The Hollywood star Don Johnson spent years in poverty paying his dues as a struggling actor before he finally found success on the television show Miami Vice at the age of 35. In a new interview, Johnson is opening up about living the hard life before he finally made it in Hollywood.

Johnson’s Humble Beginnings

Born in Flat Creek, Missouri to a 19 year-old farmer father and a 16 year-old beautician mother, Johnson grew up in poverty.

“It leaves a mark,” he recalled of this experience. “For years I feared losing everything. I managed it with meditation.”

Despite not having much money, Johnson still learned a lot from his parents.

“I got my work ethic from them,” Johnson explained.

Johnson described himself as a “wild thing” who was sent to juvenile court multiple times in his youth. He was kicked off his high school football team for falling asleep during a business class, and he had to take drama to make up some credits. Johnson’s teacher immediately saw his raw talent and cast him as Tony in West Side Story.

This ended up changing Johnson’s life forever.

“The moment I stood on stage, it was a drug,” he recalled. “The audience was showing me love, which more than made up for the stuff I didn’t get at home.”

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Johnson Heads To Hollywood

Johnson moved to Los Angeles in 1969 to try and make his Hollywood dreams come true. While he managed to land some small film roles, he struggled for years to actually make a name for himself as an actor.

“[I] was cast in a lot of forgettable roles, including five unsuccessful TV pilots. For 15 years, I lived below the national poverty level,” he admitted.

Johnson’s big break came in 1983, when he landed an audition for the TV show Miami Vice. As soon as he saw the script, he felt a strong connection to it.

“I couldn’t believe somebody had seemingly been jotting down my thoughts, feelings and emotions. The part was meant for me,” he recalled. “The audition went well, so well that I was convinced it was a sure thing.”

“Then came the letdown,” he continued. “First the project was delayed, and then it was pushed forward. Months later, I landed Cease Fire, an independent film in Miami. Just as I finished the movie, Tony Yerkovich, the creator of Miami Vice, called from L.A. to offer me the part. I was annoyed with the process but slipped right into the role.”

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Johnson’s Hollywood Dream Comes True

Miami Vice was a massive hit and ran on NBC from 1984 until 1989. Johnson earned an Emmy nomination for his work on the show in 1985. After years of struggling, Johnson couldn’t believe that his dream had finally come true.

“For the first year and a half, I was like, ‘I’m just going to stay focused here.’ I’d put in some pretty good struggles. I didn’t want it to all of a sudden – poof,” Johnson later told Parade. “It was kind of the end of the second season when I got my nomination for an Emmy, I realized, ‘Oh! Maybe there’s something to this.'”

“I mean, I’m a farm boy from Missouri. It was a dream,” he added.

Johnson has enjoyed decades of success in the years since then. He’s starred on television shows like Nash Bridges, and in movies like Machete and Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. Despite his A-list Hollywood stardom, however, Johnson has never forgotten where he came from.

“As for my family house in Flat Creek, it’s still there. I bought it in 1999,” he said. “I haven’t been back since the start of the pandemic, but I’m looking forward to going soon. I’ve learned to appreciate the good memories there and the painful ones, too.”

Johnson’s story is an inspiring one, as it shows what can happen if you never give up on your dreams. We wish him many years of success and happiness to come!

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