Family: The Core of His Life
In the photo, Johnson sat wearing a fedora hat, scarf, and coat on a staircase adorned with Christmas decorations. His caption, "My Kids are my Everything!!! Happy Birthday to me!!!", perfectly captured his sentiment. His wife Kelley Phleger, dressed in a black dress with an embroidered collar, was by his side. The couple, married in 1999, share three children - Grace, 24, Jasper, 22, and Deacon, 18. Daughter Dakota, 35, from his marriage to ex-wife Melanie Griffith, and son Jesse, 42, from his relationship with actress Patti D’Arbanville, also joined in the celebration. Griffith herself, 67, wrote in a comment, "How beautiful this is!!! FAMILY is everything. Happy Birthday Don." Johnson considers Griffith's son Alexander, whom she shares with actor Steven Bauer, as one of his own, having officially adopted him. Stella Banderas, Griffith's daughter with ex Antonio Banderas, is often seen smiling at family occasions, adding to the warmth of the gathering.Johnson's journey in Hollywood began in the 1980s when he was a heartthrob. The birth of his son Jesse in 1982 was a turning point for him as he battled drug and alcohol addiction. When his youngest son was born in 2006, he expressed the same excitement, saying it was "no less exciting" than the first time he became a father. "I love kids, so it’s more good times, more joy, and more fun," he shared with OK! Magazine.
Speaking to PEOPLE earlier this year, Johnson confessed to feeling "sad" that all his children are out of the house. However, he is also mindful of maintaining a work-life balance. After more than five decades in show business, he now picks and chooses roles, often opting for supporting ones. He said, "I still like doing what I do, and I still get the same joy out of it, but I just don't want to work those long hours and be away from my family."
Don Johnson's life is a beautiful blend of his Hollywood career and his cherished family, and he continues to embrace both with open arms.