Don Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Johnson
Johnson in 2019
Born	Don Wayne Johnson (1949-12-15) December 15, 1949 (age 75) Flat Creek, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Actor producer singer
Years active	1969–present
Spouse(s)	Melanie Griffith ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1976)​ ​ ​ (m. 1989; div. 1996)​ Kelley Phleger ​ (m. 1999)​
Partner(s)	Patti D'Arbanville (1981–1985)
Children	5, including Jesse and Dakota

Don Wayne Johnson (born December 15, 1949) is an American actor and singer. He is famous for playing detective James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s TV show Miami Vice. This role won him a Golden Globe and a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Johnson also starred as the main character in the 1990s series Nash Bridges. For his work in acting, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996. He has appeared in many popular movies, including Tin Cup (1996), Django Unchained (2012), and Knives Out (2019). Besides acting, Johnson is a singer and released two albums in the 1980s. His song "Heartbeat" became a top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Early Life and Education

Don Wayne Johnson was born on December 15, 1949, in Flat Creek, Missouri. His mother, Nell, was a beautician, and his father, Fredie, was a farmer. When he was five, his family moved to Wichita, Kansas. Johnson had a difficult childhood, and his parents divorced when he was 12.

He graduated from Wichita South High School in 1967. In high school, he discovered a love for acting after joining a drama class. He played the lead role of Tony in a school production of West Side Story. He later received a scholarship to study drama at the University of Kansas. After a year, he moved to San Francisco to join the American Conservatory Theater.

Acting Career

Getting Started

Johnson's first big role was in a 1969 stage play called Fortune and Men's Eyes. This led to his first movie, The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (1970). For several years, he acted in plays, movies, and TV shows. Some of his early films include Zachariah (1971) and A Boy and His Dog (1975).

Miami Vice and Rise to Fame

Johnson in 1986

In 1984, Johnson became a huge star playing undercover detective Sonny Crockett in the TV series Miami Vice. The show, which ran until 1990, made him famous around the world. His character was known for being cool and stylish. Crockett often wore expensive Armani suits with pastel t-shirts, drove a Ferrari, and lived on a sailboat with his pet alligator, Elvis.

Miami Vice was groundbreaking for its use of popular music, cool camera work, and fashionable style. Johnson's performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a TV Drama in 1986.

Nash Bridges

From 1996 to 2001, Johnson starred in another successful police drama, Nash Bridges. He played the title character, an inspector for the San Francisco Police Department. In this show, he was known for driving a bright yellow 1971 Plymouth Barracuda. He starred alongside Cheech Marin, who played his partner.

Later Roles in Film and TV

Don Johnson with Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006

Johnson has continued to act in many movies and TV shows. He played a supporting role in Robert Rodriguez's action film Machete (2010). He also appeared in Quentin Tarantino's movie Django Unchained (2012) as a plantation owner named Big Daddy.

In 2018, he was in the romantic comedy Book Club with Jane Fonda. In 2019, he played Richard Drysdale in the popular mystery movie Knives Out. That same year, he starred as Police Chief Judd Crawford in the HBO series Watchmen.

In 2021, he returned to his famous role in a Nash Bridges TV movie. More recently, he starred in the ABC drama series Doctor Odyssey, which premiered in September 2024.

Music Career

In the 1980s, Johnson also had a successful music career. He released two pop albums: Heartbeat in 1986 and Let It Roll in 1989.

His single "Heartbeat" was a big hit, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He also recorded a duet with Barbra Streisand called "Till I Loved You", which was a top 40 hit in 1988.

Personal Life

Johnson in 1989

Johnson has been married five times to four different women. He has five children.

He was married to actress Melanie Griffith twice. They have a daughter, Dakota Johnson (born 1989), who is also a famous actress. He also has a son, Jesse Johnson (born 1982), with his former partner, actress Patti D'Arbanville.

Since 1999, Johnson has been married to Kelley Phleger. They have three children together: a daughter, Atherton, and two sons, Jasper and Deacon.

Powerboat Racing

Besides acting and singing, Johnson was a champion powerboat racer. He started racing in the 1980s. In 1988, he became a World Champion in the Offshore World Cup, a major powerboat racing competition. He was known for being a fearless and skilled pilot.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Awards and Recognition

See also

In Spanish: Don Johnson para niños