The Five Wives Of Don Johnson: Inside His Longest Marriage To Kelley Phleger And Dramatic Relationship Timeline

Don Johnson, the iconic star of Miami Vice and Nash Bridges, has a personal life as dramatic and captivating as his on-screen roles. As of late 2025, the actor is celebrating over two and a half decades of marriage to his fifth wife, Kelley Phleger, a union that has proven to be his longest and most stable. While his career is defined by his cool, charismatic characters, his romantic history is marked by five trips down the aisle to four different women, including a famously on-again, off-again relationship with actress Melanie Griffith.

This deep dive explores the complete timeline of Don Johnson’s marriages, from his elusive teenage unions to the secrets behind his current, enduring partnership with Kelley Phleger, detailing the children, the drama, and the key to his lasting happiness today. It's a journey through Hollywood romance, proving that sometimes, the fifth time truly is the charm for the legendary star.

Don Johnson: A Complete Biographical Profile and Family Overview

Don Johnson, born Donnie Wayne Johnson, has cemented his status as a Hollywood icon, but his life off-screen is just as notable, particularly his extensive family and relationship history. Here is a snapshot of the actor's profile:

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• Full Name: Donnie Wayne Johnson
• Date of Birth: December 15, 1949
• Place of Birth: Flat Creek, Missouri, U.S.
• Occupation: Actor, Producer, Director, Singer
• Notable Roles: James "Sonny" Crockett in Miami Vice, Nash Bridges in Nash Bridges, Richard S. Wershe Sr. in The Hot Spot, The Sheriff in Django Unchained, Arthur in Book Club, and Chief Bill Gillespie in Watchmen.
• Total Marriages: Five (to four different women)
• Current Wife: Kelley Phleger (m. 1999)
• Past Wives: Unknown Spouse (1968), Unknown Spouse (1973), Melanie Griffith (1976, 1989)
• Children: Five total
• Jesse Johnson (b. 1982) with Patti D'Arbanville
• Dakota Johnson (b. 1989) with Melanie Griffith
• Atherton Grace Johnson (b. 1999) with Kelley Phleger
• Jasper Johnson (b. 2002) with Kelley Phleger
• Deacon Johnson (b. 2006) with Kelley Phleger
• Grandchildren: Dakota Johnson is a famous actress in her own right, and his son Jesse is also an actor.

The Turbulent Early Years: Five Marriages and Four Wives

Don Johnson’s romantic life began early and was characterized by rapid-fire commitments and annulments, a reflection of the tumultuous 1960s and 70s Hollywood scene. His path to finding lasting love was anything but straightforward, involving two mysterious, brief unions and a highly publicized, dramatic relationship with a fellow star.

Marriage 1 & 2: The Elusive, Annulled Unions

Before his major rise to fame, Johnson had two marriages that were so brief they are often left out of his public narrative, and the identities of the women remain largely unknown to the public.

• First Marriage (1968): Johnson married an unnamed woman in 1968. The marriage was annulled within months.
• Second Marriage (1973): A second, equally brief marriage to another unnamed woman occurred in 1973, which was also annulled the same year.

These early, short-lived commitments highlight a period of searching for the Miami Vice star. While details are scarce, the fact that both ended in annulment rather than divorce suggests they were fleeting, perhaps impulsive decisions made in his early twenties.

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Marriage 3 & 4: The Melanie Griffith Saga

The relationship between Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith is one of Hollywood’s most iconic and complicated love stories, resulting in two separate marriages and the birth of their famous daughter, Dakota Johnson.

• First Union (1976): Johnson first met Griffith, the daughter of his co-star Tippi Hedren, when she was just 14 and he was 22, on the set of The Harrad Experiment. They moved in together when she was 15 and married on her 18th birthday in 1976. This first marriage lasted only six months before they divorced.
• Second Union (1989–1996): Over a decade later, after both had experienced other marriages and relationships, they reconciled. They remarried in 1989 and welcomed their daughter, Dakota Johnson, later that year. This second attempt lasted seven years, finally ending in divorce in 1996.

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, the two have maintained a close and supportive bond, particularly for their daughter, Dakota, who has become a major Hollywood star herself. This commitment to co-parenting and mutual respect is a testament to the deep, if complicated, history they share.

Marriage 5: Kelley Phleger—The Key to Lasting Happiness

After the rollercoaster of his previous marriages, Don Johnson finally found enduring stability with his current wife, Kelley Phleger. Their relationship began in the late 1990s and has since become his longest and most successful marriage, spanning over 25 years as of 2025.

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How Don and Kelley Met and Married

Kelley Phleger, a former San Francisco socialite and Montessori school teacher, met Don Johnson at a birthday party in 1996. Their connection was immediate and strong, leading to their marriage three years later. They tied the knot in a private ceremony in 1999 at the home of then-San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

Kelley is notably younger than Don Johnson, and the couple has a striking height difference, which they often joke about. However, these superficial differences have done nothing to diminish their profound connection and partnership.

Family Life and Children with Kelley Phleger

With Kelley, Don Johnson embraced a more settled family life, welcoming three children who complete his family of five: Atherton Grace, Jasper, and Deacon Johnson. Kelley Phleger is also a devoted stepmother to Don’s older children, Jesse and Dakota. The family is often pictured together, demonstrating a close-knit and supportive environment, even celebrating Johnson's 75th birthday together recently.

Kelley, who avoids the Hollywood spotlight, provides a grounding presence for the actor. She has been credited with helping him maintain a more private and stable life away from the public eye that dominated his Miami Vice era.

The Secret to His Longest Marriage: Trust and Kindness

The longevity of Don Johnson and Kelley Phleger’s marriage is a topic of great curiosity, especially given his history of brief unions. In a recent interview following their 25th wedding anniversary in 2024, Johnson shared the surprisingly simple, yet profound, keys to their success.

He emphasized that their enduring relationship is built on a foundation of "unspoken trust and kindness." This sentiment suggests that after years of high-profile, tumultuous relationships, Johnson found peace and true partnership in a woman who prioritizes mutual respect and a quiet life.

The three key elements Don Johnson often mentions are:

• Unspoken Trust: A deep, inherent belief in one another's intentions.
• Kindness: A constant effort to treat each other with grace and consideration.
• Shared Values: Kelley's background outside of the entertainment industry provides a necessary balance and focus on family life.

Johnson’s fifth marriage stands as a powerful testament to personal evolution. From the whirlwind of his younger years, the actor has settled into a comfortable, long-lasting partnership. Kelley Phleger is not just Don Johnson's wife; she is the anchor of his mature life, proving that a solid foundation of trust and kindness can outlast any Hollywood drama.