The Time Johnny Depp Played a Hilarious “Fart Machine” Prank on Marlon Brando

Johnny Depp once pulled off one of the strangest pranks in Hollywood history, targeting none other than Marlon Brando.

The story comes from Depp himself, shared in his introduction to Christie’s The Personal Property of Marlon Brando in 2005. He recalled a side of Brando that hardly matched his serious on-screen image.

“Of all levels of connection, the most consistent was humour. Humour, often meaning practical jokes,” Depp wrote. “There was no one more gifted in this arena or as skilled a craftsman as Marlon.”

Depp added that Brando had a childlike sense of humor. “I once asked him why it was that farts were always funny. He replied, ‘Because they are blatantly anti-social.’”

The prank began when Brando contacted Depp about a small role in a film set in Ireland. He told Depp not to overthink it; he would play a journalist from Rolling Stone. Depp saw this as a chance to get back at Brando after years of being on the receiving end of his practical jokes.

Depp showed up at Brando’s house for dinner, secretly carrying a small rubber device that could produce realistic fart noises.

Over the course of the evening, he pressed the device at random moments, pretending it was his own doing. Brando tried to remain polite, but the sounds eventually made him laugh uncontrollably.

“I kept him going for a good half-hour and only let up when his laughter turned to an expression of worry and he was reaching for the phone to get a doctor,” Depp said. “‘Ah…that’s not normal, John, you’re not well. You’re ripping about three beauties a minute and…ah that’s just not right.’”

Eventually, Depp revealed the fart machine as the source of the noises. Brando’s reaction was priceless. “I’ve found God!” the actor reportedly exclaimed, and the prank became a source of amusement for years. Depp even gave Brando the device as a gift.

Once the joke was over, Brando returned to business, explaining that filming would begin on Monday and that Depp would need to meet the director the next day. Then Brando revealed another trick: Depp’s character was supposed to have a Dublin accent.

“I, officially, now had less than a day and a half to come up with a decent Irish accent before 5am Monday,” Depp recalled. “Marlon nearly split himself in two, laughing. He’d been planning this rotten trick for months.”

The story highlights not just Depp’s playful side, but also Brando’s mischievous humor. It’s a rare glimpse at the lighter moments behind Hollywood legends and shows that even the most serious actors can have a surprisingly fun side.

What do you think about this prank? Could you imagine pulling something like this on a friend? Share your thoughts in the comments.