David Heard Was an Actor - More about Amber Heard's Father

David Heard is Amber Heard's father, who was an actor and a businessman. Although there was some controversial news about David, his daughter always claimed she loved him.

When Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's defamation trial began, people around the world tuned in to their story's progress.

Many also began taking an interest in "The Rum Diary" star's personal life and background, including her family members. Her father, David Heard, was also in the entertainment business as an actor.

Who Is David Heard?

Born on May 5, 1950, in Dallas, Texas, David Clinton Heard was an actor and a businessman. His time in the entertainment industry began in 2004 when he appeared in the television show "Overhaulin.'" He had two other on-screen credits in 2013, "Machete Kills" and "Syrup."

In his free time years before, David broke horses and had his daughter help. Amber already wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry at that time and tried joining beauty pageants. However, her father didn't support her hobbies. In an interview with Glamour, Amber said:

"I was his hunting and fishing buddy. When I was 12, I was struggling to stay on a bucking horse that was particularly unhappy about the arrangement. I spotted a little patch of grass, and I [leaped.]"

David said nothing that time, but the look on his face was enough to get the young Heard on the saddle again. David also worked in construction, owning a small construction company with migrant workers.

Amber would often tag along and cross the Mexican border. During her short trips, she would see kids on their bare feet, trying to make ends meet. It was then that she realized the simple privileges she had.

David's Family

On November 21, 1984, David married Paige Heard, the mother of his two children. His wife was a Midland-Texas native born on October 1, 1965. However, not much was known about her professional life.

David and Paige welcomed their first daughter, Amber, on April 22, 1986. The following year, they had another girl, Whitney Henriquez, on September 18. At the age of 17, Amber left her nest to follow her dreams of becoming an actress in New York City. Nevertheless, she always maintained a close relationship with her mother.

David's older daughter, Whitney, also pursued an acting career and brought to life the character Ugna in "Homo Erectus." The 2007 comedy starred Hayes MacArthur, Adam Rafkin, and Ali Larter. Besides her other on-screen appearances, Whitney appeared as Amber's younger sister in the "Johnny vs. Amber" documentary.

However, her career in show business did not become her primary path. Before the pandemic hit, she worked in the hospitality industry and did events. She also became a mother to Hunter Wylde and Hariln Willow, who she shares with her husband, Gavin Henriquez.

David's daughters have a close relationship despite choosing different paths in life. The "Aquaman" star previously called her sister her best friend and knew they would protect each other in any situation.

After their divorce, Amber revealed that she welcomed her own child, a daughter named Oonagh Paige, through a surrogate mother, making David a grandfather again.

Similarly, Amber shares a strong bond with her mother despite leaving the house young. Sadly, Paige passed away in May 2020. Her older daughter shared the devastating news on Instagram, alongside a lengthy post about her mother's kindness and beauty that radiated from inside.

She previously paid tribute to David on Father's Day as well as a way of honoring him on his special day. "Hope you'll see it in the next decade," she said regarding the post.

David's Struggles

Although their relationship may be stable now, David and Amber once had their ups and downs. During a court trial, the actress revealed that David was once violent in their household while struggling to manage his alcohol. She and her mother loved him nevertheless.

David also had problems with the law, including a 1980s arrest for animal cruelty. He reportedly ran an illegal dogfighting ring and was placed behind bars after pleading guilty. Interestingly, David referred to himself as an animal lover.

In 2019, David's name came to light when he made death threats to Johnny Depp, his former son-in-law. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star received several messages and calls from David after his separation from Amber.

David reportedly cursed at the actor and accused him of destroying Amber's Hollywood career as well as blackmailing her.

David's older daughter got engaged to Johnny Depp in 2014, two years after they started dating. They exchanged wedding vows in Los Angeles the following year and celebrated again in the Bahamas. Unfortunately, their union only lasted 15 months.

Amber filed for divorce and accused her then-husband of abuse. Although the "Sweeney Todd" star denied the allegations, he paid a hefty price of $7 million in the divorce settlement, with his former wife vowing to donate to the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the ACLU.

Unfortunately, during their defamation trial, Amber admitted to not having distributed the sum to the two organizations. The two Hollywood stars never had children during their relationship. At that time, Depp was already a father.

After their divorce, Amber revealed that she welcomed her own child, a daughter named Oonagh Paige, through a surrogate mother, making David a grandfather again. Oonagh often appears on her social media profile for fans to see.