Johnny Depp Joins Comanche Nation Indian Tribe

Posted: Updated: 05/22/2012 3:59 pm

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird

From his boozy romp in "The Rum Diary" to his gothic tribute in "Dark Shadows," Johnny Depp is no slouch when it comes to character research. But his upcoming role as Tonto in Gore Verbinski's "Lone Ranger" might take the cake.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Depp has been initiated into the Comanche Indian tribe, a New Mexico-based group of Indians. The actor was invited to join after they learned about his involvement in the role.

“I reached out, and Johnny was very receptive to the idea," LaDonna Harris, president of Americans for Indian Opportunity, told the website Indian Country. "He seemed proud to receive the invitation, and we were honored that he so enthusiastically agreed... He’s a very thoughtful human being, and throughout his life and career, he has exhibited traits that are aligned with the values and worldview that Indigenous peoples share.”

From the looks of the first photo, Depp has already breathed new life into the role of Tonto, finding inspiration in Native American portraitist, Kirby Sattler. “I thought: Tonto’s got a bird on his head," Depp told EW. "It’s his spirit guide in a way. It’s dead to others, but it’s not dead to him. It’s very much alive.”

"The Lone Ranger" -- starring Armie Hammer, Helena Bonham Carter, William Fichtner and Tom Wilkinson -- hits theaters May 31, 2013.

[via THR]

Loading Slideshow...

  • 'Edward Scissorhands' (1990)

  • 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' (1998)

  • 'Pirates of the Caribbean' (2003)

  • 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (2005)

  • 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' (2007)

  • 'Public Enemies' (2009)

  • 'Alice in Wonderland' (2010)

  • 'Dark Shadows' (2012)

Earlier on HuffPost:
FOLLOW MOVIEFONE

'FONE FINDS
From his boozy romp in "The Rum Diary" to his gothic tribute in "Dark Shadows," Johnny Depp is no slouch when it comes to character research. But his upcoming role as ...
From his boozy romp in "The Rum Diary" to his gothic tribute in "Dark Shadows," Johnny Depp is no slouch when it comes to character research. But his upcoming role as ...
Filed by Jessie Heyman  | 
 
 
  • Comments
  • 286
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3 4 5  Next ›  Last »  (6 total)
photo
erl92
909 Fans
11:32 AM on 05/23/2012
It’s a little funny that some think that Depp, as an actor, cannot act like a native. My guess is that the show isn’t going to be heavy on authenticity. I mean this is based on a show from the 50’s. The idea of a cowboy running around with a mask on among other things isn’t authentic and I don’t think the show is trying to be that. Depp does have star power so that’s reasoning enough to put him in the show. They are after all trying to make money. I think it’s great that Johnny Depp wants to make the native character more believable and not just as a sidekick. I think with him having some native ancestry makes him more sensitive to that portrayal. If I’m expecting more authenticity I think I would look more towards the movie Dancing with Wolves or perhaps the excellent documentary We Shall Remain.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
brokenleoheart
264 Fans
11:25 AM on 05/23/2012
interesting
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hattie54
249 Fans
11:15 AM on 05/23/2012
http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/05/21/johnny-depp-adoption-comanche-nation-lone-ranger-tonto/

Pix of Johnny.
Permalink  |
Mark from atlanta
Unity through Diversity.
774 Fans
11:10 AM on 05/23/2012
There are lots of very talented Native actors. Surely they could have found one and let Depp play the Lone Ranger. Then again, Val Kilmer absolutely nailed his part in "Thunderheart" which did a great job of portraying the reality of modern oppression of the res.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
stopnlisten
Simplify, simplify!
1338 Fans
11:10 AM on 05/23/2012
Respectfully.....the bird looks like it is relieving itself on his head. Hard image to shake.
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hattie54
249 Fans
11:00 AM on 05/23/2012
Farrah Fawcett had some Choctaw blood in her.You could see it in her facial features,high cheekbones and a straight nose.Her Dad is the only one that lived to be pretty old.

Ferrah Leni Fawcett was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, the younger of two daughters.Her mother, Pauline Alice (née Evans; January 30, 1914 – March 4, 2005), was a homemaker, and her father, James William Fawcett (October 14, 1917 – August 23, 2010), was an oil field contractor.Her sister was Diane Fawcett Walls (October 27, 1938 – October 16, 2001), a graphic artist. She was of Irish, French, English, Choctaw Native American, and Lebanese Arab ancestry.Fawcett once said the name "Ferrah" was "made up" by her mother because it went well with their last name; she later changed the spelling.
Permalink  |
photo
GravitonX
10^300 bosons could care less.
1762 Fans
11:07 AM on 05/23/2012
LOL! High cheekbones and straight nose? Why didn't you say she was part Masai? I think all these fake Indians see what they want to see and can get away with it because their ancestors actually kil.led off all the real ones.
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hattie54
249 Fans
11:25 AM on 05/23/2012
Some of her kin were in OK then later in Texas.
Permalink  |
photo
mariquita21
It was always your guns we feared the least, R.C.
649 Fans
04:14 AM on 05/27/2012
Hattie54....I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I wanted to let you know that Choctaw people have very round, almost what you would call a wide chubby profile with large wide cheekbones and flat noses, that are a little round on the end. Don't get me wrong, I think they are beautiful. Especially their great big smiles, big, big smiles.

Now, I know Ms. Fawcett has high cheekbones and a straight nose, and with all those other ancestors it's safe to say that those features came from one of them:)
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hattie54
249 Fans
10:32 AM on 05/27/2012
Interesting on the Choctaw having round faces.Other tribes do have the high cheekbones and straight long noses.
Permalink  |
photo
sumogirl
202 Fans
03:28 AM on 05/28/2012
Thank you mariquita21. My great grandfather was Choctaw--he moved from Arkansas to Texas before or during the civil war, but I couldn't find records from that tumultuous time because they were lost in a fire. Don’t know if he was part of the Trail of Tears before that or not. It's funny that one of my close friends gave me a nickname years ago. He calls me "Roundface" but certainly doesn't know about Choctaw facial features. My nickname growing up was "Smiley."

It strikes me as interesting that Johnny Depp would be made an honorary Comanche when he is supposedly part Cherokee. Why didn't the Cherokee nation adopt him or try to locate his Cherokee kin?
Permalink  |
photo
GravitonX
10^300 bosons could care less.
1762 Fans
10:59 AM on 05/23/2012
It's easy to claim to be "Indian" when there are no real ones to say otherwise.
Permalink  |
La Woodman
21 Fans
10:26 AM on 05/23/2012
Hey, Elizabeth, new option for you baby. Give them a call.
Permalink  |
This comment has been removed due to violations of our [Guidelines]
Permalink  |Show replies(3)
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
iktomi
68 Fans
10:14 AM on 05/23/2012
As an talented actor I like Depp. As a guy that Id like sitting down with, pulling a cork and just hanging with...No Thanks. As opposed to say..Clooney, here we have a guy that what you see is what you get.
I dont know who Depp really is and not sure if Depp knows who Depp real is. Its as though he works hard at being as eccentric as he can be to fill a need.
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
forestlady
493 Fans
10:35 AM on 05/23/2012
Depp is a genius who, like many geniuses, is multi-faceted and naturally eccentric, nothing wrong with that - he doesn't have to try, he's the genuine article. I"ve seen him interviewed, he's very shy, very intelligent and creative and a helluva nice guy. He calls his mom his best friend, what's not to like?
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
iktomi
68 Fans
12:24 PM on 05/23/2012
Bottom line...In interviews, he gives me bad vibes. Iv learned to become leery of bad vibes. It matters not to me because his acting makes up for it.
Permalink  |
photo
Willard365
"...and sometimes the bahr eats you."
102 Fans
10:09 AM on 05/23/2012
Half of the registered Comanches live in Southwest Oklahoma. The article describes the Comanches as a New Mexico-based tribe. While the Comanche Empire stretched a ross vast tracts of the center of the continent, I would assume some Comanches might be surprised that they are a New Mexico-based tribe.
Permalink  |
photo
erl92
909 Fans
10:42 AM on 05/23/2012
They were for a time located in Texas and New Mexico Territory. A lot of tribes are located in Oklahoma these days. They're called reservations.
Permalink  |
photo
GravitonX
10^300 bosons could care less.
1762 Fans
11:00 AM on 05/23/2012
"Registering" for "blood" membership is odd.
Permalink  |
photo
mariquita21
It was always your guns we feared the least, R.C.
649 Fans
02:34 AM on 05/27/2012
Registering is referring to tribal members on "tribal enrollment". It goes back to the "Dawes Enrollment", enacted by Senator Dawes during president Grants term. By federally registering native Americans by Tribe and "blood quantum" , to keep a long, very long story short, it keeps the claim jumpers out, or as you refer to them as "fake Indians". Read the book "Bury my heart at Wounded Knee", or you could watch the movie, either way. It's a very long complicated sad history that most people will not and refuse to understand.

I feel sad that you think there are no First Nations left here, we are in fact alive and well and you can go to Indian Country newspaper online and read all about what goes on all across this country every day in the lives of everyday tribal nations from pow-wows to political news. Our First Nation of Mississippi Band Choctaw just elected our first woman Chief last year, we have a tribal enrollment of 10,000. The Navajo and Dene being the largest Nations and about 175 or so other recognized tribes, with legitimate four four cards, yeah, we were the first "papers please" people, we will be here for a long long time.

F&F
Ohoyo Chahta:)
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PirateGrl8
Improving oneself improves the world...
165 Fans
09:50 AM on 05/23/2012
Tonto looks like the Crow...
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
farmerlady
Blonde, Democratic socialist, and unwilling expat
2189 Fans
09:49 AM on 05/23/2012
I like Jack White, I even "get" his cover of "Jolene", but after hearing what he did to the James Bond theme song, I fear for this soundtrack. Others may disagree. I'm sure I'll find out, it'll be everywhere when the time comes. But that James Bond song was a Hoo/ver!
Permalink  |
photo
PharmaCan
Trying to make sense of it all
3583 Fans
10:20 AM on 05/23/2012
It would be kind of hard to improve on Tchaikovsky.
Permalink  |
alans0222
449 Fans
09:27 AM on 05/23/2012
I saw him on a show last week and wondered with that accent he has that he may be from a different country. He's from kentucky. Who the hell from kentucky talks like that? Makes madonnas' fake brit accent sound believable.
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
steelcock
62 Fans
09:31 AM on 05/23/2012
He's as phony as a three dollar bill. An affected little twerp.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MissFrijole
My bite is worse than my bark.
138 Fans
09:45 AM on 05/23/2012
He may have been in a "character." Or maybe it's because he has been living in France for the last forever. Be glad he doesn't sound like he's from Kentucky! He wouldn't have gotten nearly as many roles if that were the case!
Permalink  |
photo
playsindirt
So much dirt, so little time.
1543 Fans
09:16 AM on 05/23/2012
Isn't Depp part Cherokee?
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
lookin
83 Fans
09:54 AM on 05/23/2012
No he is part Fehgoweee. They are known for a poor sense of direction.
Permalink  |
photo
BookKeepersSon
Don't take me alive
298 Fans
10:08 AM on 05/23/2012
Man! I haven't heard that one in a million years.

Good oldie! :o)

Where the....
Permalink  |
photo
Willard365
"...and sometimes the bahr eats you."
102 Fans
10:02 AM on 05/23/2012
He has mentioned a great grandmother with possibly Cherokee or Creek ancestry, which would not be unusual coming from Kentucky. Elsewhere it has been commented as "unconfirmed".
Permalink  |
 
Page: 1 2 3 4 5  Next ›  Last »  (6 total)