In Hollywood, Don Johnson made his pitch for "coolest cop around" when he skyrocketed to fame as James “Sonny” Crocket on Miami Vice in the 1980s. But at home he became coolest dad around with the birth of his first child, Jesse, in 1982. Seven years later, Dakota, who would one day star as Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey, came along. Johnson went on to have three more children, including his youngest, Deacon, who was born 24 years after Jesse, in 2006. And he reportedly adopted ex-wife Melanie Griffith's son from a different relationship, Alexander Bauer, bringing his kid count to a whopping six.
Despite all his successes in Hollywood, including a star on the Walk of Fame, fatherhood appears to remain Johnson's most coveted role.
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"Those kids are dynamos, each and every one of them, and they’re a lot of fun to be with," Johnson told Parade in 2023. "So I spend a lot of my time hanging out with my kids and laughing and them making fun of me."
How many children does Don Johnson have, and who are their mothers? Find out more about Don Johnson's family life and history.
Related: Don Johnson Shares Rare Photo With All 6 of His Children for 75th Birthday
How many biological children does Don Johnson have?
Don Johnson has five biological children: Jesse, Dakota, Atherton, Jasper and Deacon. He reportedly adopted Alexander Bauer, whose biological parents are Melanie Griffith and actor Steven Bauer.
Recently, all six of Johnson's children posed for a photo in honor of the former Miami Vice star's 75th birthday. "My Kids are my Everything!!! Happy Birthday to me!" Johnson wrote in an Instagram caption.
Melanie Griffith, with whom Johnson also shares a daughter, Dakota, was the top commenter on the post. "How beautiful this is!!! FAMILY is everything. Happy Birthday, Don," Griffith wrote.
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Don Johnson had five biological children and one reportedly adopted child with three women:
Former Andy Warhol model Patti D'Arbanville and Johnson lived together in the early '80s and had one son, Jesse Wayne Johnson, in 1982. The two never married.
Melanie Griffith
Johnson and Melanie Griffith married twice (the first marriage lasted six months in 1976 and the second went from 1989 to 1996). They have one daughter, Dakota. Johnson reportedly adopted Alexander Bauer, Griffith's biological son with Steven Bauer, during their second marriage.
Johnson has been married to Phleger since 1999. They share children Atherton Grace Johnson, Jasper Breckenridge Johnson and Deacon James Johnson.
Related: Don Johnson Reveals the Life Experience That Fuels His Creative Drive
Who are Don Johnson's children?
Jesse Wayne Johnson
Jesse Wayne Johnson is Don Johnson's eldest son, whom he shares with former partner Patti D'Arbanville. His son's birth on Dec. 7, 1982 was a transformative moment for Johnson, who had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.
"I walked into the breakfast room one morning, and the sun was shining, and the birds were singing, and Patti was feeding the baby," Johnson said in a 1984 interview with PEOPLE. "I came staggering in and sat down and looked at them, and she looked at me, and I knew that if I didn't do something, she was going to leave. So I said, 'Patti, I'm a drunk and a drug addict, and I'm going to do something about it.'"
Johnson spent most of his childhood in Aspen, Colo., developing an affinity for cold-weather activities like ice hockey and snowboarding, he told Top Cat Films in 2009. He also played in a band (and shared a memory of him jamming out at a high school party) and made a small appearance in his father's show, Nash Bridges, as a teen.
The 2004 Occidental College graduate pursued an acting career after turning his tassel and has since appeared in recognizable shows like Hawaii Five-0, Grey's Anatomy and NCIS. His band Blame Baby released their debut EP, Honest Answers To Your Most Private Questions, in 2020, and Jesse teamed up with a pair of pals in 2021 for Trésjeté.
It's hitting all the right notes with Dad.
"My sons are all great musicians, and they’ve so far surpassed me," Don Johnson told Parade in 2023. "Now I’m the guy who just, “Oh, Dad, you can sit this one out. Here—here’s a tambourine. Play the tambourine.'"
Dakota Mayi Johnson
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Dakota Mayi Johnson was born on Oct. 4, 1989 and is the only biological child of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. When she was 12, Dakota got bit by "the bug" after appearing in a Teen Vogue photo shoot with other children of celebrities. She signed with IMG and modeled as a high schooler. In 2006, she became the first second-generation child to become Miss Golden Globe, a title her mother held in 1975.
Johnson moved to West Hollywood and got her start in the 2010 flick The Social Network, where she played Sean Parker's (Justin Timberlake) one-night stand. Other projects included 21 Jump Street and The Five-Year Engagement. In 2015, she starred as Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey, her breakthrough role.
Recent credits include The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019), The Lost Daughter (2021), Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022) and Madame Web (2024).
Dad often provided advice on what not to do as an actress.
"When she was starting to work, she would call me up and say, 'I’ve got this thing, and I don’t know how to handle it.' And I’d say “Lemme tell you how I handled that badly,'" Johnson told Parade.
Atherton Grace Johnson
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Atherton Grace Johnson, who goes by "Grace," is Don Johnson's first child with his current wife, Kelley Phleger. The child was a late Christmas gift, born on Dec. 28, 1999, and rarely made public appearances with her parents, who chose to raise her in Santa Barbara, which has far fewer shutterbugs than Los Angeles. She did wind up in the City of Angels, after all, however, when she attended USC for photography.
These days, you can mostly find Grace in front of a camera. She walked the Christian Cowan x The Powerpuff Girls runway and attended the Met Gala with her half-sister, Dakota, in 2019. She's since appeared in a music video with her brother Jesse for his song "Headcase."
Jasper Breckenridge Johnson
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Johnson and Phleger welcomed Jasper on June 6, 2002. Like Grace, Jasper spent much of his childhood outside of the spotlight. He enjoyed playing basketball and made the varsity squad as a freshman in high school. In a personal statement for recruiting hub NCSA, Johnson wrote, "My parents have never missed a game and support me every step of the way."
His brother, Jesse, was also a big-time cheerleader. In 2020, he got the money shot (a video) of Jasper scoring a game-winner. In his NCSA personal statement, Jasper mentioned he planned to major in business at a four-year college or university.
Deacon James Johnson
Deacon James was born on April 29, 2006, making the date more special for Johnson and Phleger. The couple was also celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary. Since then, Don has posted Instagram photos of his son playing piano, and Mom shared a sweet video of a father-son guitar jamming session. Deacon also sat next to Dad at the Super Bowl.
According to a 2023 photo posted during his senior year in high school, Deacon wants to be an astronaut someday.
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Alexander Bauer
Alexander Bauer was born on Aug.22, 1985. He is the son of Melanie Griffith and Steven Bauer. However, Johnson reportedly adopted Alexander when he remarried Griffith, a marriage from 1989-1996.
Related: Dakota Johnson's Net Worth in 2025 From 'Fifty Shades' to 'Madame Web' and Beyond
Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson share one biological child, a daughter, Dakota, who was born in 1989, during the couple's second marriage. Johnson also reportedly adopted Griffith's son with Steven Bauer, Alexander Bauer, born in August 1985.
Does Don Johnson have a relationship with his daughter Dakota?
Dakota Johnson recently appeared in a photo to celebrate her father's 75th birthday, so it seems the two are on good terms.
Johnson told Vogue in 2017 that she often traveled with her parents during childhood and was often away from home for months. She felt "consistently unmoored and discombobulated" and was in therapy by age 3.
"I feel like I grew up in the circus. I know planes, trains and automobiles. And really talented, weird people," Dakota spilled in a 2015 Another Magazine interview.
Dakota applied to Juilliard but got rejected. Her parents cut her off financially.
"We have a rule in the family that, you know, if you stay in school, you get to stay on the payroll. So, you go to college, you get to stay on the payroll," Don dished on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2021.
His daughter didn't need the handouts for long, scoring roles in The Social Network and, later, Fifty Shades of Grey.
"She does a darn good job at managing her world. I am so proud of her I could burst," her father gushed to Parade.
Related: Dakota Johnson's Dating History, From Chris Martin to a Masterson and More
Don Johnson has three sons: Jesse with former model Patti D'Arbanville and Jasper and Deacon with his current wife, Kelley Phleger. Jesse is his oldest, born in 1982, while his youngest, Deacon, came along in 2006. Reportedly, Johnson adopted Alexander Bauer, ex-wife Melanie Griffith's biological child born in 1985.
Does Don Johnson have grandchildren?
Don Johnson doesn't appear to have any grandchildren unless his children are (understandably) keeping any little ones private. Johnson has five biological children and reportedly an adopted son. The kids recently gathered for the actor's 75th birthday and were all smiles in a family photo (that did not include additional generations).
Related: Working Girl? More Like Working Mom! All About Melanie Griffith's Kids
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