Don Johnson is a multi-talented American star who has a net worth of $50 million . He is famous for his roles as Sonny Crockett on the popular TV show Miami Vice and Nash Bridges on the show of the same name. He has also starred in many films, such as A Boy and His Dog, Tin Cup, Django Unchained, and Knives Out. Besides acting, he has also released two albums, Heartbeat and Let It Roll, and had a top 10 hit with the song “Heartbeat”. In this article, we will look at Don Johnson’s net worth, his career highlights, his personal life, and some frequently asked questions about him.
Career Highlights
Don Johnson was born on December 15, 1949, in Flat Creek, Missouri. He grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where he was interested in acting and music from a young age. He studied theater at the University of Kansas but dropped out after a year. He then moved to San Francisco to study at the American Conservatory Theater.
Johnson started his acting career in the late 1960s with roles in theater and film. He made his film debut in The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart in 1970 and his TV debut in Serge in 1971. He appeared in many movies and TV shows in the 1970s, such as Zachariah, The Harrad Experiment, A Boy and His Dog, Barnaby Jones, and The Streets of San Francisco.
Johnson’s career took off in 1984 when he was cast as Sonny Crockett on Miami Vice, a crime drama series that became a huge hit. Johnson played a fashionable undercover cop who fought crime in Miami. He also wore designer clothes and drove a Ferrari Testarossa on the show. Johnson won a Golden Globe Award for his performance in 1986 and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1985. He also co-produced the show and directed some episodes.
While he was on Miami Vice, Johnson also pursued a music career. He released his first album, Heartbeat, in 1986, which sold over one million copies and was certified gold by the RIAA. The title track reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and featured a duet with Barbra Streisand. He also sang the song at the 1987 Grammy Awards. He released his second album, Let It Roll, in 1989, which included the singles “Tell It Like It Is” and “Other People’s Lives”.
After Miami Vice ended in 1990, Johnson starred in many films, such as Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, Born Yesterday, Guilty as Sin, and Tin Cup. He also came back to TV with his own show Nash Bridges in 1996. He played a San Francisco police detective who solved cases with his partner and drove a Plymouth Barracuda convertible. The show ran for six seasons until 2001.
Johnson continued to act in films and TV shows throughout the 2000s and 2010s, such as Just Legal (2005-2006), Eastbound & Down (2010-2013), Django Unchained (2012), Cold in July (2014), Blood & Oil (2015), Watchmen (2019), and Knives Out (2019).
Personal Life
Johnson has been married five times to four women. He married actress Melanie Griffith twice: first in 1976 when she was 18 years old but they divorced six months later; then again in 1989 after they rekindled their romance on the set of Working Girl. They had a daughter named Dakota Johnson (born 1989), who is also an actress. They divorced for the second time in 1996.
Johnson also married actress Patti D’Arbanville in 1981 but they divorced in 1988. They had a son named Jesse Johnson (born 1982), who is also an actor. Johnson married teacher Kelley Phleger in 1999 and they are still together. They have three children: Grace Johnson (born 1999), Jasper Johnson (born 2002), and Deacon Johnson (born 2006).
Johnson has also dated many celebrities such as Cybill Shepherd, Barbra Streisand, Pamela Des Barres, Jeanne Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, and more.
Johnson has also faced some legal troubles and scandals throughout his career. He was arrested for drug possession in 1983 but the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. He was sued by Melanie Griffith for $30 million for spousal support after their second divorce but they settled out of court. He was also sued by his former Nash Bridges co-producer for $100 million for breach of contract but he won the case.
Johnson is also known for his charitable work and involvement in various causes. He has supported organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and more. He also participated in events such as Live Aid, Farm Aid, and Hurricane Katrina relief.
FAQs
How much did Don Johnson make from Miami Vice?
Don Johnson made about $150,000 per episode for the first two seasons of Miami Vice and $300,000 per episode for the last three seasons. He also earned royalties from the show’s syndication deals. In total, he made about $40 million from Miami Vice alone.
How much does Don Johnson make from Nash Bridges?
Don Johnson made about $150,000 per episode for the first season of Nash Bridges and $250,000 per episode for the subsequent seasons. He also earned royalties from the show’s syndication deals. In total, he made about $40 million from Nash Bridges alone.
What is Don Johnson’s latest project?
Don Johnson’s latest project is his role as Rick Kirkham on the TV series Kenan, which premiered in February 2021. The show is a comedy that follows the life of a widowed father and morning show host played by Kenan Thompson. Johnson plays his father-in-law who moves in with him to help him raise his two daughters.
