Johnny Depp was at the Toronto International Film Festival promoting his upcoming gangster film Black Mass the other day and did a rare public Q&A. During that time, he was asked by a fan for his thoughts on the passing of Wes Craven, who passed away a few weeks ago at the age of 76 due to brain cancer.

Depp’s reply, courtesy of Variety:

Wes Craven was the guy who gave me my start, from my perspective, for almost no reason in particular. I read scenes with his daughter when I auditioned for the part. At the time, 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. But Wes Craven was brave enough to give me the gig based on his daughter’s opinion. I guess she had read with a bunch of actors, and after the casting sessions, she said, ‘No, that’s the guy.’ I always think of her for putting me in this mess, and certainly Wes Craven for being very brave to give me this gig. But he was a good man — so rest in peace, old Wes.

Depp played “Glen Lantz”, Nancy’s boyfriend in A Nightmare on Elm Street, which was his first acting role. His death is considered to be one of the most memorable Freddy kills in the entire franchise.