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