Johnny Depp, Two Other ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Actors Have Near-Misses With Death, Serious Injuries During Filming of New Movie

Three actors associated with Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise faced injuries, accidents, and heart-stopping, harrowing situations during film production, proving that acting is among one of the most dangerous–though highest-paying–jobs out there.

Acting Isn’t For the Faint of Heart

Ask anyone who’s still at the stage in their lives in which they are attempting to determine what they want to be “when they grow up,” and there will undoubtedly be at least a few responses that include packing up, moving to Hollywood, and becoming a famous and highly sought-after actor or actress.

Some Hollywood hopefuls dream of a life in front of the cameras because they love the art of acting. Others enjoy the spotlight and an “all-eyes-on-me” scenario. Still others have had a gift for theater and acting since they were very young.

But no matter what the reason is behind the dream of being counted among Hollywood’s elite, most people who have their hearts set on acting also have their eyes on the prize–millions and millions of them.

It’s no secret that Hollywood actors are among some of the highest-paid individuals on planet Earth. But despite the fame, the glory, the riches, and the red carpet, actors and actresses face some very challenging roles and grueling expectations from directors and film producers, and they often face danger brought on by the various roles they play.

For three actors affiliated with Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean film series, that danger was all too real, and in a few of those dangerous scenarios, the actors could have quite easily met their demise and their Maker, thanks to the demands of their respective acting roles.

Margot Robbie Nearly Drowned

Actress Margot Robbie recently announced that she and her husband, Tom Ackerly, are expecting their first child. Robbie and Ackerly, who married in 2016, are the founders of the LuckyChap Entertainment production company.

But things might have turned out very differently if it hadn’t been for the quick thinking of the crew on the set of Suicide Squad, in which Robbie plays the role of Harley Quinn.

Robbie, who was rumored to have a role in the new Pirates of the Caribbean film–replacing the arch and character of Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow–rose to super-stardom for her role as Barbie in the 2023 film by the same name. But before she was Barbie, Robbie was Harley Quinn in the 2016 film Suicide Squad.

Related: Disney Still Refuses to Apologize to Johnny Depp, But He’s Already Gotten the Last Word, Brilliantly

During the filming of a particularly intense scene in Suicide Squad, Robbie was handcuffed and trapped inside a car submerged in water. Though the scene was to be fictional in nature, things got very real–and scary–when Robbie began to struggle to free herself from the submerged vehicle.

According to MSN, adrenaline levels among the cast and crew rose as the water levels rose. Thankfully, the crew’s quick thinking and “swift intervention” ultimately saved the day, helping to free the trapped actress.

As far as Robbie’s role in Disney’s sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film, the Mouse House’s plans for the film remain up in the air following allegations made by Johnny Depp’s ex-wife, Amber Heard, of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Though Depp was found not guilty by a jury of his peers during a defamation trial in 2022 that was initially brought by the Edward Scissorhands actor, Disney has refused to apologize to Depp for cutting ties with him prematurely, and the studio has yet to issue a firm answer to the question, “Will there ever be a Pirates 6 film?”

Orlando Bloom Nearly Swallowed Up By Middle Earth

English actor Orlando Bloom, who played the part of Will Turner, Jr., in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise opposite Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, is no stranger to injuries and near-misses on the sets of his many film projects.

During the filming of Peter Jackson’s adapted films from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series, Bloom reportedly suffered numerous injuries and accidents. But one of those accidents likely left Bloom with flashes of his life playing out before his eyes.

In one particular incident, Orlando Bloom, who played the part of Legolas in the films, proved he wasn’t quite as graceful as he might have thought. While attempting to traverse a giant rock that was slick from the rain, Bloom fell, and–according to those who witnessed the fall–he only “narrowly” avoided a life-changing tragedy.

Though his gracefulness failed him, however, Bloom managed to compose himself and continue on his quest as Middle Earth’s most notable elf.

While on location filming The Two Towers, Bloom broke multiple ribs after he was thrown off a horse that was being used in the film.

But for Orlando Bloom, on-set injuries are reportedly a part of the job. (Either that or the acclaimed actor is simply prone to injury.) Bloom, who has played numerous roles in films over the years, has reportedly broken “almost every bone in his body,” in part because of his long-spanning acting career, which began when he was just a child.

Johnny Depp Narrowly Misses Being Trampled to Death

If there’s a role that Johnny Depp can’t play well, neither Hollywood nor Depp’s fans have seen it.

Johnny Depp’s career spans more than four decades, and in that time, he has become known for his many talents and abilities, not the least of which is his prowess in fully embodying each of the roles he plays. Depp quickly rose to fame following his prolific performance in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands in 1990, and his path to stardom was clear from that point.

Related: Real-Life Edward Scissorhands Terrorizes Texas Neighborhood

Depp is beloved for his acting abilities, his affinity for embracing vastly different types of characters, his generosity and benevolence toward children fighting chronic illnesses in the hospital, and, if we’re honest, his undeniable good looks. (Just take a look at these ads for Dior’s Sauvage fragrance for men!)

Related: Johnny Depp’s Most Prolific Role Is One You Likely Never Knew He Played

He has played the role of an odd outsider with blades for hands and a massive talent for manicuring topiaries, the role of a scurvy pirate whose first love flows from a bottle, an eccentric hatter who’s allegedly always “mad,” and a famous candy maker with zero patience for rude and ungrateful children.

Related: Actor Keanu Reeves Takes Iconic Role From Johnny Depp in Multi-Billion-Dollar Franchise

And that’s just the tip of Depp’s acting iceberg.

But with multiple roles come multiple opportunities for slip-ups, accidents, and even the occasional brush with demise.

During the filming of Disney’s The Lone Ranger (2013), which stars Johnny Depp as Tonto, the ever-talented actor mounted a horse and began riding alongside his fellow castmate as the cameras rolled. Suddenly, however, Depp was thrown from the horse and was nearly trampled.

According to eyewitness accounts, Depp only narrowly dodged the giant animal’s hooves.

In footage of the scary incident (seen below), Depp can be seen as he is thrown from the horse and then only narrowly misses being trampled by the animal–or so the crew thinks. But when medics on the set rush to the then-50-year-old Depp, they discover that he was, in fact, stepped on by the horse, as he already has a hoof-shaped bruise on his chest.

Moments later, however, Depp can be seen standing up and talking with the cast and crew.

“The positive thing is, my coccyx [tailbone] didn’t take it,” Depp says with a wide smile across his face.

Related: Actor Johnny Depp Lands Role That Pays Him $10,000 For Every Word He Speaks

Thankfully, he was able to get back up, dust off his clothing, straighten his pride, and walk away to face and film another day.

Accidents and Near-Misses Across Hollywood

Injuries, accidents, and brushes with certain demise are reserved solely for actors and actresses affiliated with Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

During the filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, actor Harrison Ford reprised his decades-long iconic role as Han Solo. During one particular scene, a hydraulic door from the Millennium Falcon fell on Ford, breaking the actor’s leg. But Ford, ever the on-screen and off-screen legend, seemingly shook it off, returning to the set to continue filming in short time.

Michael J. Fox began his acting career in his teens, but he’s best known for his role as Marty McFly in Universal Pictures’ Back to the Future film series.

In a particularly realistic-looking scene centered around a hanging, Fox reportedly “misjudged” the prop and began to choke.

Thankfully, a keenly aware crew member noticed Fox struggling and immediately realized that his choking wasn’t the result of the actor’s stellar abilities. Had it not been for the quick thinking of that crew member, McFly’s incredible tales of time travel might have become a terribly tragic reality.

Actor Tom Cruise had his own brush with potential doom during the filming of Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018).

Though he’s certainly no stranger to the dangers of filming action/adventure films, a misstep during the movie’s production rendered Cruise unable to walk without some type of assistive device, even if only for a short time.

During a stunt in which Cruise had to jump between two large buildings, the iconic actor had a snafu and broke his ankle. But, being Tom Cruise, he finished filming the scene before he finally “hobbled” off the set to seek medical attention.

The accident, as well as Cruise’s reaction to seeing footage of the day’s events, can be seen here:

The accident halted production of the sixth installment in the Mission Impossible film franchise.

“I was chasing [co-star Henry Cavill] and was meant to hit the side of the wall and pull myself over, but the mistake was my foot hitting the wall,” Cruise explained during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. “I knew instantly my ankle was broken, and I really didn’t want to do it again, so I just got up and carried on with the take. I said, ‘It’s broken. That’s a wrap. Take me to hospital,’ and then everyone got on the phone and made their vacation arrangement.”

That in itself seems quite the impossible mission to match by most people.

Acting: A Risky Business With a Massive Payout For Actors and Their Fans

It’s no secret that acting–though a usually very well-paying job–comes with risks of all kinds, including the risk of falling, being thrown from a horse, breaking bones, or worse. But by and large, some of the most successful and prolific actors and actresses in Hollywood seem to be able to take those risks, as well as the bumps and bruises along the way, in stride.

The end result is often a blockbuster film that makes its way to the top of our list of the best movies of all time.