Nicolas Cage says he encouraged Johnny Depp to 'just try' acting before his Hollywood breakthrough

Depp initially insisted he could not act and Cage said he disagreed and arranged for his friend to meet his agent

Nicolas Cage has revealed that he played a major role in launching Johnny Depp’s acting career after encouraging the future Hollywood star to “just try” acting during the 1980s.

Speaking in a recent interview, Cage reflected on his long friendship with Depp and recalled how the pair first met while both were involved with the same woman in Los Angeles. Despite the awkward introduction, Cage said they quickly became close friends.

At the time, Depp was focused on becoming a musician and was struggling financially while trying to establish himself in Los Angeles. Cage explained that Depp was living in his apartment and working odd jobs when he suggested that he give acting a chance.

“We were playing Monopoly one day,” Cage recalled, explaining that Depp initially insisted he could not act. Cage said he disagreed and arranged for Depp to meet his agent, a decision that ultimately changed the actor’s life.

That meeting led to Depp auditioning for A Nightmare on Elm Street, the 1984 horror classic directed by Wes Craven. Depp landed the role of Glen Lantz, marking his first major screen appearance and paving the way for his breakout success on 21 Jump Street a few years later.

Cage has spoken about the story before, previously telling The New York Times Magazine in 2019 that Depp’s rise happened almost instantly after landing the horror film.

Depp originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue music after playing in several Florida bands, including The Kids. According to past interviews, acting was initially intended as a temporary way to pay bills before his screen career unexpectedly took off.

Both actors would go on to become defining Hollywood stars of their generation, though they never ended up co-leading a major film together despite decades of friendship and occasional overlap in projects.