Miami Vice Cast: Their Real Life Partners
The Miami Vice cast were some of the most famous celebs! The TV series was a trailblazer back in the ’80s, setting new standards for the production value on TV.
The shows executive producer Michael Mann wanted wanted a show about law enforcement… but with a twist!
The series is what put Miami and South Florida on the map with its memorable backdrops, unforgettable soundtrack and stylish clothes.
The American crime drama ran for five seasons (a total of 112 episodes) from 1984 to 1990. Its enduring appeal and the nostalgia it evokes has millions of people still watching today. There’s even a reboot on the way being made – by Vin Diesel and Chris Morgan – that will probably air on NBC next year.
Surely we all remember the show’s special two-hour series finale? Well, it was supposedly not the final episode! There were three ‘lost episodes’ that are now shown in re-runs and a fourth that is rumoured to be lost forever…
Image Source/ Hitberry
It’s been more than 30 years since the television series was on our screens. And back then there wasn’t IMDb everywhere for us to look up our favourite cast members! Let’s see who the undercover detectives ended up with…
James ‘Sonny’ Crockett – Don Johnson
Don Johnson played the role of the suave, Ray-Ban wearing, Detective James “Sonny” Crockett.
Don’s role as James was so impressive that he even won a Golden Globe for his work!
Image Source/ i80s
There was initially hesitation in regards to hiring Don – he had starred in many pilots that had not gone on to series – but eventually the producers and casting directors were persuaded.
Don’s role as Sonny helped defined fashion and pop culture in the ’80s with his Armani suits and Ferrari work car.
He went on to appear in many other TV shows and movies including Nash Bridges from 1996 to 2001 and Django Unchained in 2012.
His dating history…
Don has dated many famous actresses in his time.
He first dated Pamela des Barres – a well known American socialite – back in 1972.
Don Johnson and Pamela des Barres – 1972
Image Source/ Pinterest
He then went on to marry Melanie Griffith who he met when she was 14 years old on the set of a show he was filming in 1972. They married in 1976 and filed for divorce just six months later. They reunited and had a daughter close to the start of 1989 and were married again from that year until 1996.
Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith – 1972-1976 and 1989-1996
Image Source/ PopSugar
Between their first and second marriage, Don was a serial dater. He dated country singer Tanya Tucker in 1978; Sally Adams in 1980; he lived with Patti D’Arbanville from 1981-1985 and had a son, Jesse, with her. He also dated Brabra Streisand and was engaged to Jodi Lyn O’Keefe from 1995-1996!
Eventually, he married San Francisco socialite and nursery school teacher, Kelley Phleger in 1999. The couple have three children together, a daughter and two sons – Grace, Jasper and Deacon.
Don Johnson and Kelley Phleger – 1999-Present
Image Source/ CelebMafia
Gina Calabrese – Saundra Santiago
Saundra Santiago played the role of the fearless police detective Gina Navarro Calabrese.
Image Source/ Pinterest
Saundra’s acting career slowed a little immediately after the show. In 1999, she landed a role in CBS’s longest running soap, Guiding Light and from there, she’s alternated between TV and theatre.
Over the years she’s appeared on The Sopranos, Damages, Snowfall, Blue Bloods and True Detective.
Her love life is very different to Don’s…
Saundra seems to have had better luck than many of her co-stars in finding and marrying her life long partner early on. She’s been happily married to Roger Squitero since 1999.
Saundra Santiago and Roger Squitero – 1999-Present
Image Source/ Broadway Shows
Ricardo ‘Rico’ Tubbs – Philip Michael Thomas
Crockett and Tubbs first meet as they are both after the same drugs trafficker: Esteban Calderone.
Image Source/ Listal
Philip was already quite successful before Miami Vice. He made his Broadway debut back in 1971 before landing major roles in movies, Coonskin and Sparkle.
Nowadays, he is probably most famous for being the voice of Lance Vance in the Grand Theft Auto games. After his voice work in the 2006 release, Philip decided to retire from acting.
Philip’s love life is TURBULENT…
Back in the ’70s, Philip dated American singer, Dionne Warwick.
Philip Michael Thomas and Dionne Warwick – 1970s
Image Source/ Pinterest
He then went on to date the American actress, Sheila Wills, before dating Dhaima Matthews from 1982 to 1986.
He then went on to marry Kassandra Green in 1986, right after the split with Sheila. The couple had five children together before getting divorced in 1998.
Philip’s been single ever since and also have six other children from previous relationships. Yep, that’s eleven children in total!
Philip Michael Thomas and Kassandra Green – 1986-1998
Image Source/ Bild
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Trudy Joplin – Olivia Brown
‘Big Booty’ Trudy was the work partner of Gina; together they helped to attract the prostitutes.
Image Source/ Pens & Patron
Olivia was very active at the time appearing in many TV show throughout the ’80s and ’90s. She appeared on The Love Boat, Family Matters, Designing Women and 90210. She went on to appear in popular shows Moesha and 7th Heaven with which she had a long term role until 2003.
Olivia’s dating history…
Olivia met her ex-husband, Mykelti Williamson – an actor best known for his role in Forrest Gump – on the set of Miami Vice. They were together for two years between 1983 and 1985 until their divorce.
Olivia Brown and Mykelti Williamson – 1983-1985
Image Source/ Getty Images
She’s currently married to James Okonkwo with whom she has two children.
The couple must be very private, as there doesn’t seem to be any photos of them online!
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Stan Switek – Michael Talbott
We saw Stan overcome many demons while on the show: a gambling addiction, the death of his work partner – John and not getting a promotion due to the company’s lack of funding.
Image Source/ Fusion Movies
Michael was riding high when he landed the role of Detective Stan with roles in Sanford and Son and M*A*S*H, as well as roles in cult films like Carrie and Mommie Dearest. After Miami Vice, he appeared in several TV series and movies including small roles in Little Vegas, Guilty as Charged and Sunset Heat.
His dating life is… non-existent?
Michael is obviously a very private person as there’s no record of him dating anyone over the years.
Image Source/ Facebook
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Martin ‘Marty’ Castillo – Edward James Olmos
Marty is the commander of the Vice division – i.e. what every character previously works in.
Image Source/ Pinterest
Edward’s probably the most successful of the cast since the show ended. He’s earned two Golden Globes, an Emmy and an Oscar nomination over the years!
He had a significant role in Stand and Deliver then went on to make his directorial debut in American Me. He’s had consistent work with roles in many TV shows and movies such as Selena, Battlestar Galactica, Dexter, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and the original Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049.
Let’s dish the dirt on his love life…
Edward has married three times. First he married Katija Keels, the daughter of actor Howard Keel, in 1971. They had two children, Bodie and Mico, before divorcing in 1992.
Edward James Olmos and Katija Keels – 1971-1992
Image Source/ Getty Images
He then married the American actress, Lorraine Bracco, in 1994 before divorce in 2002 after five years of separation. Over this period, Edward adopted four children: Daniela, Michael, Brandon, and Tamiko.
Finally, he went on to marry actress Lymari Nadal in 2002 after a long-term relationship. However, the pair announced that they had separated in 2013.
Edward James Olmos and Lymari Nadal – 2002-2013
Image Source/ Zimbio
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Lawrence ‘Larry’ Zito – John Diehl
Larry was the partner of Stan who was killed in an undercover investigation. He was given a lethal dose of cocaine and found by Stan!
When he got bored of his role after three seasons, he left to pursue other opportunities. He still acted though and has made many appearances on TV over the years, with roles in shows such as Nash Bridges, 18 Wheels of Justice, NYPD Blue and The Shield.
John’s appeared in over 140 films including Jurassic Park III and Pearl Harbor.
He found his one true love…
John married the American singer, Julie Christensen, in 1992. The couple have one son, Magnus.
John Diehl and Julie Christensen – 1992-Present
Image Source/ WhosDatedWho
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Isadore ‘Izzy’ Moreno – Martin Ferrero
Izzy was the gullible conman and petty criminal who also gave Crockett and Tubbs valuable information.
Image Source/ GTA Wiki
After the show, martin went on to appear in several movies such as Jurassic Park (he was the guy who freaks out on the toilet). He also appeared on Nash Bridges and The X-Files. He hasn’t been active ever since!
Image Source/ USA Today
His dating life is… where?
Martin is another who’s kept his dating life totally secret over the years and we have no idea who he’s dated!
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Caitlin Davies-Crockett – Sheena Easton
Sonny was hired to be the bodyguard of famous singer, Caitlin. And, as if the surname didn’t give it away enough – Crockett falls in love with the pop star and the pair get married.
However, their marriage is short lived as Caitlin is killed by an enemy of Sonny’s. To add insult to injury, Sonny learns that Caitlin was seven weeks pregnant when she died!
Image Source/ Deux Flics à Miami
Sheena Easton is better known as a singer than actress. You may recognise her from the hits ‘9 to 5’, ‘We’ve Got Tonight’ and ‘Sugar Walls’.
Her love life…
Sheena has been married four times and has two adopted children – Jake and Skylar.
None of her marriages have been long lasting. Her first marriage to Sandi Easton lasted for eight months; her second to Rob Light only lasted for eighteen months; her marriage to third husband, Tim Delarm lasted for just one year; her final marriage to John Minoli lasted for less than a year.
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Valerie Gordon – Pam Grier
Pam was a love interest of Tubbs who had worked with him as an officer in New York.
Image Source/ Deadshirt
Pam is best known for her many roles in 70s’ blaxploitation/ women in prison themed movies, such as: Sheba, Baby, Foxy Brown and The Big Bird Cage.
After starring in Quentin Tarantino’s film Jackie Brown (1997). he went on to say that she was most probably the first woman action star in cinema!
She has continued to star on TV, starring in shows such as The L Word, Linc’s and most recently, Bless This Mess.
Her love life is complicated to say the least…
Pam started dating famous basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar just before he converted to Islam. The pair were VERY serious and Kareem even asked Pam to marry him but not without giving her an ultimatum – she had to convert to his religion. He apparently said:
‘If you don’t commit to me today, I’m getting married at 2 this afternoon. She’s a converted Muslim, and she’s been prepared for me,’
He went on to say:
‘Once you become Muslim, you might appreciate another wife’.
Pam ended up rejecting Kareem’s proposal, and the basketball player did in fact get married to the other woman that afternoon!
Pam Grier and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – ?
Image Source/ Breitbart
She met her next partner, Freddie Prinze, whilst they were both shooting the movie Coffy in 1973.
The pair considered themselves each other’s soul mates and discussed marriage and children. Prinze wanted Pam to have his child but she was unsure about his mental state – he suffered from depression and an addiction to drugs – and hence did not want to bring a child into the world while he was still struggling.
The couple ended up breaking up, but remained on friendly terms and in contact with each other. In fact, Pam was one of the last people Freddie ever talked to before he committed suicide in 1977.
Pam Grier and Freddie Prinze – 1973-?
Image Source/ PopCulture
Pam started dating Richard Pryor when they were both cast in the biopic movie, Greased Lightning. However, they had known each other prior to this through Freddie Prinze.
Pam helped Richard to quit his drug addiction, however, he ended up relapsing after six months. Not only did this have an affect on their relationship, but her physically! She revealed in her memoir that some of the cocaine that Pryor was taking had entered her system. She had a build up of the drugs ‘residue’ in her cervix which made the doctor question how and where he had used the drug…
As if that wasn’t bad enough, he also got ENGAGED to ANOTHER woman while they were still together. Good riddance!
Pam Grier and Richard Pryor – 1977-?
Image Source/ New York Post
Pam has also been linked to Don Cornelius, Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Evans and Peter Hempel.
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The Miami Vice Cast was also made up of up-and-coming actors for guest roles, such as…
Frank Mosca – Stanley Tucci
As if to confuse things on purpose, Stanley played multiple extras on the show; however, he is probably most famous for his role of Frank Mosca.
Frank was a mob boss who was the head of a drugs empire (as well as other things)!
Image Source/ Miami Vice Wiki
You might recognise Stanley from his roles in The Devil Wears Prada, The Lovely Bones and Maid in Manhattan.
Get your tissues at the ready people…
Stanley’s first wife, Kate, sadly passed away from breast cancer in 2009. Together, Stanley and Kate had three children and Stanley even raised Kate’s first two children from her previous marriage to actor Alexander R. Scott.
However, it wasn’t necessarily happily ever after for the couple, as Stanley had an affair with actress Edie Falco in the early 2000s. The pair were co-stars in the Broadway show Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. Although it would appear that Stanley realised his mistakes and soon returned to Kate and the children.
Stanley Tucci and Kate Tucci – 1995-2009
Image Source/ Daily Mail
Stanley met his second wife, Felicity, at the wedding of Emily Blunt – Felicity’s sister – and John Krasinski. It was Emily that actually introduced the pair!
Stanley and Felicity have two children together, a son, Matteo, born in 2015, and a daughter, Emilia, born in 2018.
Stanley Tucci and Felicity Blunt – 2011-Present
Image Source/ Entertainment Tonight
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Keller – Laurence Fishburne
Keller who is a prison guard who is brought in to help the Vice department bring down a drugs ring but ends up backstabbing Crockett and Tubbs!
Image Source/ Why Does It Exist?
Apart from Miami Vice, Laurence has starred in the Matrix trilogy, Othello and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
His dating history…
In 1985, Laurence married fellow actress Hajna O. Moss and together they have two children – a son, Langston and a daughter, Montana. However, the marriage didn’t last and the pair divorced sometime in the 90s.
Whilst filming Deep Cover in 1992, he fell in love with his co-star Victoria Dillard and the pair dated from 1992-1995.
His latest high-profile relationship was with Gina Torres. They met in 2001 and were married in 2002! The pair had a daughter, Delilah in 2007. Yet again, Laurence experienced heartbreak after it was announced that Gina and Laurence had separated in 2016.
Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres – 2001-2016
Image Source/ Zimbio
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