"Wes Craven was the guy who gave me my start, from my perspective, for almost no reason in particular. He was a good man - so rest in peace, old Wes," Depp said.
Depp, 52, was taking audience questions at Toronto International Film Festival following a screening of his latest film, the Whitey Bulger biopic "Black Mass".
In discussing being cast in "A Nightmare on Elm Street", Depp explained that it was actually Craven's daughter, Jessica Craven, who handpicked the actor for the lead role.
Depp said that at the time of the audition, he was more focused on music than acting.
"I was a musician. I wasn't really acting. It was not anything very near to my brain or my heart, which is pretty much how it remains to this day.