Cotton is a supporting character in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
He was portrayed by the late David Bailie.
Biography[]
The Curse of the Black Pearl[]
Cotton first appears as part of a motley crew when Jack Sparrow tries speaking to him but gets no response. Joshamee Gibbs explains that Cotton is mute because his tongue was cut out, and he uses his pet parrot to communicate. Jack and the crew board the HMS Interceptor, and while at sea, Cotton helps sail through a storm as they journey to Isla de Muerta. Upon arrival, Jack Sparrow and Will Turner venture ashore alone. During a battle between the Interceptor and the Black Pearl, Cotton loads cannons with anything available aboard the ship to fight back against the Pearl. Although Cotton survives the encounter, he is captured alongside the rest of the crew. Elizabeth Swann eventually frees him and the others, but they initially refuse to aid in rescuing Jack. However, the crew later rallies to save Jack from the gallows.
Dead Man's Chest[]
Years later, Jack ordered the motley crew to search for land to evade the Kraken, which was under Davy Jones' command. The Black Pearl eventually reached Pelegostos, where the crew was captured and held in bony cages by a cannibalistic tribe. Cotton, along with other crew members, managed to escape with Will Turner's help. During their escape, Cotton's parrot returned to him as the crew fled Pelegostos, aided by Pintel and Ragetti.
Later, Cotton joined Jack's quest aboard the Flying Dutchman to find the Dead Man's Chest. The crew sought guidance from Tia Dalma at her shack and encountered an offer from Davy Jones. The journey brought them to Tortuga, where Jack attempted to settle his debt with Jones. This led to a confrontation involving James Norrington, who later joined the crew. After surviving the events at Isla Cruces, Cotton took part in the battle against the Kraken, during which Jack sacrificed himself to save the crew, leaving Cotton as one of the Pearl's few survivors.
Back at Tia Dalma's shack, Cotton's parrot relayed a message urging the crew to journey to World's End to rescue Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' Locker.
At World's End[]
Cotton and the rest of Jack's crew arrive in Singapore, with plans to steal the Mao Kun Map, acquire a new ship, and gather a crew. While Cotton’s parrot stays with Tia Dalma on the streets of Singapore, Cotton and the crew make their way to Sao Feng's bathhouse. After neutralizing a boiler room attendant and tying up one of his assistants, Cotton takes control of the steam valves. Soon, a large group of East India Trading Company (EITC) soldiers, led by Ian Mercer, arrives to ambush them. The crew manages to escape, boarding the new ship, the Hai Peng.
Onboard the Hai Peng, Cotton and the crew sail to World's End and eventually arrive at Davy Jones' Locker, where they find the Black Pearl atop a mountaintop, carried by crabs under Tia Dalma's command. They reunite with Jack Sparrow, who resumes his role as captain. After escaping Davy Jones' Locker, the crew reaches an island where they learn the Kraken has been killed. During a mutiny on the island, Cotton is held hostage. As Sao Feng spots the Empress in the distance, he, Tai Huang, and his men board the ship. When Jack asks when someone will come to rescue him, Cotton raises his hand in agreement. He later attends the Brethren Court meeting with the rest of Jack’s crew.
When the EITC ships arrive, Cotton’s parrot flies off to scout the fleet's size. Cotton then participates in the battle at the maelstrom, staying aboard the Pearl as it sails through the fight. During the battle, Cotton fights against some of Davy Jones’ crew, takes the helm, and crashes the ship into another. Despite the crash, Cotton survives, as does his parrot, who reunites with him after Davy Jones is defeated. With Davy Jones vanquished, the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchmanfire their cannons at the HMS Endeavour, destroying it. Cotton and the crew celebrate their freedom from the EITC. Cotton later continues as a crewman, now under Captain Barbossa’s command.
On Stranger Tides[]
Although Cotton doesn't physically appear, Barbossa mentions that the Black Pearl and nearly everyone aboard were believed to have perished. However, it's later revealed that the Pearl was actually shrunk and placed inside a bottle. Cotton's parrot is shown to be alive, though it's unclear whether Cotton himself was killed during the attack on the Pearlbefore it was shrunk or if he somehow survived.
[]
 Heroes
| ||
|
Black Pearl Turner/Swann Family Others | ||