In a previous Make-A-Wish video, Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow and addressed a young boy by saying, “I am your No. 1 admirer, Capt. Kori. ”.

 

A dear fan is bid farewell by Johnny Depp.

The 60-year-old actor paid a moving tribute to the late 11-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean fan Kori Stovell on Tuesday. Kori was born with a heart condition and was receiving hospice care after two heart transplant attempts failed.

You did us a great honor by giving us your life, so continue sailing, my fellow captain. With your courage and determination to smile despite everything, you humbled and astounded us,” Depp wrote on Instagram alongside a black and white video of Kori.

Depp had previously given the youngster the name “Captain Kori” during one of their Make-A-Wish Foundation video conversations in December. He had also made a special video for the 11-year-old and posted it to his YouTube channel, “Kraken The Box.”. ”.

The actor continued in his post this week, “You’ve shown every one of us how to stay ahead of the curve with grace, humor, an incomprehensible understanding, and unparalleled dignity.

We will meet again on the highest of seas, mate. All my love and respect to you and your family always!!! X JD,” Depp said in his closing statement.

According to a source close to the actor, Make-A-Wish got in touch with him in December with “a timely ask” because Kori was receiving hospice care. Depp wished the child well in the video while dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, the movie’s main character.

“Good luck to you,” I said. Your No. 1 is me. one fan, Capt. Kori,” he uttered in the video.

When the Pirates of the Caribbean movies first came out, Kori was a “massive” Jack Sparrow fan who frequently watched them “during his multiple heart surgeries and subsequent recovery periods,” a source said at the time.

The young Pirates fan was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which meant that his heart’s left side was underdeveloped at birth. He received two heart transplants, in 2018 and 2020, according to the BBC, but both of the organs were rejected by his body.

Pixi, the boy’s mother, declared that her family is “broken beyond belief at a loss. ”.

She had shared an emotional video on Sunday, shortly after Kori had passed away, saying that he had “gone fairly peacefully” and had left with his “captain’s hat beside his bed and he has a pirate flag over him.”.

She continued, “I would like to thank everyone who has supported Kori and followed his journey.
We ask that people think of him now that he has embarked on his greatest adventure so far.
He was humbled and overjoyed at so many things in life. ”.