Don Johnson: from teenage car thief to Miami Vice icon

Don Johnson: the incredible story of the actor who started out stealing cars

How do you go from stealing cars to being the idol of a generation? Don Johnson's biography has more twists than an episode of 'Miami Vice'.

A childhood straight out of a movie (a film noir, that is)

Raised by teenage parents who fought constantly, Johnson learned to survive on his own. At twelve he lost his virginity to a seventeen-year-old girl. By thirteen he was already stealing cars. At fifteen he was an ex-convict. He was emancipated and moved in with a waitress. The reform school was so unpleasant that he promised himself never to go back, which pushed him to finish his studies.

The stroke of luck that changed everything

He was living a lifestyle incompatible with school, but one day he fell asleep in Business class. To raise his grade, he had no choice but to sign up for drama. That chance turn led him to acting, first in TV series and then in 'Miami Vice', the show that defined eighties style and, as word had it, captured Spielberg's attention.

A career beyond the cocaine stripes

Although his role as Sonny Crockett brought him worldwide fame, Johnson also shone in 'Nash Bridges' and in the film 'Tin Cup', which many people love to rewatch. His Spanish dubbing voice, Salvador Vidal, also deserves a mention for his distinctive voice.

The paradox of the genetic lottery

Some attribute his success to good genetics and to his place of birth (the United States, not Siero or Almansa). The conclusion of the debate is clear: life takes many turns, and glory days can come from the worst starts. That said, as one analysis wryly notes, "I don't envy him anything; I envy more those who at 18 met a beautiful woman with a good head on her shoulders." But that's another story.