Don Johnson

Don Johnson

Acting • Born 1949-12-15

Acting2Flat Creek, Missouri, USA

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

Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man

Movie • 1991

Robert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro Man

Tin Cup

Tin Cup

Movie • 1996

David Simms

The Harrad Experiment

The Harrad Experiment

Movie • 1973

Stanley Cole

Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show

Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show

Movie • 1988

Self

A Boy and His Dog

A Boy and His Dog

Movie • 1975

Vic

Dead Bang

Dead Bang

Movie • 1989

Jerry Beck

Guilty as Sin

Guilty as Sin

Movie • 1993

David Greenhill

Long Flat Balls II

Long Flat Balls II

Movie • 2008

Admiral Burnett

Machete

Machete

Movie • 2010

Von Jackson

Moondance Alexander

Moondance Alexander

Movie • 2007

Dante

Return to Macon County

Return to Macon County

Movie • 1975

Harley McKay

Nash Bridges

Nash Bridges

Movie • 2021

Nash Bridges

The Hot Spot

The Hot Spot

Movie • 1990

Harry Madox

Larry presents: Best of The 80s

Larry presents: Best of The 80s

Movie • 2004

Self

Born Yesterday

Born Yesterday

Movie • 1993

Paul Verrall

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star

Movie • 2011

Miles Deep

Paradise

Paradise

Movie • 1991

Ben Reed

Django Unchained

Django Unchained

Movie • 2012

Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett

Goodbye Lover

Goodbye Lover

Movie • 1999

Ben Dunmore

Sweet Hearts Dance

Sweet Hearts Dance

Movie • 1988

Wiley Boon

Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy

Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy

Movie • 2001

Self (archive footage)

WWE: DX: One Last Stand

WWE: DX: One Last Stand

Movie • 2011

Self (archive footage)

Melanie

Melanie

Movie • 1982

Carl

Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.

Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.

Movie • 1981

Jacob Gorch

Torno a vivere da solo

Torno a vivere da solo

Movie • 2008

Nico

Revenge of the Stepford Wives

Revenge of the Stepford Wives

Movie • 1980

Officer Andy Brady

In Pursuit of Honor

In Pursuit of Honor

Movie • 1995

Sgt. John Libbey

Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes

Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes

Movie • 1988

Self

Unit 234

Unit 234

Movie • 2024

Jules

The Other Woman

The Other Woman

Movie • 2014

Frank

The City

The City

Movie • 1977

Sgt. Brian Scott

Cease Fire

Cease Fire

Movie • 1985

Tim Murphy

Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold

Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold

Movie • 1978

Gunther

Book Club: The Next Chapter

Book Club: The Next Chapter

Movie • 2023

Arthur

Cold in July

Cold in July

Movie • 2014

Jim Bob

Alex of Venice

Alex of Venice

Movie • 2015

Roger

First, You Cry

First, You Cry

Movie • 1978

Daniel Easton

Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper

Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper

Movie • 1984

Det. James “Sonny” Crockett

Cover Girls

Cover Girls

Movie • 1977

Johnny Wilson

Elvis and the Beauty Queen

Elvis and the Beauty Queen

Movie • 1981

Elvis Presley

NBC 75th Anniversary Special

NBC 75th Anniversary Special

Movie • 2002

Self

The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart

The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart

Movie • 1970

Stanley Sweetheart

High Heat

High Heat

Movie • 2022

Ray

The Two-Five

The Two-Five

Movie • 1978

Charlie Morgan

Heartbeat

Heartbeat

Movie • 1987

Documentary Filmmaker

The Two Lives of Carol Letner

The Two Lives of Carol Letner

Movie • 1981

Bob Howard

Zachariah

Zachariah

Movie • 1971

Matthew

Prachtig 80: Volume 2

Prachtig 80: Volume 2

Movie • 2003

Self

The Collective

The Collective

Movie • 2023

Liam

Seriously... Phil Collins

Seriously... Phil Collins

Movie • 1990

Self

Law of the Land

Law of the Land

Movie • 1976

Quirt

Encore

Encore

Movie

Ski Lift to Death

Ski Lift to Death

Movie • 1978

Mike Sloan

Word of Honor

Word of Honor

Movie • 2003

Benjamin Tyson

Blood of 1000 Virgins

Blood of 1000 Virgins

Movie • 2013

Self (archive footage)

Brawl in Cell Block 99

Brawl in Cell Block 99

Movie • 2017

Warden Tuggs

Vengeance: A Love Story

Vengeance: A Love Story

Movie • 2017

Jay Kirkpatrick

Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill

Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill

Movie • 1979

Cowboy

Dragged Across Concrete

Dragged Across Concrete

Movie • 2019

Chief Lt. Calvert

Book Club

Book Club

Movie • 2018

Arthur

Live Aid

Live Aid

Movie • 1985

Self

Lollipops and Roses

Lollipops and Roses

Movie • 1971

Frank

Knives Out

Knives Out

Movie • 2019

Richard Drysdale

Bastardi

Bastardi

Movie • 2008

Sante Patene

Vault

Vault

Movie • 2019

Gerry

G.I. Joe: The Movie

G.I. Joe: The Movie

Movie • 1987

Lt. Falcon (voice)

When in Rome

When in Rome

Movie • 2010

Beth's Dad

A Good Old Fashioned Orgy

A Good Old Fashioned Orgy

Movie • 2011

Jerry Keppler (uncredited)

Pennis from Heaven

Pennis from Heaven

Movie • 2005

Self

Rebel Ridge

Rebel Ridge

Movie • 2024

Chief Sandy Burnne

A Little White Lie

A Little White Lie

Movie • 2023

T. Wasserman

The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland

The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland

Movie • 1992

Self - Host (US)

From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season

From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season

Movie • 2014

The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There

The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There

Movie • 1985

Nash Bridges

Nash Bridges

TV • 1996

Nash Bridges

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

TV • 2003

Self

Judging Amy

Judging Amy

TV • 1999

Defense Attorney

Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

TV • 2001

Self

Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

TV • 1979

Reeve Baker

The Streets of San Francisco

The Streets of San Francisco

TV • 1972

Off. Larry Wilson

Kenan

Kenan

TV • 2021

Rick

Nashville 99

Nashville 99

TV • 1977

Mike Watling

Just Legal

Just Legal

TV • 2005

Grant Cooper

Richard & Judy

Richard & Judy

TV • 2001

Self

MADtv

MADtv

TV • 1995

Self

Eight Is Enough

Eight Is Enough

TV • 1977

Doug

From Here to Eternity

From Here to Eternity

TV • 1980

Jefferson 'Jeff' Davis Prewitt

Police Story

Police Story

TV • 1973

Lee Morgan

Matt Houston

Matt Houston

TV • 1982

Terry Spence

Glenn Martin, DDS

Glenn Martin, DDS

TV • 2009

Grandpa Whitey (voice)

Beulah Land

Beulah Land

TV • 1980

Bonard Davis

Big Hawaii

Big Hawaii

TV • 1977

Gandy

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

TV • 1977

Edgar

Miami Vice

Miami Vice

TV • 1984

James 'Sonny' Crockett

From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series

From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series

TV • 2014

Earl McGraw

The Long Hot Summer

The Long Hot Summer

TV • 1985

Ben Quick

Blood & Oil

Blood & Oil

TV • 2015

Hap Briggs

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

TV • 2014

Self

A Series of Unfortunate Events

A Series of Unfortunate Events

TV • 2017

Sir

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

TV • 1962

Self

Sick Note

Sick Note

TV • 2017

Kenny West

Home Movie: The Princess Bride

Home Movie: The Princess Bride

TV • 2020

Prince Humperdinck

Eastbound & Down

Eastbound & Down

TV • 2009

Eduardo Sanchez

TripTank

TripTank

TV • 2014

Johnny Bahama (voice)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

TV • 2009

Self - Guest

Raw

Raw

TV • 1993

Self

Doctor Odyssey

Doctor Odyssey

TV • 2024

Captain Robert Massey

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

TV • 1975

Self - Cameo (uncredited)

Classic Albums

Classic Albums

TV • 1997

Self (archive footage)

Champs-Elysées

Champs-Elysées

TV • 1982

Self

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

TV • 2007

Self - Guest

Watchmen

Watchmen

TV • 2019

Judd Crawford

Conan

Conan

TV • 2010

Self

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

TV • 1944

Self (uncredited)

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

TV • 1944

Self - Nominee

Barnaby Jones

Barnaby Jones

TV • 1973

Wayne Lockwood

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

TV • 2003

Self

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

TV • 2014

Self - Guest

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

TV • 1988

Self - Guest

Clive James' Postcard from

Clive James' Postcard from

TV • 1989

Self

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

TV • 2003

Self - Guest

People's Choice Awards

People's Choice Awards

TV • 1975

Self - Host

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

TV • 1975

Self (uncredited)

The Rebels

The Rebels

TV • 1979

Judson Fletcher