Don Johnson Wife Kelley Phleger: Marriage Timeline, Ex-Wives, Kids, and Life Today
If you’re searching “Don Johnson wife,” the current answer is Kelley Phleger. Don Johnson has been married to Kelley since 1999, and their relationship is his longest, steadiest marriage—especially compared to the earlier, much more headline-heavy chapters of his romantic life. But because his past includes multiple marriages (including marrying Melanie Griffith twice), plus long-term relationships that produced children, the “wife” question gets tangled online. Here’s the clear, accurate timeline and the bigger context behind it.
Who Is Don Johnson?
Don Johnson is an American actor and producer best known for playing Sonny Crockett on Miami Vice, a role that turned him into an icon of 1980s pop culture. The show didn’t just make him famous; it helped define a whole era of television style—music, fashion, mood, and that “cool under pressure” energy that Johnson carried like it was natural breathing.
He later starred in Nash Bridges and has continued working for decades, popping up in films and series where his presence still reads as charismatic, slightly dangerous, and effortlessly confident. With that kind of long visibility, it’s normal that people want the personal-life basics too: who he married, who he had kids with, and what his life looks like now.
Who Is Don Johnson’s Wife?
Don Johnson’s wife is Kelley Phleger. She’s a San Francisco native who has been described as a Montessori school teacher and a socialite connected to Bay Area philanthropic and social circles. Unlike many celebrity spouses, she didn’t build her identity around Hollywood. Her public image is more “grounded partner” than “spotlight chaser,” which is one reason their marriage has avoided the constant tabloid churn that followed Johnson in earlier decades.
When people say “Don Johnson wife,” they usually mean Kelley today. But older bios and recycled articles often mix in his previous marriages, which is why you’ll see different names floating around if the source isn’t updated.
When Did Don Johnson and Kelley Phleger Get Married?
Don Johnson married Kelley Phleger on April 29, 1999. That date matters because it places their marriage firmly in his later-life chapter—after the wildest peak-fame years and after his most public, heavily discussed marriage (to Melanie Griffith) had ended.
They’ve been together ever since, which is a big reason Kelley is often described as the stabilizing presence in his adult life. It’s not just a marriage on paper; it’s a long stretch of shared life that has included raising children, navigating a public career, and maintaining a relatively calm private rhythm.
Do Don Johnson and Kelley Phleger Have Children?
Yes. Don Johnson and Kelley Phleger have three children together: a daughter, Atherton Grace, and two sons, Jasper Breckinridge and Deacon. Their kids are often mentioned in entertainment coverage because Don Johnson is still a recognizable name and because his family includes other famous children from earlier relationships.
Kelley and Don’s children have grown up in a world where their father is a known figure, but they have not been turned into constant publicity props. You’ll see them referenced and occasionally photographed, but the family’s overall approach has felt more private than performative.
Don Johnson’s Ex-Wives
Don Johnson has been married multiple times, and this is where many “wife” searches get messy. The two most significant ex-wife chapters people ask about are Melanie Griffith (twice) and earlier marriages that ended quickly.
Rather than getting lost in rumor-heavy summaries, the clean framing is this: Don Johnson’s most famous ex-wife is Melanie Griffith, and his current wife is Kelley Phleger.
Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith: Married Twice
Don Johnson’s relationship with Melanie Griffith is one of the most famous chapters of his personal life because it had everything the public obsesses over: intense chemistry, big age-gap headlines at the time, a marriage, a divorce, a reunion, and a child who later became a major star.
They first married in January 1976 and divorced later the same year. Years later, they reunited and married again in June 1989. That second marriage lasted until 1996.
They share a daughter, Dakota Johnson, born in 1989. If you’ve ever wondered why Dakota’s name is so often connected to Don Johnson’s marriage history, that’s why: she’s the living link between his most public marriage chapter and a newer generation of celebrity culture.
What makes this relationship important to the timeline is that it explains why many people mistakenly assume Melanie Griffith is his “wife” in the present tense. They were married twice, the story is famous, and Dakota keeps it culturally active. But the marriage ended in 1996, years before Don married Kelley in 1999.
His Earlier Marriages and Why They’re Often Vague
Don Johnson also had very early marriages that were annulled quickly. These are sometimes mentioned in biographical summaries but often without detailed naming, partly because those unions were brief and partly because the individuals involved did not seek public attention. When you see articles that sound oddly vague about “a first wife” or “a marriage that was annulled,” that’s usually what they’re referring to.
The practical takeaway is simple: his long, publicly documented marriages are the ones that matter for most readers—Melanie Griffith (twice) in the past, Kelley Phleger now.
Relationships People Confuse With “Wife”
Don Johnson’s history includes significant relationships that are not marriages but are still part of the family timeline. The most important is his relationship with actress Patti D’Arbanville, with whom he shares a son, Jesse Wayne Johnson (born in the early 1980s). Because Jesse is one of Don’s children, some sites incorrectly label Patti as a wife. She was not his wife, but she is part of his life story as the mother of one of his children.
This is a common pattern online: people treat “mother of his child” as “wife,” or they treat any long-term relationship as a marriage. With Don Johnson, those shortcuts create confusion fast because he has both children and marriages across different eras.
How Many Children Does Don Johnson Have Total?
In total, Don Johnson is widely reported to have five children: one son with Patti D’Arbanville (Jesse), one daughter with Melanie Griffith (Dakota), and three children with Kelley Phleger (Atherton, Jasper, and Deacon).
If you’re searching “Don Johnson wife” because you’re really trying to understand his family structure, that’s the cleanest way to map it: three children in his current marriage, two children from earlier relationships.
Who Is Kelley Phleger Outside of Being His Wife?
Kelley Phleger is often described as an educator and a San Francisco social figure, with a background rooted more in community and private life than in entertainment. She isn’t known for acting roles or celebrity business ventures; she’s known for being a steady presence.
That difference matters because it helps explain why their marriage has lasted. When one partner lives in a constant public story machine, a spouse who values privacy can help keep home life from turning into a second stage. For many celebrity couples, the relationship becomes content. With Don and Kelley, the relationship has generally looked like life.
Why Don Johnson’s Marriage to Kelley Phleger Gets Attention
Part of the interest is simple: Don Johnson is still famous. But there’s also contrast at work. His earlier decades were loud in the public imagination—Miami Vice fame, high-profile relationships, and the tabloid-style attention that followed the era. His marriage to Kelley represents a calmer chapter. It’s the long stretch after the peak chaos, where the headlines are more often about work and family than scandal.
And because he’s the father of other famous people, especially Dakota Johnson, the public keeps revisiting his personal timeline. When Dakota gives an interview, when Don appears on a talk show, or when a new generation discovers Miami Vice, people search “wife” again as if the story is new.
Don Johnson’s Life Today
Don Johnson has continued acting, occasionally grabbing headlines for new projects and for candid comments about parenting, success, and the realities of adulthood in the spotlight. But his personal life today is most consistently described through one relationship: his long marriage to Kelley Phleger and the family they’ve built together.
In other words, if you’re trying to understand his present-day private life, it’s less about dramatic relationship twists and more about longevity—raising kids, maintaining a marriage, and continuing a career that has spanned generations.
