Don Johnson
Acting • Born 1949-12-15
Biography
Donald Wayne Johnson (born December 15, 1949) is an American actor, producer, director, singer, and songwriter. He's best known for his role as Det. James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s television series Miami Vice, winning a Golden Globe for his work in the role. In 1984, after more then a decade of acting on television, Johnson landed a starring role as undercover police detective Sonny Crockett in the Michael Mann/Universal Television cop series, Miami Vice (1984-1990). Miami Vice made him "a major international star." According to Rolling Stone, "No one had more swagger in the Reagan era than Don Johnson." His work on Miami Vice earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama, in 1986, and he was nominated for the same award in 1987. He was also nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1985. Between seasons on Miami Vice, he gained further renown through TV miniseries such as the 1985 remake of The Long, Hot Summer. In 1996, he had a supporting role in Tin Cup, along with Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, and Cheech Marin. Johnson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996. He later starred in the 1996–2001 CBS-TV police drama Nash Bridges with Cheech Marin, Jeff Perry, Jaime P. Gomez, Kelly Hu, Wendy Moniz, Annette O'Toole, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as his daughter Cassidy, and James Gammon as his father Nick. In October 2010, he began appearing on the HBO series Eastbound & Down, playing Kenny Powers' long-lost father, going by the alias "Eduardo Sanchez." He also reprised his role as Sonny Crockett for a Nike commercial with LeBron James in which the NBA player contemplates acting and appears alongside Johnson on Miami Vice. He had a supporting role in the 2012 Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained, playing a southern plantation owner named Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett. In 2014, Johnson starred as the character "Jim Bob" opposite Sam Shepard and Michael C. Hall in Jim Mickle's critically acclaimed crime film, Cold in July. In 2014, he had a supporting role in the film The Other Woman as Cameron Diaz's character's father. In 2015, Johnson began starring in the ABC prime time soap opera Blood & Oil. In 2018, he starred as the character of Arthur, the love interest of Vivian, played by Jane Fonda in Bill Holderman's romantic-comedy Book Club. In 2019, Johnson played the role of Richard Drysdale in Rian Johnson's murder-mystery Knives Out; and starred as Police Chief Judd Crawford in the HBO series Watchmen. In 2021, he co-starred on Kenan, until its cancellation in May 2022. He also appeared in a Nash Bridges television film, with co-star Cheech Marin, on the USA Network in 2021.
Filmography
124 credits
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
Movie • 1991
Robert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro Man
Tin Cup
Movie • 1996
David Simms
The Harrad Experiment
Movie • 1973
Stanley Cole
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
Movie • 1988
Self
A Boy and His Dog
Movie • 1975
Vic
Dead Bang
Movie • 1989
Jerry Beck
Guilty as Sin
Movie • 1993
David Greenhill
Long Flat Balls II
Movie • 2008
Admiral Burnett
Machete
Movie • 2010
Von Jackson
Moondance Alexander
Movie • 2007
Dante
Return to Macon County
Movie • 1975
Harley McKay
Nash Bridges
Movie • 2021
Nash Bridges
The Hot Spot
Movie • 1990
Harry Madox
Larry presents: Best of The 80s
Movie • 2004
Self
Born Yesterday
Movie • 1993
Paul Verrall
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Movie • 2011
Miles Deep
Paradise
Movie • 1991
Ben Reed
Django Unchained
Movie • 2012
Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett
Goodbye Lover
Movie • 1999
Ben Dunmore
Sweet Hearts Dance
Movie • 1988
Wiley Boon
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
Movie • 2001
Self (archive footage)
WWE: DX: One Last Stand
Movie • 2011
Self (archive footage)
Melanie
Movie • 1982
Carl
Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.
Movie • 1981
Jacob Gorch
Torno a vivere da solo
Movie • 2008
Nico
Revenge of the Stepford Wives
Movie • 1980
Officer Andy Brady
In Pursuit of Honor
Movie • 1995
Sgt. John Libbey
Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes
Movie • 1988
Self
Unit 234
Movie • 2024
Jules
The Other Woman
Movie • 2014
Frank
The City
Movie • 1977
Sgt. Brian Scott
Cease Fire
Movie • 1985
Tim Murphy
Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold
Movie • 1978
Gunther
Book Club: The Next Chapter
Movie • 2023
Arthur
Cold in July
Movie • 2014
Jim Bob
Alex of Venice
Movie • 2015
Roger
First, You Cry
Movie • 1978
Daniel Easton
Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper
Movie • 1984
Det. James “Sonny” Crockett
Cover Girls
Movie • 1977
Johnny Wilson
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Movie • 1981
Elvis Presley
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Movie • 2002
Self
The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart
Movie • 1970
Stanley Sweetheart
High Heat
Movie • 2022
Ray
The Two-Five
Movie • 1978
Charlie Morgan
Heartbeat
Movie • 1987
Documentary Filmmaker
The Two Lives of Carol Letner
Movie • 1981
Bob Howard
Zachariah
Movie • 1971
Matthew
Prachtig 80: Volume 2
Movie • 2003
Self
The Collective
Movie • 2023
Liam
Seriously... Phil Collins
Movie • 1990
Self
Law of the Land
Movie • 1976
Quirt
Encore
Movie
Ski Lift to Death
Movie • 1978
Mike Sloan
Word of Honor
Movie • 2003
Benjamin Tyson
Blood of 1000 Virgins
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
Brawl in Cell Block 99
Movie • 2017
Warden Tuggs
Vengeance: A Love Story
Movie • 2017
Jay Kirkpatrick
Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill
Movie • 1979
Cowboy
Dragged Across Concrete
Movie • 2019
Chief Lt. Calvert
Book Club
Movie • 2018
Arthur
Live Aid
Movie • 1985
Self
Lollipops and Roses
Movie • 1971
Frank
Knives Out
Movie • 2019
Richard Drysdale
Bastardi
Movie • 2008
Sante Patene
Vault
Movie • 2019
Gerry
G.I. Joe: The Movie
Movie • 1987
Lt. Falcon (voice)
When in Rome
Movie • 2010
Beth's Dad
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy
Movie • 2011
Jerry Keppler (uncredited)
Pennis from Heaven
Movie • 2005
Self
Rebel Ridge
Movie • 2024
Chief Sandy Burnne
A Little White Lie
Movie • 2023
T. Wasserman
The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland
Movie • 1992
Self - Host (US)
From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season
Movie • 2014
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
Movie • 1985
Nash Bridges
TV • 1996
Nash Bridges
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV • 2003
Self
Judging Amy
TV • 1999
Defense Attorney
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
TV • 2001
Self
Tales of the Unexpected
TV • 1979
Reeve Baker
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Off. Larry Wilson
Kenan
TV • 2021
Rick
Nashville 99
TV • 1977
Mike Watling
Just Legal
TV • 2005
Grant Cooper
Richard & Judy
TV • 2001
Self
MADtv
TV • 1995
Self
Eight Is Enough
TV • 1977
Doug
From Here to Eternity
TV • 1980
Jefferson 'Jeff' Davis Prewitt
Police Story
TV • 1973
Lee Morgan
Matt Houston
TV • 1982
Terry Spence
Glenn Martin, DDS
TV • 2009
Grandpa Whitey (voice)
Beulah Land
TV • 1980
Bonard Davis
Big Hawaii
TV • 1977
Gandy
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
TV • 1977
Edgar
Miami Vice
TV • 1984
James 'Sonny' Crockett
From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series
TV • 2014
Earl McGraw
The Long Hot Summer
TV • 1985
Ben Quick
Blood & Oil
TV • 2015
Hap Briggs
Late Night with Seth Meyers
TV • 2014
Self
A Series of Unfortunate Events
TV • 2017
Sir
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
Sick Note
TV • 2017
Kenny West
Home Movie: The Princess Bride
TV • 2020
Prince Humperdinck
Eastbound & Down
TV • 2009
Eduardo Sanchez
TripTank
TV • 2014
Johnny Bahama (voice)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
TV • 2009
Self - Guest
Raw
TV • 1993
Self
Doctor Odyssey
TV • 2024
Captain Robert Massey
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Classic Albums
TV • 1997
Self (archive footage)
Champs-Elysées
TV • 1982
Self
The Graham Norton Show
TV • 2007
Self - Guest
Watchmen
TV • 2019
Judd Crawford
Conan
TV • 2010
Self
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self (uncredited)
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Nominee
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Wayne Lockwood
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
TV • 2014
Self - Guest
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV • 1988
Self - Guest
Clive James' Postcard from
TV • 1989
Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self - Guest
People's Choice Awards
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self (uncredited)
The Rebels
TV • 1979
Judson Fletcher