Before becoming famous as 'Miami Vice,' Don Johnson struggled with poverty and was constantly worried about losing everything.

Don Johnson was an overnight success that took years of struggle.

In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, "Miami Vice" actor revealed that he spent several years residing below the national poverty line prior to achieving fame in Hollywood.

Growing up in poverty, Johnson feared losing everything for years. However, he managed to overcome this fear through meditation.

Johnson, born to a 16-year-old mother and 19-year-old father in Flat Creek, Missouri, recalls his childhood as both "interesting and idyllic" but admits that his "parents’ absence and abuse made him feel abandoned."

In Missouri, his father was a failed farmer, prompting the family to relocate to Wichita, Kansas, where his dad secured a job at Boeing and advanced rapidly, while his mother pursued a career as a beautician.

"I got my work ethic from them," Johnson recalled.

Although his father worked at Boeing, he and his three younger siblings resided in a small house with a single bathroom in projects originally constructed as employee housing for Boeing. We were still financially struggling.

In May, he shared with Parade that he faced numerous emotional and psychological challenges as a young person, but he didn't realize it until later that these difficulties were what sparked his creativity and served as the driving force behind his success.

Johnson's parents divorced when he was 11, and he initially lived with his mom, "but she was unable to handle a 12-year-old misbehaved child like me."

The actor remembered how he eventually got into serious trouble and ended up in juvenile court. The judge believed he would benefit from living with his father, so he moved in with him. His father taught him how to hunt and fish, and those times were enchanting.

"It leaves a mark. For years I feared losing everything. I managed it with meditation." — Don Johnson

In his interview with Parade, Johnson remembered being a "wild thing" who was "very inventive" and got into a lot of trouble, including being kicked out of school. Despite this, he graduated from Wichita South High School, which marked a turning point in his life.

After being kicked off the football team for sleeping in a business class, he had to take drama to make up the credits. However, his teacher saw potential in him and cast him as Tony in "West Side Story."

According to Johnson, standing on stage and receiving love from the audience was like a drug, making up for the lack of love at home, as he told the Wall Street Journal.

Johnson received a partial scholarship to the University of Kansas for a summer program, which eventually led to a full ride as a drama major. However, he left his sophomore year to join the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

In 1969, he relocated to Los Angeles and secured roles in films such as "The Harrad Experiment," where he encountered Tippi Hedren and Melanie Griffith. However, he faced challenges in establishing himself as a successful actor.

He lived below the national poverty level for 15 years and was cast in forgettable roles, including five unsuccessful TV pilots.

In 1983, Johnson, who was 34 at the time, felt an immediate connection while auditioning for "Miami Vice."

"He was astonished that someone appeared to have been taking note of his thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The section was intended for him, he remembered. The audition went exceptionally well, so well that he was convinced it was a certainty."

After months of delays and setbacks, I finally landed the role of "Cease Fire" in Miami. Just as I finished the film, Tony Yerkovich, the creator of "Miami Vice," called from L.A. to offer me the part. Despite my initial frustration with the process, I was able to slip seamlessly into the role.

NBC aired 'Miami Vice' for five seasons, resulting in an Emmy nomination for Johnson in 1985.

"I mean, I’m a farm boy from Missouri. It was a dream." — Don Johnson

Johnson revealed to Parade that for the first year and a half, he remained focused and put in hard work, but he didn't expect his success to happen suddenly. It was during the end of the second season when he received his Emmy nomination that he realized there was something to his acting career.

He added, "I'm a farm boy from Missouri, and it was a dream."

"Nash Bridges," a hit series starring Johnson, ran on CBS from 1996 to 2001, continuing his Hollywood career.

He continued working and added "Machete," directed by Robert Rodriguez, and "Django Unchained," directed by Quentin Tarantino, to his resume, while also playing Jane Fonda's romantic interest in the "Book Club" films.

The police chief role in the Netflix thriller "Rebel Ridge" is played by a 74-year-old actor.

He enjoys spending time with his wife, Kelley Phleger, and their children at their family home outside Hollywood when he's not working.

"He informed WSJ that his family house in Flat Creek, which he purchased in 1999, is still standing. Although he hasn't returned since the pandemic began, he is eager to visit soon. He has come to value both the happy and difficult recollections associated with the property."