Who is Kelley Phleger? All About Don Johnson’s Wife

Kelley Phleger is the wife of Don Johnson, the American actor, producer and singer. They met in 1996, got engaged in April 1998, and got married a year later. Their marriage has produced three children. Meanwhile, Kelly is an American educator and socialite. 

From Montessori nursery school teacher to Hollywood A-lister, Kelley Phleger is one of those celebrities who married into fame. Though she identifies as a socialite, Kelley probably had no plans to join the glitz and glam of Hollywood but love happened and she is now a famous person.

Kelley Phleger Was Born and Raised in California

Her parents, Wells Fargo and Jean Phleger welcomed the socialite on June 22, 1969. Phleger was born in San Francisco, California, in the United States. She shared her childhood with a sister identified as Cameron Atherton Phleger. The nature of the background she grew up in is not known but Phleger seems to have had a stable upbringing that ensured she got the best education.

Growing up in California, she attended Urban High School and furthered her education to the tertiary level at the University of California.

She Worked in a Kindergarten as an Educator

Before she met and married Don Johnson, Kelley earned a living as a Montessori nursery school teacher. Though she worked in a field that would hardly bring her in contact with A-listers, Kelley was also a socialite in San Francisco at the time.

Currently, Kelley is enjoying the perks that come with being under the spotlight but that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her passion as an educator. She reportedly works with major schools in Los Angeles. The socialite resides with her family in Montecito, Santa Barbara County, California.

Kelley Met Don Johnson at a Party

The couple met through a mutual friend while attending a birthday party in 1996. It was Mayor Willie Brown’s birthday and they were both invited. Though she was in a relationship at the time, they became fast friends and only started dating after a few months when her previous relationship ended in 1997.

Kelley and Don were officially engaged in April 1998 and got married a year later. The actor asked her to marry him with a huge diamond ring, going down on one knee the traditional way.

Don Johnson and Kelley Phleger Got Married in a Starstudded Wedding in 1999

Kelley Phleger has been married to Don Johnson for 24 years now and their union keeps getting better. The couple tied the nuptials on April 29, 1999, when Kelley was still a kindergarten teacher. The union apparently came as a surprise to many who marveled at the fact that Don went all out and away from the Hollywood circle to fall in love.

Their wedding was a celebrity affair that took place at the Pacific Heights Mansion of Ann and Gordon Getty, attended by big names like Mayor Willie Brown who presided over the occasion. Hollywood actor Robert Wagner was the best man at the wedding. The marriage is the fifth for Don Johnson who has now been married five times to four women. However, this is the first time Kelley is getting married.

The first two marriages Johnson married had were annulled after a few days and the identity of the women involved is not known. The next woman he married is Melanie Griffith in 1976 but they separated and reunited again only to finally go their separate ways in 1996. Johnson also dated a lot of women, including Barbra Streisand.

There’s a 20-year Age Difference Between Them

At the time of their wedding, Kelley was 30 while Don was 50. Nevertheless, the two decades between them didn’t make a difference. Also, the fact that their professions are worlds apart didn’t stop them from bonding.

Now 54, Kelley and her 74-year-old husband are living happily with their three children.

Kelley Phleger and Don Johnson Have Three Children

The marriage between Kelley Phleger and Don Johnson has not only been blissful but has also produced three children. Their first child is a daughter named Atherton Grace, who was born in Dec. 1999. The couple has two sons Jasper Breckinridge – born in June 2002, and Deacon, who was born in April 2006.

Aside from his children with Pleger, Johnson has two more – a daughter and a son from previous relationships. He is the father of famous actress Dakota Johnson. Dakota is the product of the marriage between Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson (1976–1976) and she was born as the second child of the actor on October 4, 1989. Also, Don is the father of Jesse Johnson who is also an actor and his first child. Jesse was born on December 7, 1982, through his father’s relationship with actress Patti D’Arbanville.

Among Don Johnson’s children with Phleger, Grace Johnson is the only one who has shown interest in the showbiz industry but as a model. The rest are just known as Don Johnson’s children. However, their half-siblings from their father’s side are making waves in the entertainment industry as renowned thespians. Notwithstanding, Phleger’s children are still young and have enough time to make career decisions and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if they choose acting.

Kelley Dated Businessman and Politician, Gavin Newsom From 1992 to 1997

Before Don Johnson swept her off her feet, Phleger was in a serious relationship with an American politician cum businessman – Gavin Christopher Newsom, who is now the 40th Governor of California. She met and started dating the San Francisco businessman in 1992 but the relationship only lasted until 1997.

It only took a few months for Phleger to move on with her love life, dating Hollywood icon Don Johnson. Their relationship received criticisms but this didn’t stop the actor from proposing to her in 1998 and she said yes. There is no other relationship history linked to Kelley Phleger.