- Don Johnson from the hit show “Miami Vice” had a tough childhood.
- The actor escaped home when he was 16 and put himself through college.
- He turned to drugs, alcohol, and money to fill a void of unhappiness until he met his wife, Kelly Phleger.
Starting with his childhood, Johnson said it was horrible. His father, Wayne Johnson, was only 19, and his mother, Nell, was 17 when he was born.
Don Johnson in Florida, in 1986 | Source: Getty Images
He grew up poor and around abuse. By the time he was 12, his parents had divorced, and at 16, Johnson was so unhappy that he decided to leave home.
Don Johnson in New York in 1985 | Source: Getty Images
However, after amassing fame and all the luxuries he could possess, Johnson still felt something missing in his life—happiness. He also discovered that he was never able to let go of the fear his parents instilled in him through their “corporal punishments.”
Therefore, Johnson resorted to alcohol, drugs, and women. He might have thought that 20 cars, boats, and a ranch in Aspen, Colorado, were all he longed for, but he admitted, “I was intensely unhappy.”
Don Johnson on “Miami Vice,” in 2006 | Source: Getty Images
Falling in Love with a Teacher
Luckily for Johnson, he met someone who would inspire him to improve his life and fill his void of unhappiness. The actor was at the city mayor Willie Brown’s birthday party when he crossed eyes with Kelly Phleger. He described her as “a woman of substance” he had to get to know.
Kelley Phleger and Don Johnson in California in 2001 | Source: Getty Images
Kelley Phleger, Don Johnson, and their daughter Grace in California in 2010 | Source: Getty Images
Johnson considers himself lucky to have married his current wife, thus, he joked, “I had a rare moment of clarity and asked this woman to marry me, and I still think she’s under a spell. And so I beg of you not to snap your fingers because God knows what will happen if she ever comes to.”
The actor expressed that he attached his value to his assets, but “Through training, spirituality, and education, you come to know that you are enough, and you don’t need anything extra.”
Kelley Phleger, Don Johnson, and their daughter Grace in California in 2018 | Source: Getty Images
Above all else, Johnson is grateful to have survived his wild days. After “Miami Vice,” he starred in “Nash Bridges.” Things were a bit slow for him after the series ended, but now he’s back in demand and has been part of successful projects like “The Book Club” and “Django Unchained.”
