Betty Sue Palmer – Johnny Depp’s Late Mother

Betty Sue Palmer

Betty Sue Palmer was the beloved mother of Hollywood actor, Johnny Depp. The star was very close to his mother who sadly passed away earlier this month.



Reports say, Betty Sue Palmer died on May 20th, following a battle with and an undisclosed illness, she was 81-years-old.

Through the years, we got used to watching Betty Sue Palmer who was a recurrent guest of the actor at various Hollywood functions. Like in 2004 when she accompanied her son to the Academy Awards when he was nominated for best actor for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Depp certainly took care of his mother –whose name is has tattooed inside a heart on his upper left arm –as he spent nearly $1 million on a 43-acre Kentucky farm for Palmer, according to ET. But Betty Sue Palmer didn’t only enjoy of his son’s perks, Depp was also on top of her health and spoke on several occasions about her teachings.

Betty Sue Palmer was born Betty Sue Wells on January 1935 in Prestonsburg, Floyd County, Kentucky. She came from a humble upbringing. Her famous son said once during an interview:

“My mother was raised in a shack, in the wilds of Appalachia, where the toilet was an outhouse,” She used to say she did the same things that her mom did – and her mom certainly didn’t know any better”

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She was married twice. Her second husband was Bob Palmer, whom she wedded after her divorce from John Christopher Depp I. Johnny was about 15 when his parents divorced. His mother’s second husband Bob, died around the year 2000.

Betty Sue Palmer was employed as a waitress when Johnny and his siblings were growing up. She is is survived by her four children, Johnny and his siblings, brother Danny and sisters, Christie and Debbie; and several grandchildren. Her death comes days before Johnny’s imminent divorce from second wife, Amber Heard.

Betty Sue Palmer first child is son, Daniel Depp, who was born November 14th, 1953, the son of Betty Sue Palmer who was adopted by by John Christopher Depp. He lives in California and owns a bookstore there.

Elisa Christie Depp-Dembrowski (husband Daniel) was born December 2nd, 1960 in Owensboro, Kentucky and is today married to a Dembrowski and has four children. She has worked as Johnny’s personal assistant. According to her LinkedIn, she is the president of Johnny’s film production company, Infinitum Nihil.

Deborah J. Depp was born May 10th, 1956, and still lives in Lexington where she is an elementary school teacher.

We send our condolences to Johnny Depp and the rest of Betty Sue Palmer’s family and friends.