The American police procedural television series 21 Jump Street ran from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes airing on the Fox network and in first-run syndication. The show follows a group of undercover cops who seem young as they investigate crimes in schools frequented by teenagers. [1] Jump Street Chapel was intended to be the show’s name because that’s where the unit’s offices are located (a deconsecrated church), but Fox asked that the name be changed.
Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Officer Tom Hanson in the 1980s TV series “21 Jump Street” was a huge hit with viewers. Although the actor left the program before the fifth and final season aired, he had a brief, uncredited cameo appearance in the smash hit 2012 film adaptation of the series, which starred Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.
Hanson and his original show partner, Officer Doug Penhall (Peter DeLuise), identify themselves as undercover DEA operatives investigating a cocaine enterprise in a scene that is both comical and tragic. Before Hanson and Penhall are killed in a shootout, Hill and Tatum’s characters have a chance to bond with him through their shared knowledge of the Jump Street enterprise. In their final moments together, the two friends make a humorous declaration of their unwavering friendship.
Fans of the original series will appreciate the surprise cameo appearance of both Depp and DeLuise. However, what fans might not realize is that Depp returned subject to one very specific condition.
Who Was Officer Tom Hanson on 21 Jump Street?
Tom Hanson finally achieved his lifelong goal of becoming a police officer despite his struggles in high school and the police academy. In the wake of his father’s death in the line of duty, Tom decided to follow in his footsteps and become a police officer. He hoped to right the wrong of his father’s murder and aid the disadvantaged. Tom, a teenage police officer, saw his girlfriend, Amy Pearson, murdered during a robbery of a convenience store in Season 2, Episode 16 (“Orpheus 3.3”). This was traumatic enough for Tom, who had already lost his father.
Tom’s experience with Jump Street was rocky, to say the least. It was obvious that his sergeant, Judy Hoffs, did not care for him, and that this was the real reason for his demotion to the filing staff rather than his irresponsible behavior. Tom’s difficulties on 21 Jump Street nearly caused him to give up on the police department. He was given fewer and fewer missions throughout Season 3, and then suddenly disappeared at the end of Season 4.
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Why Johnny Depp Left 21 Jump Street
Johnny Depp lost interest in 21 Jump Street by the start of its third season, despite the show’s popularity. A can of soup with lots of action, as the actor put it in an interview with The Insider in 1989.
After a meeting with filmmaker Tim Burton, with whom he worked again on Edward Scissorhands after Tom Cruise’s departure, Depp was insistent about leaving 21 Jump Street to pursue other creative opportunities. Depp wanted to leave so badly that he tried to get himself fired several times. A report from The Telegraph claims that Depp deliberately damaged his trailer before being fired.
Even though Brie Larson didn’t remember him, Johnny Depp did return to the part of Tom Hanson in the eponymous 2012 film version. Peter DeLuise, whose character Doug Penhall was retconned in the movie 21 Jump Street, appears in the film with Depp. The movie did explain Tom’s absence from the show by showing that he had transferred to the DEA, thereby ending the mystery. Having lost the actor, the 22 Jump Street crossover concept was scrapped. After so many years, at least Tom’s fate was revealed to the TV show’s audience.
The Untold Truth Of Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has had a career spanning more than 30 years, and throughout that time he has portrayed a wide variety of eccentric characters. This is in part due to his longstanding partnership with eccentric director Tim Burton, which has seen him play such roles as Willy Wonka and Sweeney Todd.
Happy 56th birthday to actor Johnny Depp. In the '80s Depp rose to prominence on the tv series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol. He is now regarded as one of the world's biggest film stars. #80s #80stv #80smovies pic.twitter.com/ohA7VtyQel
— LandOfThe80s (@landofthe80s) June 9, 2019
He is a master of his art, despite his troubled history with fame, and a fascinating human being to boot. There is no shortage of exaggerated tales about Depp that have circulated over the years, yet they only scratch the surface. After all this time in the spotlight, there is still a lot that hasn’t been covered. We dug deep into those accounts to bring you Johnny Depp’s whole, unvarnished story.