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Don Johnson

Don Johnson

Actor, also producer · Born December 15, 1949 (76) · Flat Creek, Missouri, USA

Golden Globe winner · Primetime Emmy nominee

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 15, 1949 (76)
From
Flat Creek, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
59 on MovieCove · 99 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

What are Don Johnson's films like?

Across their 46 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
24%
Self
23%
Bonds
20%
Power
13%
Survival
13%
Society
6%
Ideas
1%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 11 · Dark 12

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 30 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 12 · Charged 16 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 17 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 7

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 8

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 21 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 20 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

32 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 8 of 32 analyzed roles.

Hero
8 of 32
Mentor
7 of 32
Ally
5 of 32
Shadow
5 of 32
Threshold guardian
3 of 32
Shapeshifter
2 of 32
Trickster
2 of 32
Show the 32 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Warm
15
Melancholic
16
Absurd
11
Dread
9
Other
46

How their films linger

Bittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous9

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Don Johnson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 59 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Don Johnson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

99 credits, 59 with a MovieCove page; 32 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Doc Holliday

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Odyssey(2024)

    Show 18 episodes · Producer · as Captain Robert Massey

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Unit 234(2024)

    Executive Producer · as Jules

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Rebel Ridge(2024)

    as Chief Sandy Burnne

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Collective(2023)

    as Liam

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Book Club: The Next Chapter(2023)

    as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • A Little White Lie(2023)

    as T. Wasserman

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • High Heat(2022)

    as Ray

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Nash Bridges(2021)

    Executive Producer · as Nash Bridges

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Kenan(2021)

    Show 19 episodes · as Rick

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Home Movie: The Princess Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Prince Humperdinck

  • Knives Out(2019)

    as Richard Drysdale

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Watchmen(2019)

    Show 9 episodes · as Judd Crawford

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Vault(2019)

    as Gerry

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Dragged Across Concrete(2018)

    as Chief Lt. Calvert

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Book Club(2018)

    as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Sick Note (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Kenny West

  • Brawl in Cell Block 99(2017)

    as Warden Tuggs

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Vengeance: A Love Story(2017)

    as Jay Kirkpatrick

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • A Series of Unfortunate Events(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sir

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Andy Warhol, Fluorescent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as (archive footage)

  • Blood & Oil(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Hap Briggs

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Alex of Venice(2014)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Cold in July(2014)

    as Jim Bob

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Other Woman(2014)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • TripTank(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny Bahama (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 10 episodes · as Earl McGraw

  • Django Unchained(2012)

    as Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star(2011)

    as Miles Deep

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • A Good Old Fashioned Orgy(2011)

    as Jerry Keppler (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Machete(2010)

    as Von Jackson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • When in Rome(2010)

    as Beth's Dad

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Glenn Martin DDS(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Grandpa Whitey (voice)

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Eastbound & Down(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · as Eduardo Sanchez

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Torno a vivere da solo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Nico

  • Long Flat Balls II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Admiral Burnett

  • Bastardi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Sante Patene'

  • Moondance Alexander(2007)

    as Dante

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Just Legal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 9 episodes · as Grant Cooper

  • Word of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Benjamin Tyson

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Defense Attorney

  • Goodbye Lover(1998)

    as Ben Dunmore

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Tin Cup(1996)

    as David Simms

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 122 episodes · as Nash Bridges

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • In Pursuit of Honor(1995)

    as Sgt. John Libbey

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Marshal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 25 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • Guilty as Sin(1993)

    as David Greenhill

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Born Yesterday(1993)

    as Paul Verrall

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • In the Company of Darkness(1993)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Paradise(1991)

    as Ben Reed

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man(1991)

    as Robert Lee Anderson / The Marlboro Man

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Hot Spot(1990)

    as Harry Madox

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Miami Vice: Freefall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Det. James “Sonny” Crockett

  • Dead Bang(1989)

    as Jerry Beck

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Hearts Dance(1988)

    as Wiley Boon

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • G.I. Joe: The Movie(1987)

    as Lt. Falcon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Heartbeat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Executive Producer · Songs · Writer · as Documentary Filmmaker

  • Cease Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Tim Murphy

  • The Long Hot Summer(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ben Quick

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 110 episodes · Director · Songs · as Sonny Crockett

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Det. James “Sonny” Crockett

  • Matt Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Terry Spence

  • Melanie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Carl

  • The Two Lives of Carol Letner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Bob Howard

  • Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.(1981)

    as Jacob Gorch

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Elvis and the Beauty Queen(1981)

    as Elvis Presley

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Elvis and The Beauty Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Elvis Presley

  • Revenge of the Stepford Wives(1980)

    as Officer Andy Brady

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Beulah Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 3 episodes · as Bonard Davis

  • From Here to Eternity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 12 episodes · as Jefferson 'Jeff' Davis Prewitt

  • The Rebels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Judson Fletcher

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Reeve Baker

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill(1979)

    as Cowboy

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • First, You Cry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Daniel Easton

  • Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold(1978)

    as Gunther

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Two-Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Charlie Morgan

  • Ski Lift to Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mike Sloan

  • What Really Happened to the Class of '65? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Edgar

  • Big Hawaii (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Gandy

  • Cover Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Johnny Wilson

  • Nashville 99 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Watling

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Doug

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • The City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Sgt. Brian Scott

  • Law of the Land(1976)

    as Quirt

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Return to Macon County(1975)

    as Harley McKay

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Boy and His Dog(1975)

    as Vic

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Harrad Experiment(1973)

    as Stanley Cole

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Lee Morgan

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Wayne Lockwood

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Off. Larry Wilson

  • Lollipops and Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Frank

  • Zachariah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Matthew

  • The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart(1970)

    as Stanley Sweetheart

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Fortune and Men's Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Smitty

  • Encore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Southern Discomfort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Dobson

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 99 titles, 97 of them dated from 1969 to 2026; peak year 2024.

Biggest box office

Knives Out (2019)

$313M worldwide

Highest rated

Knives Out (2019)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Miami Vice (1984)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19692026

Peak 2024 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 22 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting97 of 99: 93 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score41stDirecting2 of 99: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 99: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing5 of 99: 1 only producing, 4 with another roleOther crew2 of 99: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

99 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s23 · acting1980s19 · 19 acting · 2 crew1990s13 · 11 acting · 2 crew2000s8 · acting2010s22 · acting2020s11 · 11 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 18% of 33 roles
7595101520

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Golden Globe from 3 major nominations, 1985–1987.

WinNomination
  1. 1987
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
  2. 1986
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
  3. 1985
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Don Johnson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 43rd percentile, the median of all 44; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 59 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th23
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 59 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic7
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed24

Most divisive · actor

Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981)

86th percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Django Unchained (2012)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 38 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Don Johnson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 24 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles22–91 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity24 titles19–63 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles43–73 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles35–58 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles12–78 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Don Johnson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Don Johnson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Cheech Marin shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers