Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Johnny Depp visits children's hospital as Captain Jack Sparrow

Actor spent nearly five hours taking photographs with patients and entertaining them and their families

Matt Nixon
Wednesday 16 August 2017 09:25 BST
Comments
Johnny Depp meets hospital children as Captain Jack Sparrow

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Johnny Depp paid a visit to a children’s hospital in Vancouver, Canada dressed as his character from Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Jack Sparrow.

The actor was in Vancouver filming for a new comedy drama, Richard Says Goodbye, when he took time out to meet the young patients.

Depp wore his full costume and reportedly remained in character for his entire visit to the BC Children’s Hospital. He was there for nearly five hours.

The 54-year-old spent his time posing for photographs and entertaining children and their families, and having foam sword fights with some of the patients.

BC Children’s Hospital foundation shared photos of the event to their Facebook page.

The hospital wrote: “Patients at BC Children’s Hospital were delighted by a visit today with one of the world’s most famous pirates, Captain Jack Sparrow. Actor Johnny Depp showed he has a heart of gold by spending more than 5 hours meeting one-on-one with every patient, from newborns to teens.”

BC Children’s Hospital is the province’s only full-service, paediatric acute care hospital. They care for children who are seriously ill or injured. Last year, more than 86,600 children were treated at the Children’s Hospital.

This is not the first time Depp has visited children in hospital as Captain Jack Sparrow.

In December 2016, the Hollywood star visited children staying in Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London ahead of Christmas. The actor’s daughter was previously admitted there in 2007 with kidney failure, and Depp claimed he returned to the hospital in character because it is ‘a gift’.

Speaking on the Graham Norton show then, Depp said “kids [in hospital] are so courageous but to be able to bring a smile or a giggle to the parent’s means everything in the world to me".

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in