Don Johnson Says He Lived ‘Below the National Poverty Level’ Before Landing Breakthrough Role on ‘Miami Vice’

The actor played Detective James ‘Sonny’ Crockett in the hit ‘80s NBC crime drama series.
Don Johnson Says He Lived ‘Below the National Poverty Level’ Before Landing Breakthrough Role on ‘Miami Vice’
Don Johnson attends the premiere of "Book Club: The Next Chapter" in New York City on May 8, 2023. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
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Actor Don Johnson has shared insights into the financial hardship he faced before landing his breakthrough role as Detective James “Sonny” Crockett in the ‘80s NBC crime drama series “Miami Vice.”

“I moved to Los Angeles in 1969 and was cast in a lot of forgettable roles, including five unsuccessful TV pilots,” Johnson, 74, told The Wall Street Journal in a recent interview published on Sept. 3.