Don Johnson
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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.
Known for
Credits
Django Unchained (2012)
as Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett
Knives Out (2019)
as Richard Drysdale
Machete (2010)
as Von Jackson
The Other Woman (2014)
as Frank
Rebel Ridge (2024)
as Chief Sandy Burnne
The Hot Spot (1990)
as Harry Madox
Dragged Across Concrete (2019)
as Chief Lt. Calvert
Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)
as Warden Tuggs
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)
as Robert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro Man
Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)
as Arthur
Vengeance: A Love Story (2017)
as Jay Kirkpatrick
When in Rome (2010)
as Beth's Dad
Encore (—)
Actor
High Heat (2022)
as Ray
Book Club (2018)
as Arthur
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (1985)
Actor
The Collective (2023)
as Liam
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show (1988)
as Self
Tin Cup (1996)
as David Simms
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy (2001)
as Self (archive footage)
Commitment to Life (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
Cold in July (2014)
as Jim Bob
Soap Fever (2026)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Boy and His Dog (1975)
as Vic
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011)
as Jerry Keppler (uncredited)
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011)
as Miles Deep
Miami Vice: Freefall (1989)
as Det. James “Sonny” Crockett
Andy Warhol, Fluorescent (2016)
as (archive footage)
Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold (1978)
as Gunther
From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season (2014)
Actor
Guilty as Sin (1993)
as David Greenhill
Alex of Venice (2015)
as Roger
Live Aid (1985)
as Self
A Little White Lie (2023)
as T. Wasserman
G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987)
as Lt. Falcon (voice)
Goodbye Lover (1999)
as Ben Dunmore
Sweet Hearts Dance (1988)
as Wiley Boon
Unit 234 (2024)
as Jules
Moondance Alexander (2007)
as Dante
Melanie (1982)
as Carl
Vault (2019)
as Gerry
Cover Girls (1977)
as Johnny Wilson
Dead Bang (1989)
as Jerry Beck
Born Yesterday (1993)
as Paul Verrall
Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill (1979)
as Cowboy
Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper (1984)
as Det. James “Sonny” Crockett
In Pursuit of Honor (1995)
as Sgt. John Libbey
Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes (1988)
as Self
First, You Cry (1978)
as Daniel Easton
Nash Bridges (2021)
as Nash Bridges
NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002)
as Self
Return to Macon County (1975)
as Harley McKay
Revenge of the Stepford Wives (1980)
as Officer Andy Brady
Blood of 1000 Virgins (2013)
as Self (archive footage)
Paradise (1991)
as Ben Reed
Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981)
as Elvis Presley
Word of Honor (2003)
as Benjamin Tyson
The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland (1992)
as Self - Host (US)
Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. (1981)
as Jacob Gorch
WWE: DX: One Last Stand (2011)
as Self (archive footage)
Lollipops and Roses (1971)
as Frank
Zachariah (1971)
as Matthew
Larry presents: Best of The 80s (2004)
as Self
Fortune and Men's Eyes (1969)
as Smitty
The Harrad Experiment (1973)
as Stanley Cole
Seriously... Phil Collins (1990)
as Self
Heartbeat (1987)
as Documentary Filmmaker
Pennis from Heaven (2005)
as Self
The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (1970)
as Stanley Sweetheart
Torno a vivere da solo (2008)
as Nico
The Two Lives of Carol Letner (1981)
as Bob Howard
Ski Lift to Death (1978)
as Mike Sloan
Bastardi (2008)
as Sante Patene'
Long Flat Balls II (2008)
as Admiral Burnett
The Two-Five (1978)
as Charlie Morgan
Law of the Land (1976)
as Quirt
Prachtig 80: Volume 2 (2003)
as Self
The City (1977)
as Sgt. Brian Scott
Cease Fire (1985)
as Tim Murphy