“Miami Vice” had it all: good-looking people, crime-fighting, incredible fashion, and the worship of numerous fans worldwide. Watching Sonny and Rico working their undercover magic to show the bad guys what’s what was almost a ritual at any household with a TV set. Now, decades after the series was first aired, let’s tickle those nostalgia glands and take a look at the cast and what has become of them.
Actress Belinda Montgomery played the first wife of Metro-Dade Police Department Detective James “Sonny” Crockett in Miami Vice. She brought a lot of character into the role and managed to keep us engaged throughout the entire show.
Caroline Crockett-Ballard was a recurring actress on the show but had a relatively small part when compared to her co-stars. Still, she managed to make a memorable impression as a mother and a love interest and was an important part of this excellent crime drama show.
Belinda Montgomery– After the show
After the show ended, the actress went on to play a bunch of other roles, with the most prominent and long-lasting one being Katharine Howser in Doogie Howser, M.D. She also got a few interesting parts in films such as the action film Mr. & Mrs. Smith starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
During the 2000s, the Canadian-American actress went on to appear in various other shows and even had a role in the sci-fi film Tron: Legacy. Her last role was as Carol Winters in 2017's romantic comedy film Snowed-Inn Christmas.
Don Johnson As James “Sonny” Crockett
Detective Sergeant James “Sonny” Crockett was arguably the most important character on Miami Vice. He was a charismatic, laid back Southern policeman who managed to dazzle many of the show's female characters. He was portrayed amazingly by longtime actor Don Johnson and became the most memorable part of Miami Vice.
Crockett was a star student at the University of Florida Gators, before being drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in the Vietnam War. One of the more interesting pieces of trivia about the character was that in season 3, he stopped chain-smoking cold turkey due to heavy pressure from the studio, who feared that young boys would start smoking because of their favorite character's habit.
Don Johnson– After the show
Don Johnson became a widely known actor after playing the lead role of James “Sonny” Crockett on Miami Vice. He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama for his roles on the show.
Since then, the actor has appeared in some of the most prominent films of the last few years, including Machete alongside Danny Trejo, Tarantino's Django Unchained, and the recent hit mystery film Knives Out, which starred some of the most famous and successful actors in Hollywood.
Olivia Brown As Trudy Joplin
Olivia Brown got a huge boost to her popularity when she played the foxy Detective "Big Booty" Trudy Joplin on Miami Vice. Joplin was best known for being strong-willed, determined and extremely serious about her job, which carried various professional risks.
Not much was known about Trudy Joplin before she joined Vice, but her skills were immediately apparent when she began using her exotic look and personality to attract various criminals and gaining “street cred”. Although she began as a side character, Joplin quickly became a mainstay on the show.
Olivia Brown– After the show
After her role on Miami Vice, the German-born actress went on to play in other shows such as 7th Heaven, Moesha, and others. She also starred in multiple episodes on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as a superpowered woman named Star. Although Brown was very talented, her acting career didn’t make much of itself past the ‘80s.
The actress had a brief marriage with Mykelti Williamson (who acted in Forrest Gump), which lasted just two years. She eventually decided to drop the acting career altogether and focus on having a family. She went on to marry James Okonkwo and have two children with him.
Martin Ferrero As Isidore “Izzy” Moreno
No one would have been a better choice for playing the small-time crook Isidore “Izzy” Moreno on Miami Vice than actor Martin Ferrero. The character turned out to be a fantastic addition to the show and appeared in many episodes due to his popularity. Izzy’s main job in the show was to help out the Vice team by providing important intel about criminals.
The actor managed to appear in every season of the show and did so without ever gaining the main character status. The combination of his crooked ways, optimistic personality and near-unlimited ability to ruin a perfectly good plan, turned him into one of the show's most endearing and comical characters.
Martin Ferrero– After the show
Martin Victor Ferrero went on to appear in a few other legal and crime shows such as Shannon's Deal, The Practice, The X-Files, L.A. Law, and Nash Bridges. He also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s classic dinosaur film, Jurassic Park, as the guy who ended up being eaten by a T-Rex while sitting on a toilet. Ferrero last appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show in 2017, after being gone from the entertainment scene since 2001.
The actor has been settling into a more modest lifestyle and is currently just over 70 years old. He managed to portray some incredibly memorable roles in two decades of acting and hopefully managed to accumulate a nice pension for his roles.
Saundra Santiago As Gina Navarro Calabrese
The beautiful Cuban crime-fighter, Gina Calabrese, began working with Vice as a uniformed officer, before finding herself as a rookie detective. She had an ongoing relationship with Crockett, although those two had been quite rocky over the seasons. Her role was played by the gorgeous Saundra Santiago.
Gina was a serious star throughout Miami Vice and appeared in almost every episode of the show. She was the partner of Detective Trudy Joplin and was never afraid to tackle cases by going the distance and figuring it out along the way.
Saundra Santiago– After the show
Saundra Santiago is actually a Cuban born actress and immigrated into the country at a very young age. One of her first roles was as Detective Gina Calabrese on the hit show Miami Vice. After spending three years as the character, she eventually continued on to other shows.
Although Santiago has appeared in everything from The Sopranos to the popular crime show Law & Order, she never really achieved the level of success she gained on Miami Vice. Her latest role was on the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods, where she played the role of Carmen Baez, the mother of Detective Maria Baez, in the episode "Stomping Grounds".
John Diehl As Lawrence “Larry” Zito
Lawrence “Larry” Zito, played by actor John Diehl, was one of the show's most beloved characters. He was paired with fellow Detective Stan Switek, and the two eventually became great friends, mostly through their shared love for electronics. He was a highly talented addition to the Vice team, and helped our heroes tack down "persons of interest".
Unfortunately, Zito was killed by three goons who injected him with an overdose of cocaine. The common theory is that the actor, John Diel, found himself getting bored with the role and asked for a way out. It’s a good thing the show had some very creative quick-thinking writers to fix the problem.
John Diehl– After the show
John Henry Diehl had a long and successful career even before his role in Miami Vice. After the show, he appeared in many other films and TV shows, often taking up to four different gigs annually. He continued acting until 2014 and has since toned it down after receiving the Southampton Film Festival's Lead Actor Award for his role in the short film Kahea.
Diehl married singer Julie Christensen in 1992 and had a son with her. The actor also tried his luck at boxing but quit after just one win and one loss. Not a bad career, especially when you realize that he has acted in just about every popular drama shows from the ‘80s and the ‘90s.
Sheena Easton As Caitlin Davies-Crockett
Pop Singer Caitlin Davies, who was played by the beautiful Sheena Easton, had a relatively short role on Miami Vice. She appeared in five of the show's episodes but had a very major impact on its cast. Davies was shortly married to one of the show's heroes, James "Sonny" Crockett after the two fell in love while he was her bodyguard.
Sadly, Davies was killed by one of Crockett’s enemies after being married for less than a year and bearing her husband’s child. Crockett never really recovered from her death, and it changed him into a much more cynical and depressed character. It eventually led our hero to retire from Vice in 1989.
Sheena Easton– After the show
Despite her wonderful acting skills, Sheena Easton is actually known as a Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter. She began her singing career at age 21 and is still active today. She has appeared in a few films and shows over the decades, either as herself or in various minor roles. Her biggest acting role to date was in Miami Vice, where she did a terrific job.
Today, Sheena mostly spends her time touring and giving fantastic live performances throughout Australia and the United States. She recently accepted the role of Dorothy Brock in the revival production of 42nd Street. Although her career is very demanding, she also found the time to adopt children and spends a lot of her time being an amazing mother.
Pam Grier As Valerie Gordon
Actress Pam Grier assumed the role of Valerie Gordon, a tough and hard-working detective, who worked as an officer with the NYPD. Gordon often assisted Vice in dealing with various cases and appeared in three episodes throughout the show. One of her main cases was that of Frank Sacco, which also ended up being her toughest.
Although Valerie Gordon only appeared briefly on Miami Vice, she had a strong impact that remained throughout the seasons. Her romance with Rico Tubbs was always a fresh change of pace to the show, which is why we’re happy she was called back after more than one season.
Pam Grier– After the show
Pam Grier was doing quite well as an actress before starring in Miami Vice. She was cast in various other crime and drama shows over the years, including, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The L Word, and Smallville.
The actress is also known as “The Queen of Blaxploitation”, and never shies away from discussing uncomfortable topics. She recently appeared as Grandma in the highly successful drama film This is Us. Grier also had a part as herself in Activision's futuristic first-person-shooter Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.
Michael Talbott As Stanley “Stan” Switek
Detective Stanley "Stan" Switek worked as an undercover agent in the Organized Crime Bureau, Vice Division. He was the partner of Detective Larry Zito, but their partnership was cut short when Zito was killed. Not much is known about Switek's life before Vice, but it's clear that he had had some experience with army equipment before.
Despite his comedic and lighthearted style, Switek eventually found himself descending into a gambling addiction, which deeply affected the course of his life. His partner's death took quite a toll on him and ended up putting him in over $100,000 in debt after gambling his money away in a fit of depression and alcoholism.
Michael Talbott– After the show
Michael Talbott mostly retired from acting after the show ended, and was nowhere to be seen after the mid-'90s. He had a very strong impact on the show, and will always be remembered for the role of Stan Switek. The actor often attends conventions and signings, making him one of the more accessible actors from the ‘80s.
Talbott is a huge fan of the 2nd Amendment, and often advocates and speaks out for the National Rifle Association. Talbott is also a spokesman for Panteao Productions, a production company specializing in guns. He’s supposedly located in Iowa at the moment and enjoys his privacy more than anything else.
Julia Roberts As Polly Wheeler
One of Julia Roberts' first roles was as Polly Wheeler, assistant to the terrifying but suave drug lord, Miguel Manolo. Wheeler helped him run an art gallery, which was actually a front for his illegal activities. The actress appeared in just one episode of the show called "Mirror Image".
It's hard to believe that Roberts went on to become such a successful actress after the show, which just makes her brief appearance as an unknown actress all the more special. She was quite enamored by Sonny Burnett, Detective Crockett's alter ego. It’s a shame that Roberts’ character’s fate was never revealed on the show after her boss got killed by Vice since she had such a great role.
Julia Roberts– After the show
There's no need to introduce Julia Roberts to today’s readers, as the leading actress has managed to become one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood. She has three Golden Globe Awards under her belt and has been nominated for four Academy Awards. The actress has acted in various highly successful films over the years, from Ocean's Eleven to Eat Pray Love.
Roberts was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood during the '90s and is considered one of the world's most beautiful women. She's worth about $170 million today and spends most of her time raising her three beautiful children.
Gregory Sierra As Louis “Lou” Rodriguez
Gregory Sierra played Louis “Lou” Rodriguez during some of Miami Vice’s earliest episodes. He is undoubtedly one of the reasons the show got popular in the first place, as his character, the commander of the Vice division, was highly entertaining. However, Rodriguez didn’t last long in the show and was killed after the first few episodes by an assassin who was intending to kill Crockett.
Lou’s death helped set the tone for the show and proved that even major characters are not safe from being killed without prior notice. This made Miami Vice a lot more engaging and kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
Gregory Sierra– After the show
Before his short role on Miami Vice, Puerto Rican actor Gregory Sierra appeared in many films and TV Shows. You can find him in everything from Beneath the Planet of the Apes to the TV show version of Mission: Impossible. He currently lives in Laguna Woods, California and has mostly retired from acting since the late '90s.
Sierra recently appeared in the experimental film called The Other Side of the Wind after more than two decades of hiatus. If you’re looking to see the actor at his best, you can check out his roles as Detective Sergeant Chano Amenguale on the sitcom show Barney Miller.
Helena Bonham Carter As Dr. Theresa Lyons
Before the beautiful gothic actress Helena Bonham Carter assumed her most iconic roles, she played a small part in Miami Vice as Dr. Theresa Lyons, which ended up lasting two episodes. Lyons fell in love with Sonny Crockett, but their mutual love quickly turned into a crazy obsession.
Dr. Theresa Lyons was eventually sent to treatment at a Drug Abuse Clinic in Connecticut for her addictions, and that was the end of her minor role in Miami Vice. Fortunately, we got to see a whole lot more of the actress, as she ended up assuming some of the most popular roles in Hollywood.
Helena Bonham Carter– After the show
It didn't take long for English actress Helena Bonham Carter's career to pick up steam in Hollywood, as her unique look and incredible acting skills landed her in some of the most prolific films of the last few centuries. She won various awards for her incredible roles and has appeared in so many iconic roles that it's hard to even begin naming them.
Carter has played as the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland, Marla Singer in Fight Club, Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter film series and Skynet in Terminator Salvation. This is just a small taste of her incredible filmography, and we're happy to say she's still very much active amongst the whole Hollywood scene.
Bruce Willis As Tony Amato
Before Bruce Willis played in Die Hard and The Sixth Sense and became a massive star in Hollywood, he had a minor role in Miami Vice as the iconic Tony Amato, an international arms dealer. The role was perfect for Willis, as his character matched many of the actors’ later roles.
He appeared in just one episode called “No Exit” and was just one of many small actors with a minor role who later became mega Hollywood stars. In the show, Amato was killed by his wife, Rita Amato, shortly after being released from custody. She shot him from point-blank range and we were left to assume his death.
Bruce Willis– After the show
Although his career has largely slowed down in recent years, Bruce Willis was one of the most prolific actors during the '90s and 2000s. He became widely regarded as the archetypical "action hero" after portraying John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. The actor received various awards over the years, including a Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two People's Choice Awards.
Bruce Willis was honored with his very own star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame back in 2006. His most successful films to date include Pulp Fiction, The Fifth Element, Sin City, Moonrise Kingdom, The Expendables, Unbreakable and Looper. The actor also had a small musical career during the late ‘80s, but it was luckily cut short after just two albums.
Edward James Olmos As Martin "Marty" Castillo
When Lieutenant Rodriguez was suddenly shot and killed on the fourth episode of Miami Vice, he was quickly replaced by Detective Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo. Castillo used to work for the Drug Enforcement Administration and tended to keep his thoughts to himself. He always wore the same clothes, slept in the office, and was very stoic in his mannerisms.
Martin’s most popular and iconic persuasion tool is called the "Castillo Staredown", where he shows anger or criticism towards actors on the show by giving them a piercing judgemental staredown. Edward James Olmos, the actor who played Martin, received a lot of praise for his performance on the show and even landed an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Edward James Olmos– After the show
Although he has appeared in many films and TV Shows over the years (and still does today), Edward James Olmos is best known for his role as Martin on Miami Vice. He's an avid supporter of the Latino community and founded Latino Public Broadcasting. He currently serves as chairman of the institution.
Some of the actor's most popular roles include the recent Blade Runner 2049, where he played briefly as Gaff, and his brief roles in the popular TV shows ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘Dexter’, both of which landed him various award nominations.
Philip Michael Thomas As Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs
Detective Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs was initially played on the show by Philip Michael Thomas and went on to be portrayed by actor Jamie Foxx in the show's 2006 feature film. He was the partner of undercover detective James "Sonny" Crockett, and one of the show's main characters. Tubbs was loved by most of the show's fans and ended up becoming a fashion icon due to his slick style.
He began as a detective in the Armed Robbery Division of the New York Police Department alongside his brother Rafael, until the latter was tragically murdered by the drug lord, Esteban Calderone. Tubbs was known as a skeptical, cynical and highly realistic character, in contrast with the much more brash Crockett.
Philip Michael Thomas – Now
Philip Michael Thomas retired from acting after failing to get his acting career together once Miami Vice had ended. He appeared in numerous made-for-TV movies and advertisements for telephone psychic services, which arguably degraded some of his iconic past performances.
The actor's most popular recent role was actually as Lance Vance, a character from Rockstar's popular video games, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. You’d be shocked to find out that Thomas actually has eleven children, five from his previous marriage and six others from various previous relationships.
Charlie Barnett As Nugart "Noogie" Lamont
Noogie or -- as he preferred to refer to himself -- The Noogman, was a hard-boiled ex-con who helped the Vice team as an informant. He worked mostly for Crockett and Tubbs, helping them solve various drug cases. The character was played by the late actor and comedian, Charlie Barnett, and appeared in six episodes of the show.
His last appearance was season four's seventh episode, titled "Missing Hours", which premiered on November 13, 1987. Nugart was a comic-relief character and helped keep the show a lot lighter in episodes where he appeared.
Charlie Barnett– After the show
Unfortunately, actor and comedian Charlie Barnett died just six years after Miami Vice officially ended in 1990. He was 42 years old at the time of his death and passed away from getting infected with the AIDS virus, likely due to his drug addiction.
The actor’s brief stint on the show was highly popular, and he went on to appear in a few other shows. Barnett's last role was in a 1996's film titled: They Bite.
Jimmy Smits As Eddie Rivera
We got to enjoy Jimmy Smith's character, the suave detective Eddie Rivera, in just one single episode before he died in a blast from a car bomb intended for drug dealer Corky Fowler. Rivera was the partner of Detective Sergeant James "Sonny" Crockett on the show and helped set the tone of the show early on. Sadly for viewers, Rivera didn't make it beyond the pilot episode of Miami Vice, but his contribution to the show’s inevitable success is clear.
We were quite saddened by Eddie Rivera’s death, as he could have been a great addition to the show as it went on. At-least the actor, Jimmy Smits, got to play in many other films and TV shows after his single-episode premiere on Miami Vice.
Jimmy Smits– After the show
After playing Eddie Rivera on Miami Vice, Dutch-Puerto Rican actor Jimmy Smits went on to star in various other crime and political TV shows, including LA Law, NYPD Blue, and The West Wing. Two of Smith's best roles are as Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and as Miguel Prado in the hit crime drama show Dexter.
If you want to check out some of his most recent work, you can see Smith in his role as Elijah Strait in the NBC drama series Bluff City Law. The Hispanic actor is a devout catholic and does much charity work for various organizations. Among these are the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, which he founded, and others including Red Cross, New York Cares, and Stand up to Cancer.
Laurence Fishburne As Keller
Laurence Fishburne got one of his earlier roles as Keller, a crooked guard in Bolton Prison. He appeared in the fourth episode of Miami Vice's third season titled "Walk Alone". Keller was caught by James Crockett, who was posing as his alter ego, Sunny Burnett, trying to facilitate a drug deal between the two.
Fishburne got a chance to really flex his acting muscles during this role, as this was one of his earlier chances to shine in the spotlight. The actor ended up becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognized actors due to his role in the hit film The Matrix, but that’s a subject for the next entry.
Laurence Fishburne– After the show
Laurence Fishburne was a relatively unknown actor throughout the '80s and has mostly appeared in minor roles throughout the decade. The actor finally found his breakthrough just a few years after Miami Vice, when he portrayed Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy, a role which he is known for and identified with to this day. Fishburne has since built up an impressive list of films, shows and video-games which he’s appeared in.
One of his most popular recent roles was in the action-filled John Wick film series, starring alongside Keanu Reeves, his co-star from The Matrix trilogy. There have even been some interesting rumors lately that the actor will reprise his timeless role as Morpheus in the new Matrix 4 film that’s currently in production.
Viggo Mortensen As Eddie Trumbull
Viggo Mortensen assumed the role of Eddie Trumbull in Miami Vice, an aspiring young detective who worked for Metro-Dade. He was the partner of Bobby Diaz, and the two planned on one day becoming sergeants. Unfortunately, Trumbull got his one and only chance to appear in Miami Vice during an episode called "Red Tape". He was then killed before we got to know him by a bomb in a booby-trapped room.
Luckily for Mortensen, he would go on to become a highly decorated actor even though he only appeared in an episode on Miami Vice. Trumbull was quite an interesting character, and audiences were bummed that he never got the chance and become a sergeant during the show.
Viggo Mortensen– After the show
Viggo Mortensen is one of the most multi-talented actors in Hollywood and spends his time acting, writing, singing, taking photographs and painting. The Danish celebrity has been the recipient of various accolades including a Screen Actors Guild Award and has been nominated for three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.
Mortensen has appeared in numerous films over the years, but none are as memorable as his iconic role as Aragorn in the epic fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings. The actor is still highly active in Hollywood, even at over 60 years of age. His most recent film, Green Book, went on to win a few Oscar awards for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor.
Lou Diamond Phillips As Bobby Diaz
Eddie Trumbull's partner, Bobby Diaz, aspired to become a sergeant along with his trusty friend. The two had a very bad ending during the "Red Tape" episode, with Trumbull getting killed by an explosion and Diaz being shot to death by Glenn McIntyre, a Metro-Dade SID Officer who had switched sides and turned into a bad guy.
Bobby Diaz was a memorable character, and we wish he would have survived for at least a few more episodes. Lou Diamond Phillips, the talented actor who portrayed Diaz, ended up appearing in many other crime shows over the years.
Lou Diamond Phillips– After the show
Lou Diamond Phillips has appeared in more than a hundred films and TV shows from 1984 up to today but mostly takes small and short-lived roles. He recently appeared in a few episodes of crime shows such as NCIS: New Orleans, Criminal Minds and Blue Bloods. Phillips is an avid activist for the Native American community and was actually adopted by a Native American family.
Some of the actor's best roles are as Cisco in The Big Hit, Yerzy Penalosa in Supernova, and Jose Chavez y Chavez in Young Guns, arguably his best role to date. One of Lou Diamond Phillips's most successful recent films is 2015's biographical disaster film The 33, where he plays as Luis "Don Lucho" Urzúa.
Dennis Farina As Albert Lombard
It's hard to believe that Albert "Al" Lombard, a crime boss who owns much of Miami's underground gambling world, was actually played by Dennis Farina, an actor who used to be a real-life cop for almost two decades. Lombard is your classic rags-to-riches crime lord story and had a similar story to that of Al Pacino's Tony Montana in Scarface.
The crime boss lasted for two of the last episodes in Miami Vice’s first season and was presumed to be dead after being shot by Federico Librizzi. Lombard eventually made a surprising comeback during season five in the episode "World of Trouble", but ended up dying for good towards the end of it.
Dennis Farina– After the show
Before Miami Vice, Dennis Farina was an actual police officer. He served three years in the United States Army during the Vietnam Era and 18 years in the Chicago Police Department's burglary division from 1967 to 1985. After the show, he appeared in many successful films such as Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. Ironically, he preferred portraying various criminals and mobsters throughout the years.
Dennis Farina was also the host and narrator of the popular true-crime show Unsolved Mysteries on Spike TV. He had an interesting fascination with crime and the law throughout life, which led to many of his iconic roles. The actor died in mid-2013 due to lung cancer. His last significant television role was in HBO's Luck, in 2012.
Stanley Tucci As Steven DeMarco
There was no actor more fitting to play Steven DeMarco than the Italian prodigy, Stanley Tucci. DeMarco appeared on Miami Vice's third season, in an episode called "Baby Blues". DeMarco was the adoptive father of two Colombian children from lawyer Howard Famiglia.
Although he had a short and sweet role in the show, Tucci managed to show his acting abilities and eventually went on to become one of the most recognized actors in Hollywood.
Stanley Tucci– After the show
It's easy to recognize Stanley Tucci due to his unique look and great acting. The actor has won three Emmy Awards for incredible performances in 1998's Winchell, the TV show Monk, and his web series Park Bench with Steve Buscemi. Tucci tends to appear in at least three films every year, and usually finds his way into high budget productions such as The Hunger Games series, 2017's Beauty and the Beast, and Michael Bay's Transformers franchise.
The actor is also co-owner of the Finch Tavern restaurant in Croton Falls, New York. He's an avid cook, and released two cookbooks called 'The Tucci Cookbook' and 'The Tucci Table: Cooking With Family and Friends'. Tucci really made a great and varied career for himself after his role in Miami Vice.
Bruce McGill As Hank Wheldon
Retired Metro-Dade officer Henry "Hank" Weldon started out as a cop but found himself promoted to detective after helping incarcerated the drug trafficker, Tony Arcaro. He appeared in the episode "Out Where the Buses Don't Run", that premiered on October 18, 1985, during the second season of the show.
Hank Wheldon was quite brash, aggressive and hot-headed, which is why he was perfectly cast when Bruce McGill was chosen for the role. The actor seems to have a knack for burly and offensive characters and left quite an impression on us long after his short role had ended.
Bruce McGill– After the show
Right after his role on Miami Vice, Bruce McGill found himself portraying Jack Dalton, a good friend of MacGyver's who always seems to get the two in trouble thanks to his love of get-rich-quick schemes. He is best known for acting in some of director Michael Mann's films, including The Insider, Ali, and Collateral. The actor is also a fantastic narrator and made various ads for the Republican Party during the 2016 presidential election.
Bruce McGill recently appeared in a 2019 drama film called The Best of Enemies alongside Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson. He also appeared in a small-time film called Waiting Game, which landed him an award for Best Actor at the Pasadena International Film Festival. The actor's best role to date is arguable as former U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton in the seven Golden Globe Awards winner film, Lincoln.
David Strathairn As Marty Lang
Marty Lang appeared in the same episode as Hank Wheldon during season two of Miami Vice. He was a former Metro-Dade Vice detective and used to be Wheldon's partner. The two helped bring down the prominent drug dealer, Tony Arcaro, after three years of failed attempts.
It's believed that Marty Lang unlawfully killed Arcaro after failing to jail him in legal ways for so long. The character ended up being incarcerated for the crime and disappeared from Miami Vice, but not before leaving a big impression on the show's viewers.
David Strathairn– After the show
After his role in Miami Vice, actor David Strathairn continued to appear in many films and TV shows over the years. He managed to snag an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Dr. Carlock in 2010's biographical drama film Temple Grandin. Although Strathairn has a very large list of roles in films, he never really managed to find himself as a lead actor and was mostly typecast as a supporting actor.
David Strathairn is mostly recognized today for his role as CIA Deputy Director Noah Vosen in the 2007 film The Bourne Ultimatum and its sequel, 2012's The Bourne Legacy. He almost won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for playing the Secretary of State William H. Seward in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, but ultimately lost to another actor.
Liam Neeson As Sean Carroon
Almost nobody remembers that Liam Neeson actually had a role in Miami Vice way before he became famous. The actor played Sean Carroon, a member of Provos, the provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army. He appeared in the show's opening episode of season three, titled "When Irish Eyes Are Crying". The character eventually died at the end of the episode, after being shot by Gina Calabrese, one of the show's main characters.
The character was a semi-psychopathic killer and died in a very fitting way by being shot after refusing Gina's desperate pleads for him to disarm his weapon. Who could have predicted that the guy who played him would end up becoming the great Liam Neeson, one of the world’s most prominent actors?
Liam Neeson– After the show
Liam Neeson surpassed everyone's expectations, and went on to become not just one of Hollywood's most recognized stars, but was also ranked amongst the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" and "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" by Empire magazine. Neeson has appeared in endless hit films, including an award-winning performance as Oskar Schindler in 1993's Schindler's List, a highly respected role in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and even as Batman's villain, Ra's Al Guhl, in Batman Begins.
Liam Neeson also managed to star in his very own action film series and cemented himself as an excellent action hero in the Taken trilogy. His most prominent recent role was as Jesuit Cristóvão Ferreira in Martin Scorsese's 2016 epic historical drama film Silence.