Don Johnson
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- December 15, 1949 in Flat Creek, Missouri, USA
- Active Years
- 1944–2024 (81 Years)
- Total Credits
- 139 credits in database
Biography
Donald Wayne Johnson is an American actor, producer, director, singer, and songwriter born on December 15, 1949, in Flat Creek, Missouri. Known professionally as Don Johnson, he has established a long-standing career in the entertainment industry with 127 known acting credits. He gained significant international recognition during the 1980s for his work in television, most notably for his portrayal of Detective James Sonny Crockett. His contributions to the medium have been recognized with a Golden Globe Award. Johnson remains a notable figure in American television history, having transitioned from over a decade of television work to becoming a major international star during the Reagan era.
Career overview
Don Johnson began his professional acting career in television, spending more than a decade working in the medium before achieving his breakthrough role. In 1984, he was cast as undercover police detective Sonny Crockett in the Michael Mann and Universal Television series Miami Vice. The show, which aired from 1984 to 1990, served as the catalyst for his rise to international stardom. His performance in the series was widely noted for its cultural impact, with Rolling Stone observing that no individual possessed more swagger during the Reagan era than Johnson.
Beyond his primary role in Miami Vice, Johnson has maintained a prolific career as an actor, producer, director, singer, and songwriter. His work on Miami Vice earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an actor in a television series. With 127 known credits to his name, Johnson has sustained a career that spans multiple facets of the entertainment industry. His professional trajectory reflects a transition from steady television work to becoming a defining figure of 1980s popular culture.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
139 titles- Doctor Odyssey (2024) as Captain Robert Massey
- Rebel Ridge (2024) as Chief Sandy Burnne
- Unit 234 (2024) as Jules
- Unit 234 (2024) Executive Producer
- Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023) as Arthur
- The Collective (2023) as Liam
- A Little White Lie (2023) as T. Wasserman
- Commitment to Life (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- High Heat (2022) as Ray
- Kenan (2021) as Rick
- Nash Bridges (2021) as Nash Bridges
- Nash Bridges (2021) Executive Producer
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as Prince Humperdinck
- Knives Out (2019) as Richard Drysdale
- Watchmen (2019) as Judd Crawford
- Dragged Across Concrete (2019) as Chief Lt. Calvert
- Vault (2019) as Gerry
- Book Club (2018) as Arthur
- A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017) as Sir
- Sick Note (2017) as Kenny West
- Vengeance: A Love Story (2017) as Jay Kirkpatrick
- Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017) as Warden Tuggs
- Blood & Oil (2015) as Hap Briggs
- Alex of Venice (2015) as Roger
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (2014) as Earl McGraw
- The Other Woman (2014) as Frank
- TripTank (2014) as Johnny Bahama (voice)
- Cold in July (2014) as Jim Bob
- From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season (2014)
- Blood of 1000 Virgins (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Django Unchained (2012) as Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett
- A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011) as Jerry Keppler (uncredited)
- Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011) as Miles Deep
- WWE: DX: One Last Stand (2011) as Self (archive footage)
- Conan (2010) as Self
- Machete (2010) as Von Jackson
- When in Rome (2010) as Beth's Dad
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Eastbound & Down (2009) as Eduardo Sanchez
- Glenn Martin, DDS (2009) as Grandpa Whitey (voice)
- Long Flat Balls II (2008) as Admiral Burnett
- Torno a vivere da solo (2008) as Nico
- Bastardi (2008) as Sante Patene
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self - Guest
- Moondance Alexander (2007) as Dante
- Just Legal (2005) as Grant Cooper
- Pennis from Heaven (2005) as Self
- Larry presents: Best of The 80s (2004) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Word of Honor (2003) as Benjamin Tyson
- Prachtig 80: Volume 2 (2003) as Self
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002) as Self
- Richard & Judy (2001) as Self
- Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (2001) as Self
- Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- Judging Amy (1999) as Defense Attorney
- Goodbye Lover (1999) as Ben Dunmore
- Classic Albums (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Nash Bridges (1996) as Nash Bridges
- Tin Cup (1996) as David Simms
- The Marshal (1995) Director
- The Marshal (1995) Executive Producer
- MADtv (1995) as Self
- In Pursuit of Honor (1995) as Sgt. John Libbey
- Raw (1993) as Self
- Guilty as Sin (1993) as David Greenhill
- Born Yesterday (1993) as Paul Verrall
- In the Company of Darkness (1993) Executive Producer
- The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland (1992) as Self - Host (US)
- Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) as Robert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro Man
- Paradise (1991) as Ben Reed
- The Word (1990)
- The Hot Spot (1990) as Harry Madox
- Seriously... Phil Collins (1990) as Self
- Clive James' Postcard from (1989) as Self
- Dead Bang (1989) as Jerry Beck
- Miami Vice: Freefall (1989) as Det. James “Sonny” Crockett
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes (1988) as Self
- Sweet Hearts Dance (1988) as Wiley Boon
- Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show (1988) as Self
- G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987) as Lt. Falcon (voice)
- Heartbeat (1987) as Documentary Filmmaker
- Heartbeat (1987) Writer
- Heartbeat (1987) Executive Producer
- Heartbeat (1987) Songs
- The Long Hot Summer (1985) as Ben Quick
- Live Aid (1985) as Self
- The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (1985)
- Cease Fire (1985) as Tim Murphy
- Miami Vice (1984) as James 'Sonny' Crockett
- Miami Vice (1984) Director
- Miami Vice (1984) Songs
- Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper (1984) as Det. James “Sonny” Crockett
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- Matt Houston (1982) as Terry Spence
- Melanie (1982) as Carl
- Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. (1981) as Jacob Gorch
- The Two Lives of Carol Letner (1981) as Bob Howard
- Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981) as Elvis Presley
- From Here to Eternity (1980) as Jefferson 'Jeff' Davis Prewitt
- Beulah Land (1980) as Bonard Davis
- Revenge of the Stepford Wives (1980) as Officer Andy Brady
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979) as Reeve Baker
- The Rebels (1979) as Judson Fletcher
- Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill (1979) as Cowboy
- First, You Cry (1978) as Daniel Easton
- Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold (1978) as Gunther
- Ski Lift to Death (1978) as Mike Sloan
- The Two-Five (1978) as Charlie Morgan
- Eight Is Enough (1977) as Doug
- Big Hawaii (1977) as Gandy
- What Really Happened to the Class of '65? (1977) as Edgar
- Cover Girls (1977) as Johnny Wilson
- Nashville 99 (1977) as Mike Watling
- The City (1977) as Sgt. Brian Scott
- Law of the Land (1976) as Quirt
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited)
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Host
- A Boy and His Dog (1975) as Vic
- Return to Macon County (1975) as Harley McKay
- Barnaby Jones (1973) as Wayne Lockwood
- Police Story (1973) as Lee Morgan
- The Harrad Experiment (1973) as Stanley Cole
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972) as Off. Larry Wilson
- Lollipops and Roses (1971) as Frank
- Zachariah (1971) as Matthew
- The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (1970) as Stanley Sweetheart
- Fortune and Men's Eyes (1969) as Smitty
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self (uncredited)
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Encore
- Southern Discomfort as Bob Dobson
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Don Johnson best known for?
Don Johnson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Doctor Odyssey (2024), Rebel Ridge (2024), Unit 234 (2024), Unit 234 (2024).
When and where was Don Johnson born?
Don Johnson was born on December 15, 1949 in Flat Creek, Missouri, USA.
How many credits does Don Johnson have?
Don Johnson has accumulated over 139 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2024.
What is Don Johnson's background in cinema and television?
Donald Wayne Johnson is an American actor, producer, director, singer, and songwriter born on December 15, 1949, in Flat Creek, Missouri. Known professionally as Don Johnson, he has established a long-standing career in the entertainment industry with 127 known acting credits. He gained significant international recogn...
Don Johnson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Host — aged about 25
- Django Unchained (2012) as Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett — aged about 62
- Live Aid (1985) as Self — aged about 35
- Knives Out (2019) as Richard Drysdale — aged about 69
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as Prince Humperdinck — aged about 70
- Classic Albums (1997) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 47
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