
Don Johnson
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.
Known For

TV
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009

TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014

TV
Raw
Self
1993

TV
Conan
Self
2010

TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975

TV
Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
1975

TV
The Graham Norton Show
Self - Guest
2007

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003

TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self (uncredited)
1944

TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

TV
Miami Vice
James 'Sonny' Crockett
1984

TV
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982

TV
Richard & Judy
Self
2001

TV
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003

TV
Judging Amy
Defense Attorney
1999

TV
Nash Bridges
Nash Bridges
1996
Filmography
2024TVDoctor Odysseyas Captain Robert Massey2024FilmUnit 234as Jules2024FilmRebel Ridgeas Chief Sandy Burnne2023FilmThe Collectiveas Liam2023FilmBook Club: The Next Chapteras Arthur2023FilmA Little White Lieas T. Wasserman2022FilmHigh Heatas Ray2021FilmNash Bridgesas Nash Bridges2021TVKenanas Rick2020TVHome Movie: The Princess Brideas Prince Humperdinck2019FilmKnives Outas Richard Drysdale2019TVWatchmenas Judd Crawford2019FilmVaultas Gerry2019FilmDragged Across Concreteas Chief Lt. Calvert2018FilmBook Clubas Arthur2017TVSick Noteas Kenny West2017FilmBrawl in Cell Block 99as Warden Tuggs2017FilmVengeance: A Love Storyas Jay Kirkpatrick2017TVA Series of Unfortunate Eventsas Sir2015TVBlood & Oilas Hap Briggs2015FilmAlex of Veniceas Roger2014FilmCold in Julyas Jim Bob2014FilmThe Other Womanas Frank2014TVTripTankas Johnny Bahama (voice)2014FilmFrom Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season2014TVFrom Dusk Till Dawn: The Seriesas Earl McGraw2014TVLate Night with Seth Meyersas Self2013FilmBlood of 1000 Virginsas Self (archive footage)2012FilmDjango Unchainedas Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett2011FilmBucky Larson: Born to Be a Staras Miles Deep2011FilmA Good Old Fashioned Orgyas Jerry Keppler (uncredited)2011FilmWWE: DX: One Last Standas Self (archive footage)2010TVConanas Self2010FilmMacheteas Von Jackson2010FilmWhen in Romeas Beth's Dad2009TVGlenn Martin, DDSas Grandpa Whitey (voice)2009TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest2009TVEastbound & Downas Eduardo Sanchez2008FilmTorno a vivere da soloas Nico2008FilmLong Flat Balls IIas Admiral Burnett2008FilmBastardias Sante Patene2007FilmMoondance Alexanderas Dante2007TVThe Graham Norton Showas Self - Guest2005TVJust Legalas Grant Cooper2005FilmPennis from Heavenas Self2004FilmLarry presents: Best of The 80sas Self2003FilmWord of Honoras Benjamin Tyson2003FilmPrachtig 80: Volume 2as Self2003TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Showas Self2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2002FilmNBC 75th Anniversary Specialas Self2001TVRichard & Judyas Self2001TVFriday Night with Jonathan Rossas Self2001FilmPorn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremyas Self (archive footage)1999TVJudging Amyas Defense Attorney1999FilmGoodbye Loveras Ben Dunmore1997TVClassic Albumsas Self (archive footage)1996FilmTin Cupas David Simms1996TVNash Bridgesas Nash Bridges1995TVMADtvas Self1995FilmIn Pursuit of Honoras Sgt. John Libbey1993FilmGuilty as Sinas David Greenhill1993FilmBorn Yesterdayas Paul Verrall1993TVRawas Self1992FilmThe Grand Opening of Euro Disneylandas Self - Host (US)1991FilmParadiseas Ben Reed1991FilmHarley Davidson and the Marlboro Manas Robert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro Man1990FilmThe Hot Spotas Harry Madox1990FilmSeriously... Phil Collinsas Self1989FilmDead Bangas Jerry Beck1989TVClive James' Postcard fromas Self1988FilmBob Hope's Jolly Christmas Showas Self1988FilmSweet Hearts Danceas Wiley Boon1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest1988FilmMike Tyson vs Larry Holmesas Self1987FilmG.I. Joe: The Movieas Lt. Falcon (voice)1987FilmHeartbeatas Documentary Filmmaker1985FilmCease Fireas Tim Murphy1985TVThe Long Hot Summeras Ben Quick1985FilmThe NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There1985FilmLive Aidas Self1984FilmMiami Vice: Brother's Keeperas Det. James “Sonny” Crockett1984TVMiami Viceas James 'Sonny' Crockett1982TVMatt Houstonas Terry Spence1982FilmMelanieas Carl1982TVChamps-Elyséesas Self1981FilmThe Two Lives of Carol Letneras Bob Howard1981FilmSoggy Bottom, U.S.A.as Jacob Gorch1981FilmElvis and the Beauty Queenas Elvis Presley1980FilmRevenge of the Stepford Wivesas Officer Andy Brady1980TVBeulah Landas Bonard Davis1980TVFrom Here to Eternityas Jefferson 'Jeff' Davis Prewitt1979TVThe Rebelsas Judson Fletcher1979TVTales of the Unexpectedas Reeve Baker1979FilmAmateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grillas Cowboy1978FilmFirst, You Cryas Daniel Easton1978FilmKatie: Portrait of a Centerfoldas Gunther1978FilmThe Two-Fiveas Charlie Morgan1978FilmSki Lift to Deathas Mike Sloan1977TVWhat Really Happened to the Class of '65?as Edgar1977TVBig Hawaiias Gandy1977FilmCover Girlsas Johnny Wilson1977TVNashville 99as Mike Watling1977TVEight Is Enoughas Doug1977FilmThe Cityas Sgt. Brian Scott1976FilmLaw of the Landas Quirt1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Cameo (uncredited)1975FilmReturn to Macon Countyas Harley McKay1975FilmA Boy and His Dogas Vic1975TVPeople's Choice Awardsas Self - Host1973FilmThe Harrad Experimentas Stanley Cole1973TVPolice Storyas Lee Morgan1973TVBarnaby Jonesas Wayne Lockwood1972TVThe Streets of San Franciscoas Off. Larry Wilson1971FilmLollipops and Rosesas Frank1971FilmZachariahas Matthew1970FilmThe Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheartas Stanley Sweetheart1969FilmFortune and Men's Eyesas Smitty1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self (uncredited)—FilmEncore