‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Film Star Arrested, Charged With Violent Crime Causing “Traumatic” Injury

A beloved film star, best known for his role in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, has been arrested and will appear in court next month. Yep, you read that right: a Pirates actor has been arrested.

Related: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Film-Inspired Theme Park Opening in 2025

Depp & Company Light Up the Big Screen in ‘Pirates’ Films

Johnny Depp is the most famous member of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean cast.

Depp was paid a combined total of nearly $300 million for his role as the scurvy and often inebriated Captain Jack. Choosing Depp for the role would prove to be a very wise and lucrative decision on Disney’s part as Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow is largely credited for the wild success of the film series and the franchise, which has grown to amass a value of over $4.5 billion.

Talk about a return on Disney’s investment!

A Star-Studded ‘Pirates’ Cast

But Depp didn’t act alone–pardon the pun–and was joined by a star-studded cast throughout the five-film (so far) series. So which Pirates actor was arrested? Let’s get into it.

Joining Depp in the franchise, which was inspired by the Disney Parks attraction of the same name, were Geoffrey Rush, who played Captain Hector Barbossa, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann.

Also appearing in the franchise were Stellan Skarsgård as Bootstrap Bill, Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, Chow Yun-Fat as Sao Feng, Penélope Cruz as Angelica, Ian McShane as Blackbeard, Jack Davenport as Norrington, and Jonathan Pryce as Governor Weatherby Swann.

Among the many characters in the series, one of the most beloved–aside from Captain Jack, of course–is Joshamee Gibbs, Jack Sparrow’s trusted comrade, played by actor Kevin McNally.

Depp’s Comrade in Legal Trouble, ‘Pirates’ Actor Arrested

Throughout the series, Gibbs sticks by Captain Jack’s side, and in the ending scene of the fifth film in the series, the camaraderie between the two is more evident than ever.

“What’s our heading, Cap’n?” Gibbs calls out to Sparrow.

“We shall follow the stars,” Captain Jack replies, with a renewed confidence in his demeanor. “I have a rendezvous beyond my beloved horizon.”

The score becomes bolder, and the final image in the scene is one of Captain Jack and his crew sailing off into the sunset aboard the eerily magnificent Black Pearl.

The two actors reportedly share a friendship in real life as well–and now, that real life has taken a sour turn for McNally, who is facing domestic violence charges.

In 2021, McNally vocally defended Depp as he stood trial against former spouse Amber Heard in a libel suit Depp brought against a British tabloid. McNally even went so far as to say that he saw no reason not to see Depp back in his role as Jack Sparrow in the Disney franchise.

“I’ve never seen a hint of any dark side to Johnny [Depp],” he told The Express. “I see a great humanitarian and a beautiful human being. I don’t see any impediment for him coming back and playing Jack Sparrow.”

‘Pirates’ Actor Arrested, Accused of Domestic Violence, But Not Against His Wife?

The 67-year-old actor is married to actress Phyllis Logan, best known for portraying the role of the kind and devoted Mrs. Hughes in the British television series Downton Abbey. McNally also appeared in the series, playing the role of the wealthy and powerful Horace Bryant alongside his wife.

Despite the accusations against him of domestic abuse, McNally’s wife told reporters she was unaware of her husband’s arrest.

But according to officers with the Los Angeles Police Department, McNally was arrested on “suspicion of injury that caused a traumatic condition on a victim who was his current or former spouse, cohabitant, or child’s parent.” As of the time of this publication, it is unclear who the alleged victim in the case is.

Before his arrest, McNally had reportedly planned to attend Gallifrey One’s Miracle on 34th Street, the annual conference celebrating all things related to Doctor Who, which was held on February 16, 17, and 18 in Los Angeles, California, this year. The actor, however, was detained on February 15 by law enforcement.

Since his arrest, McNally has reportedly been released on more than $50,000 bail and will appear in court before a judge in March.