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.
Unit 234
Jules
2024
The Collective
Liam
2023
Book Club: The Next Chapter
Arthur
2023
High Heat
Ray
2022
Nash Bridges
Nash Bridges
2021
Dragged Across Concrete
Chief Lt. Calvert
2019
Brawl in Cell Block 99
Warden Tuggs
2017
Vengeance: A Love Story
Jay Kirkpatrick
2017
Alex of Venice
Roger
2015
Cold in July
Jim Bob
2014
The Other Woman
Frank
2014
Blood of 1000 Virgins
Self (archive footage)
2013
Django Unchained
Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett
2012
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Miles Deep
2011
WWE: DX: One Last Stand
Self (archive footage)
2011
Machete
Von Jackson
2010
Torno a vivere da solo
Nico
2008
Long Flat Balls II
Admiral Burnett
2008
Moondance Alexander
Dante
2007
Larry presents: Best of The 80s
Self
2004
Word of Honor
Benjamin Tyson
2003
Prachtig 80: Volume 2
Self
2003
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Self
2002
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
Self (archive footage)
2001
Goodbye Lover
Ben Dunmore
1999
Tin Cup
David Simms
1996
In Pursuit of Honor
Sgt. John Libbey
1995
Guilty as Sin
David Greenhill
1993
Born Yesterday
Paul Verrall
1993
Paradise
Ben Reed
1991
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
Robert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro Man
1991
The Hot Spot
Harry Madox
1990
Seriously... Phil Collins
Self
1990
Dead Bang
Jerry Beck
1989
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
Self
1988
Sweet Hearts Dance
Wiley Boon
1988
Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes
Self
1988
Heartbeat
Documentary Filmmaker
1987
Cease Fire
Tim Murphy
1985
Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper
Det. James “Sonny” Crockett
1984
Melanie
Carl
1982
The Two Lives of Carol Letner
Bob Howard
1981
Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.
Jacob Gorch
1981
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Elvis Presley
1981
Revenge of the Stepford Wives
Officer Andy Brady
1980
The Rebels
Judson Fletcher
1979
Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill
Cowboy
1979
First, You Cry
Daniel Easton
1978
Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold
Gunther
1978
The Two-Five
Charlie Morgan
1978
Ski Lift to Death
Mike Sloan
1978
Cover Girls
Johnny Wilson
1977
The City
Sgt. Brian Scott
1977
Law of the Land
Quirt
1976
Return to Macon County
Harley McKay
1975
A Boy and His Dog
Vic
1975
The Harrad Experiment
Stanley Cole
1973
Zachariah
Matthew
1971
The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart
Stanley Sweetheart
1970
Encore
Doctor Odyssey
Captain Robert Massey · (18 episodes)
2024
Rebel Ridge
Chief Sandy Burnne
2024
A Little White Lie
T. Wasserman
2023
Kenan
Rick · (19 episodes)
2021
Home Movie: The Princess Bride
Prince Humperdinck · (1 episode)
2020
Knives Out
Richard Drysdale
2019
Watchmen
Judd Crawford · (9 episodes)
2019
Vault
Gerry
2019
Book Club
Arthur
2018
Sick Note
Kenny West · (6 episodes)
2017
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Sir · (2 episodes)
2017
Blood & Oil
Hap Briggs · (10 episodes)
2015
TripTank
Johnny Bahama (voice) · (1 episode)
2014
From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series
Earl McGraw · (10 episodes)
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy
Jerry Keppler (uncredited)
2011
Conan
Self · (1 episode)
2010
When in Rome
Beth's Dad
2010
Glenn Martin, DDS
Grandpa Whitey (voice) · (1 episode)
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
2009
Eastbound & Down
Eduardo Sanchez · (5 episodes)
2009
Bastardi
Sante Patene
2008
The Graham Norton Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2007
Just Legal
Grant Cooper · (9 episodes)
2005
Pennis from Heaven
Self
2005
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Richard & Judy
Self · (1 episode)
2001
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self · (1 episode)
2001
Judging Amy
Defense Attorney · (1 episode)
1999
Classic Albums
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1997
Nash Bridges
Nash Bridges · (122 episodes)
1996
MADtv
Self · (1 episode)
1995
Raw
Self · (1 episode)
1993
The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland
Self - Host (US)
1992
Miami Vice: Freefall
Detective James Crockett
1989
G.I. Joe: The Movie
Lt. Falcon (voice)
1987
The Long Hot Summer
Ben Quick · (2 episodes)
1985
Miami Vice: The Prodigal Son
Detective James Crockett
1985
Live Aid
Self
1985
Miami Vice
Sonny Crockett · (111 episodes)
1984
Matt Houston
Terry Spence · (1 episode)
1982
Champs-Elysées
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Beulah Land
Bonard Davis · (3 episodes)
1980
From Here to Eternity
Jefferson 'Jeff' Davis Prewitt · (12 episodes)
1980
Tales of the Unexpected
Reeve Baker · (1 episode)
1979
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
Edgar · (1 episode)
1977
Big Hawaii
Gandy · (1 episode)
1977
Nashville 99
Mike Watling · (1 episode)
1977
Eight Is Enough
Doug · (1 episode)
1977
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975
Police Story
Lee Morgan · (1 episode)
1973
Barnaby Jones
Wayne Lockwood · (1 episode)
1973
The Streets of San Francisco
Off. Larry Wilson · (1 episode)
1972
Sarge
Deloy Coopersmith · (14 episodes)
1971
Lollipops and Roses
Frank
1971
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (2 episodes)
1962
Golden Globe Awards
Self (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Winner · (1 episode)
1944