Skip to content
Lumovio
Don Johnson

Acting

Don Johnson

Born December 15, 1949 · Flat 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

  1. 2026Soap FeverSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)Movie
  2. 2026Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of AmericaDoc HollidaySeries
  3. 2024Doctor OdysseyCaptain Robert MasseySeries
  4. 2024Unit 234Jules, Executive ProducerMovie
  5. 2024Rebel RidgeChief Sandy BurnneMovie
  6. 2023The CollectiveLiamMovie
  7. 2023Book Club: The Next ChapterArthurMovie
  8. 2023A Little White LieT. WassermanMovie
  9. 2022High HeatRayMovie
  10. 2021Nash BridgesNash Bridges, Executive ProducerMovie
  11. 2021KenanRickSeries
  12. 2020Home Movie: The Princess BridePrince HumperdinckSeries
  13. 2019Knives OutRichard DrysdaleMovie
  14. 2019WatchmenJudd CrawfordSeries
  15. 2019VaultGerryMovie
  16. 2019Dragged Across ConcreteChief Lt. CalvertMovie
  17. 2018Book ClubArthurMovie
  18. 2017Sick NoteKenny WestSeries
  19. 2017Brawl in Cell Block 99Warden TuggsMovie
  20. 2017Vengeance: A Love StoryJay KirkpatrickMovie
  21. 2017A Series of Unfortunate EventsSirSeries
  22. 2016Andy Warhol, Fluorescent(archive footage)Movie
  23. 2015Blood & OilHap BriggsSeries
  24. 2015Alex of VeniceRogerMovie
  25. 2014Cold in JulyJim BobMovie
  26. 2014The Other WomanFrankMovie
  27. 2014TripTankJohnny Bahama (voice)Series
  28. 2014From Dusk Till Dawn: The SeriesEarl McGrawSeries
  29. 2014From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First SeasonMovie
  30. 2014Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf, Self - GuestSeries
  31. 2013Blood of 1000 VirginsSelf (archive footage)Movie
  32. 2012Django UnchainedSpencer "Big Daddy" BennettMovie
  33. 2011Bucky Larson: Born to Be a StarMiles DeepMovie
  34. 2011A Good Old Fashioned OrgyJerry Keppler (uncredited)Movie
  35. 2011WWE: DX: One Last StandSelf (archive footage)Movie
  36. 2010ConanSelfSeries
  37. 2010MacheteVon JacksonMovie
  38. 2010When in RomeBeth's DadMovie
  39. 2009Glenn Martin, DDSGrandpa Whitey (voice)Series
  40. 2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - GuestSeries
  41. 2009Eastbound & DownEduardo SanchezSeries
  42. 2008Torno a vivere da soloNicoMovie
  43. 2008Long Flat Balls IIAdmiral BurnettMovie
  44. 2008BastardiSante Patene'Movie
  45. 2007Moondance AlexanderDanteMovie
  46. 2007The Graham Norton ShowSelf - GuestSeries
  47. 2005Just LegalGrant CooperSeries
  48. 2003Word of HonorBenjamin TysonMovie
  49. 2003The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelfSeries
  50. 2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self - GuestSeries
  51. 2002NBC 75th Anniversary SpecialSelfMovie
  52. 2001Richard & JudySelfSeries
  53. 2001Friday Night with Jonathan RossSelfSeries
  54. 2001Porn Star: The Legend of Ron JeremySelf (archive footage)Movie
  55. 1999Judging AmyDefense AttorneySeries
  56. 1999Goodbye LoverBen DunmoreMovie
  57. 1997Classic AlbumsSelf (archive footage)Series
  58. 1996Tin CupDavid SimmsMovie
  59. 1996Nash BridgesNash BridgesSeries
  60. 1995MADtvSelfSeries
  61. 1995In Pursuit of HonorSgt. John LibbeyMovie
  62. 1995The MarshalDirector, Executive ProducerSeries
  63. 1993Guilty as SinDavid GreenhillMovie
  64. 1993Born YesterdayPaul VerrallMovie
  65. 1993RawSelfSeries
  66. 1993In the Company of DarknessExecutive ProducerMovie
  67. 1992The Grand Opening of Euro DisneylandSelf - Host (US)Movie
  68. 1991ParadiseBen ReedMovie
  69. 1991Harley Davidson and the Marlboro ManRobert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro ManMovie
  70. 1990The Hot SpotHarry MadoxMovie
  71. 1990Seriously... Phil CollinsSelfMovie
  72. 1990The WordSeries
  73. 1989Dead BangJerry BeckMovie
  74. 1989Clive James' Postcard fromSelfSeries
  75. 1988Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas ShowSelfMovie
  76. 1988Sweet Hearts DanceWiley BoonMovie
  77. 1988LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf - GuestSeries
  78. 1988Mike Tyson vs Larry HolmesSelfMovie
  79. 1987G.I. Joe: The MovieLt. Falcon (voice)Movie
  80. 1987HeartbeatDocumentary Filmmaker, Writer, Executive Producer, SongsMovie
  81. 1985Cease FireTim MurphyMovie
  82. 1985The Long Hot SummerBen QuickSeries
  83. 1985Live AidSelfMovie
  84. 1984Miami ViceSonny Crockett, Director, SongsSeries
  85. 1984Miami Vice: Brother's KeeperDet. James “Sonny” CrockettMovie
  86. 1982Matt HoustonTerry SpenceSeries
  87. 1982MelanieCarlMovie
  88. 1982Champs-ElyséesSelfSeries
  89. 1981The Two Lives of Carol LetnerBob HowardMovie
  90. 1981Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.Jacob GorchMovie
  91. 1981Elvis and the Beauty QueenElvis PresleyMovie
  92. 1980Revenge of the Stepford WivesOfficer Andy BradyMovie
  93. 1980Beulah LandBonard DavisSeries
  94. 1980From Here to EternityJefferson 'Jeff' Davis PrewittSeries
  95. 1979The RebelsJudson FletcherSeries
  96. 1979Tales of the UnexpectedReeve BakerSeries
  97. 1979Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and GrillCowboyMovie
  98. 1978Katie: Portrait of a CenterfoldGuntherMovie
  99. 1978The Two-FiveCharlie MorganMovie
  100. 1978Ski Lift to DeathMike SloanMovie
  101. 1977What Really Happened to the Class of '65?EdgarSeries
  102. 1977Big HawaiiGandySeries
  103. 1977Cover GirlsJohnny WilsonMovie
  104. 1977Nashville 99Mike WatlingSeries
  105. 1977Eight Is EnoughDougSeries
  106. 1977The CitySgt. Brian ScottMovie
  107. 1976Law of the LandQuirtMovie
  108. 1975Saturday Night LiveSelf - Cameo (uncredited), Self (uncredited)Series
  109. 1975Return to Macon CountyHarley McKayMovie
  110. 1975A Boy and His DogVicMovie
  111. 1975People's Choice AwardsSelf - HostSeries
  112. 1973The Harrad ExperimentStanley ColeMovie
  113. 1973Police StoryLee MorganSeries
  114. 1973Barnaby JonesWayne LockwoodSeries
  115. 1972The Streets of San FranciscoOff. Larry WilsonSeries
  116. 1971Lollipops and RosesFrankMovie
  117. 1971ZachariahMatthewMovie
  118. 1970The Magic Garden of Stanley SweetheartStanley SweetheartMovie
  119. 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelfSeries
  120. 1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf (uncredited), Self - NomineeSeries