Corey Feldman claims Johnny Depp had him fired from ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’, believing he was “a junkie”

The Goonies actor also says he was up for the part of Jack in Titanic The post Corey Feldman claims Johnny Depp had him fired from ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’, believing he was “a junkie” appeared first on NME.

Mar 28, 2025 - 13:00

Corey Feldman claims Johnny Depp had him fired from ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’, believing he was “a junkie”

Corey Feldman Johnny Depp

Corey Feldman has claimed he was fired from ‘90s drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape after star Johnny Depp told a producer he was “a junkie”.

The 1993 film starred Depp as a grocery store clerk, trying his best to care for his family which included a housebound mother, and a younger brother with learning difficulties, played by a young Leonardo DiCaprio.

The performance earned DiCaprio an Oscar nomination and was his breakthrough role, but Feldman claims he was originally cast as the character before Depp intervened. Feldman was already a star at that point, famous for his appearances in ‘80s hits The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and Stand By Me.

Speaking on podcast The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan, he was asked about the incident. “I never saw the film because I’m still bitter,” Feldman told Corgan. “Bitter leaf in that one. But yes, I was originally cast for that role”.

He continued: “Johnny Depp… was cast after I was, and apparently whispered into the producer’s ear that he wasn’t fond of me. He said I was a junkie and that he didn’t work with junkies. This is the first time I’m ever telling this story, so I’m sure I’m gonna get hung by this one”.

While he has battled addiction, he insists he was sober at the time. “I had just gotten out of rehab,” he recalled. “I had turned my life around. In fact, was trying to help River (Phoenix) at the time, who (Depp) was running with at the time, as we all know”. Phoenix died in October 1993 of a drug overdose outside LA club The Viper Room, partly owned by Depp.

That wasn’t the only famous role Feldman claims to have been up for. “Ironically, just a couple years later, I also was up for Titanic,” he said. “So, there was kind of a double banger with Leo. But that was OK, because that one I wasn’t as close. I was up for it, I read for it, I know that I was in the contention somewhere”.

He also talks about auditioning for the part of Samwise Gamgee in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, eventually played by Goonies castmate Sean Astin. “I couldn’t have gained the weight (for the role),” he said. “So, I’ll give him that. He did a great job aesthetically. Because to add that weight, it’s something I cannot physically do”.

This week, Johnny Depp appeared alongside Bruce Springsteen, Flea, Karen O and more at an all-star tribute to Patti Smith in New York.

The post Corey Feldman claims Johnny Depp had him fired from ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’, believing he was “a junkie” appeared first on NME.