny Depp become friends
Despite the injury being minor, Angelotti expressed gratitude for Depp's concern and highlighted the strong bond they developed over the course of their collaboration. While working together on the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies, Angelotti and Depp became close friends. In fact, Depp went so far as to commission and gift Angelotti a Neil Lane replica of the Ring of Thieves, a symbol of their camaraderie. Recalling their moments off-camera, Angelotti shared that he would often enjoy exquisite wine with Depp, engaging in conversations that revolved around the day's stunts and what lay ahead.
"I would have beautiful wine with him at the end of the night in his trailer, he would invite me in a couple times. I can remember having beautiful Bordeaux and just sort of recapping the day and just talking about the stunts and things to come," the stuntman recalled.
Is Johnny Depp done with 'Pirates of the Caribbean'?
Speculation is rife regarding Depp's potential return to the franchise, with rumors suggesting a staggering paycheck of up to $20M. However, sources reportedly claimed that Depp was done with Disney for good. This decision stemmed from the studio's choice to drop him when his ex-wife, Amber Heard, accused him of abuse.
"He is still furious," his pals reportedly said, adding, "Appearing in a film for Disney does not interest him." They shared that the actor was still finding his way after he was rejected when Heard's accusations surfaced. "They blind dropped him even though Amber had lied her a** off," they added.
