Johnny Depp 'fired shotgun blanks' at assistant during wild prank, reveals Don Johnson

WOODY CREEK, COLORADO: Actor Don Johnson recently claimed that Johnny Depp once "fired shotgun blanks" at a frightened assistant in a bold prank.

During his appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on November 7, Johnson, 74, shared details of the wild incident, setting the scene in Woody Creek, Colorado, where he had been journalist Hunter S Thompson's neighbor.

Don Johnson recalls hilarious prank involving Johnny Depp and Hunter Thompson

Johnny Depp’s friendship with Hunter Thompson began in 1994, a connection that later led to Depp portraying Thompson in the 1998 film adaptation of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.'

During the 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' show, Don Johnson recounted a memorable encounter, saying, "I called over to Hunter’s to see if he had any weed, and, of course, he had. Like a ton out back."

Johnson explained that he asked his assistant to pick up the weed.

"[He] drives up Hunter’s driveway," Johnson continued, "and Johnny Depp and Hunter were hiding behind Hunter’s car with shotguns loaded with blanks and my assistant got out of the car and they both jumped out and said, 'Die, mother!' before shooting the blanks."

The prank understandably left Johnson’s assistant terrified, and as Johnson added humorously, “God bless him,” the poor assistant even "peed his pants."

Johnny Depp and Don Johnson's bond with Hunter S Thompson

Don Johnson and Hunter Thompson’s friendship spanned three decades, until Thompson’s tragic death in 2005.

Reflecting on their friendship, Johnson reportedly shared with People, “I loved him. I learned so much from him.”

The two first met during "the Andy Warhol days" when Johnson was filming his first movie in New York, as per Daily Mail. 

“He was the crazy mrfr that came in with a pocket full of drugs, and our movie was about drugs,” Johnson recalled. Later, Thompson became Johnson’s neighbor in Colorado.

"For the next 25 years, if I was away and I had a sick animal or something like that, he'd come over and sleep in the stall with my animal and nurse them back to health."

Depp’s bond with Thompson went beyond friendship. In addition to portraying Thompson’s characters in 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' and 'The Rum Diary', Depp helped fulfill Thompson's final wish.

After Thompson took his own life in his Colorado home on February 20, 2005, Depp financially supported Thompson’s family to carry out his wish, having his ashes fired out of a cannon.

Reflecting on this act, Depp shared, “We had talked a couple of times about his last wishes to be shot out of a cannon of his own design. All I’m doing is trying to make sure his last wish comes true. I just want to send my pal out the way he wants to go out.”

Hunter S Thompson was a defining figure in journalism, known for pioneering "gonzo journalism," a style where the writer becomes part of the story. His reports were often fueled by his manic and unfiltered perspectives, particularly on political figures.