
Don Johnson
ActingAbout Don Johnson
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.
Don Johnson Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Don Johnson reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Don Johnson's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 48% of Don Johnson's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains NBC 75th Anniversary Special, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Don Johnson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Don Johnson's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Don Johnson has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Unit 234 | Jules | Average | Similar → |
| 2024 | Rebel Ridge | Chief Sandy Burnne | Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | The Collective | Liam | Average | Similar → |
| 2023 | Book Club: The Next Chapter | Arthur | Average | Similar → |
| 2023 | A Little White Lie | T. Wasserman | Average | Similar → |
| 2021 | Nash Bridges | Nash Bridges | Average | Similar → |
| 2019 | Knives Out | Richard Drysdale | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Vault | Gerry | Average | Similar → |
| 2019 | Dragged Across Concrete | Chief Lt. Calvert | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | Book Club | Arthur | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | Brawl in Cell Block 99 | Warden Tuggs | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Alex of Venice | Roger | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Cold in July | Jim Bob | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | The Other Woman | Frank | Average | Similar → |
| 2012 | Django Unchained | Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | A Good Old Fashioned Orgy | Jerry Keppler (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | WWE: DX: One Last Stand | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Machete | Von Jackson | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | When in Rome | Beth's Dad | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Moondance Alexander | Dante | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Word of Honor | Benjamin Tyson | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | NBC 75th Anniversary Special | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | Goodbye Lover | Ben Dunmore | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Tin Cup | David Simms | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | In Pursuit of Honor | Sgt. John Libbey | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | Guilty as Sin | David Greenhill | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland | Self - Host (US) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Paradise | Ben Reed | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man | Robert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro Man | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | The Hot Spot | Harry Madox | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | Seriously... Phil Collins | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Dead Bang | Jerry Beck | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | G.I. Joe: The Movie | Lt. Falcon (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Heartbeat | Documentary Filmmaker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Cease Fire | Tim Murphy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Live Aid | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper | Det. James “Sonny” Crockett | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Melanie | Carl | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | The Two Lives of Carol Letner | Bob Howard | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill | Cowboy | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | The Two-Five | Charlie Morgan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Ski Lift to Death | Mike Sloan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Cover Girls | Johnny Wilson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | The City | Sgt. Brian Scott | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | Return to Macon County | Harley McKay | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | A Boy and His Dog | Vic | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Lollipops and Roses | Frank | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart | Stanley Sweetheart | Average | Similar → |
Don Johnson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Don Johnson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Don Johnson is "NBC 75th Anniversary Special" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Don Johnson acted in?
Don Johnson has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Don Johnson?
Other notable films include "Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes", "The Two-Five", and "The Two Lives of Carol Letner".




