He was a major star before the franchise, known for roles in films like *Edward Scissorhands*, *Benny & Joon*, *What's Eating Gilbert Grape*, and *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas*.
However, the *Pirates of the Caribbean* franchise catapulted Depp to a whole new level of fame and fortune. He's become synonymous with the swashbuckling character and won a Golden Globe Award for his performance in the first film.
So, while he was already a star, *Pirates of the Caribbean* undeniably made him an even bigger one.