Johnny Depp named honorary member of the Comanche tribe
Hollywood actor Johnny Depp will be playing the role of Barnabas Collins, popularized by Jonathan Frid in the popular soap opera “Dark Shadows.” Frid passed away on April 13, 2012, less than a month before the release of the silver screen remake of “Dark Shadows.”
Johnny Depp is an honorary member of the Comanche tribe.
Tribe member LaDonna Harris presented Depp with a proclamation of membership at her Albuquerque, New Mexico home on May 16, the Associated Press reported.
She said the tribal tradition means she now considers Depp her son. Harris told the AP, Depp seemed humbled.
“I reached out, and Johnny was very receptive to the idea," Harris told the website Indian Country. He seemed proud to receive the invitation, and we were honored that he so enthusiastically agreed.”
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“Welcoming Johnny into the family in the traditional way was so fitting,” Harris said. “He’s a very thoughtful human being, and throughout his life and career, he has exhibited traits that are aligned with the values and worldview that Indigenous peoples share.”
The Hollywood actor's adoption into a Native American family comes as Deep shoots the film adaptation of "The Lone Ranger" in New Mexico, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
He plays "Ranger," a Native American sidekick Tonto.
The Comanche Nation is based in Lawton, Okla. About half of its 15,000 members live in southwestern Oklahoma.
Depp identifies as part Native American, according to the AP.