Melanie Griffith and her daughter Dakota Johnson shared a memorable red carpet moment on August 19 at the Los Angeles premiere of the film Splitsville, which stars Dakota alongside Adria Arjona. This rare public appearance highlighted the enduring bond between mother and daughter, captivating fans and the media alike with their elegant presence.
At 68, Melanie Griffith appeared radiant in a sharp white double-breasted blazer paired with wide-leg trousers, complemented by beige sneakers and a stylish updo. Meanwhile, Dakota Johnson, known for her breakout role in Fifty Shades of Grey, impressed audiences in a striking metallic silver strapless Gucci gown, her hair worn long and straight, with a subtle nude lip completing the look. Their smiles and close embrace made the event a touching display of familial affection.
A Special Mother-Daughter Evening at the Premiere
This event marked one of the few occasions where Melanie and Dakota have been seen together publicly, their last documented appearance jointly being the 2023 screening for Slip by Boat Rocker and TeaTime Pictures. Although the pair are not often photographed side by side, their support for one another remains evident in private moments and interviews.
Dakota Johnson has openly acknowledged the solid support she received from her parents when facing early struggles in her acting career. Before her major success in 2015, Dakota often relied on her family’s help during difficult periods.
“There were a few times when I’d go to the market and not have money in my bank account or not be able to pay rent,”
Dakota shared in a May interview with People.
“I’d have to ask my parents for help—I’m very grateful that I had parents that could help me and did help me.”
She also expressed understanding toward their protective nature given the harsh realities of Hollywood.
“I understood. They wanted me to have as much of a childhood as I could.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress, W Magazine 2022
The Early Lives and Relationships of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson
Melanie Griffith first encountered Don Johnson when she was 14, while he was filming the 1973 movie The Harrad Experiment with her mother, Tippi Hedren. The young Melanie quickly developed a crush on Don, eight years her senior, which Tippi described as an adolescent infatuation.
“She fell almost instantly in love with him,”
Tippi recalled to People in 1989. “It was an adolescent crush.”
At 15, Melanie moved in with Don, and by 18, the couple was engaged and eloped in Las Vegas on January 8, 1976. Despite Don’s admitted indiscretion on the night before their wedding, they went through with the marriage.
“We thought it might work better if we were married. It didn’t,”
Melanie said.
“I got married in order to end the relationship.”
Their union was annulled shortly after.
Don Johnson’s Relationship with Patti D’Arbanville
Throughout the early 1980s, Don Johnson was linked romantically with Patti D’Arbanville, an actress and muse of Andy Warhol. Their initial meeting dates back to 1973 at Warhol’s New York Factory, where Patti was reportedly shooting a cover for Interview magazine.
“I met her because I was working on a movie in New York, and I went down to Andy Warhol’s factory,”
Don recounted to People in 2024.
“I walked in, and standing on the table stark naked was the mother of my first son. She was doing what I think was the very first cover photo shoot for Interview magazine. She was just so beautiful and captivating.”
They did not begin dating until 1981, when Don left a dinner with then-girlfriend Tanya Tucker to be with Patti, who moved in and shared a long, uninterrupted period together in bed.
“And we stayed in bed for about eight days.”
—Don Johnson, Actor, 1984
The Birth and Influence of Jesse Johnson
Don Johnson and Patti welcomed their son Jesse Wayne Johnson on December 7, 1982. At the time, Don expressed reservations about marriage, which Patti also did not pursue.
“Can’t commit to marrying right now,”
Don said. Patti replied, “I’m not into that either.”
Jesse’s arrival prompted Don to confront his addictions, as he described a pivotal morning when he realized the need to change for his family’s sake.
“I walked into the breakfast room one morning,”
Don remembered.
“The sun was shining, and the birds were singing, and Patti was feeding the baby. I came staggering in and sat down and looked at them, and she looked at me, and I knew that if I didn’t do something, she was going to leave. So I said, ‘Patti, I’m a drunk and a drug addict, and I’m going to do something about it.’”
Don and Patti separated in 1985. Jesse has since pursued acting and music, appearing on Nash Bridges and in his father’s recent show Doctor Odyssey. He is also the frontman of the band Blame Baby, which he describes as encapsulating a simpler, rock-driven era.
“Rock music that evokes a time when things were a little simpler and more straightforward.”
—Jesse Johnson, Musician
Marriage and Family Life with Steven Bauer
Melanie Griffith’s marriage to actor Steven Bauer, known for his role in Scarface, lasted from 1983 to 1987. They share a son, Alexander Bauer, born in 1985. Though the relationship ended, Griffith has maintained cordial ties with her ex-husbands.
“All three of them are my friends,”
Melanie told People in 2020.
“I love them with all my heart.”
Alexander Griffith Bauer’s Background and Career
Alexander Griffith Bauer was born on August 22, 1985, and primarily grew up with Melanie Griffith in Los Angeles following the divorce from Steven Bauer. He prefers privacy compared to some siblings but has been spotted attending family events and has contributed to the film industry off-camera as a grip, alongside occasional acting and writing pursuits.
“These extraordinary guys … I love you both so much.”
—Melanie Griffith, Instagram 2021
A Renewed Partnership Between Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson
Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson rekindled their relationship during the late 1980s. Don invited Melanie for a guest role on Miami Vice in 1987, and their on-and-off relationship resumed. Notably, Don played a major role in helping Melanie overcome her struggles with alcoholism by encouraging her to seek treatment at the Hazelden Foundation in Minnesota in 1988.
“He’d been trying to have me go to Hazelden for about two years,”
Melanie said.
“That makes me sound like I was shooting up or something. But it doesn’t take that when you’re an alcoholic. One drink is poison. Don, having been in AA since 1983, was there for me all the way.”
They remarried on June 26, 1989, while Melanie was pregnant and described their home life as a close-knit family.
“We’re just like an Ozzie and Harriet family down here,”
Don told People. Melanie added, “Everybody wants a girl.”
Dakota Johnson’s Journey and Career Highlights
Dakota Mayi Johnson, born on October 4, 1989, has carved an independent career in Hollywood while being part of a famous family. Her first acting role came in 1999’s Crazy in Alabama, a project that included her mother and was directed by then-stepfather Antonio Banderas. She gained international fame through the Fifty Shades trilogy, followed by roles in A Bigger Splash, How to Be Single, Suspiria, and recently, Madame Web.
Dakota has voiced frustration with the “nepo baby” label, emphasizing that joining a family business is common and does not guarantee success.
“I started auditioning,”
she told Pedro Pascal in 2025.
“There were dry spells and then, yes, I’d have to ask my parents for help. I’m very grateful that I had parents that could help me and did help me. But it certainly was not fun. The auditioning process, as you know, is the f–king worst.”
Although Melanie divorced Don Johnson in 1996, Dakota maintains close relationships with her parents, step-parents, and siblings, blending familial bonds into a supportive network.
“I was raised by lots of people, my mom and my dad and then stepparents and nannies and tutors and friends and teachers and then friends’ parents and boyfriends’ parents,”
Dakota told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021.
“I wanted to learn from everybody. And I still am like that. I’m grateful to my parents and my crazy life because the only reason I am the way I am is because of how I grew up.”
Dakota Johnson’s Relationship with Chris Martin
Dakota Johnson was in a relationship with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin from 2017 to 2025. Despite the privacy around their romance, sources confirmed their breakup in June 2025. Throughout their relationship, they shared a Malibu home, and Dakota embraced a maternal role for Chris’s children with ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow.
“I love those kids like my life depends on it,”
Dakota told Bustle in 2024. “With all my heart.”
Gwyneth Paltrow, remarried to Brad Falchuk since 2018, has publicly called Dakota an “adorable, wonderful person” and shared that they remain good friends.
Melanie Griffith’s Marriage to Antonio Banderas and Their Daughter Stella
Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas met on the set of the 1995 movie Too Much, both married at the time. Divorced by 1996, they married in London on May 14 that year, welcoming daughter Stella four months later.
Their marriage ended amicably in 2014, with both parties emphasizing respect and friendship despite their separation.
“A loving and friendly manner honoring and respecting each other, our family and friends and the beautiful time we have spent together.”
—Statement on divorce, 2014
Antonio maintains a close relationship with Melanie and their family, even though he has been with partner Nicole Kimpel since 2015.
“I’m a very good friend of my ex-wife. I don’t have anything against her,”
Antonio shared in 2023.
“She’s a wonderful woman and I still respect and support that idea that everything that happened between her and me for 20 years was beautiful.”
“Of course, we had our bad moments. But the thing that I will remember forever is those beautiful moments that we had together. And one of those beautiful moments has to do with our kids and the family.”
He added that whenever he visits Los Angeles, he and Melanie often gather the whole family for dinner.
“We go for dinner, we just get together, the whole entire family, and so that is very important. Not only to us but to the rest of the family.”
Stella del Carmen Banderas: A Rising Talent and Entrepreneur
Stella Del Carmen Banderas, born September 24, 1996, has developed her own path in the entertainment industry. Known for her intellectual approach to cinema, she has studied acting, directed short films, and plans to pursue directing commercials and eventually movies.
“She’s doing short movies, she’s directing, she’s studied acting and she’s going to start directing some commercials too,”
Antonio said.
“And I think she’s going to end up directing movies.”
Stella is also an entrepreneur, founding the fragrance brand Lightbound in 2021. In August 2024, she announced her engagement to entrepreneur Alex Gruszynski with a joyful social media post.
“I get to hang out with my favorite person on earth forever!!!!!!!”
Melanie proudly celebrated the news on Instagram:
“He asked…. On bended knee… she said yes…Stella and Alex are engaged to be married…Their love story began in pre-school! True love, deep love!”
—Melanie Griffith
Three Generations of the Johnson-Griffith Family
The Johnson-Griffith family has coordinated appearances across generations, exemplified by Dakota, her mother Melanie, grandmother Tippi Hedren, and sister Stella at the 22nd Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards in 2015. Such moments highlight the family’s deep-rooted ties within Hollywood.
Don Johnson’s Stable Relationship with Kelley Phleger
Don Johnson met Kelley Phleger in the mid-1990s at a birthday party for then-San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. Kelley, a nursery school teacher and former girlfriend of California Governor Gavin Newsom, became romantically linked with Don in 1997. The couple married on April 29, 1999, at the home of oil heir Gordon Getty and have maintained a strong relationship since.
“It’s kindness, trust and respect, and we have that with each other,”
Don told People in 2024.
“We’re lovers and friends and it’s fun. She’s an amazing woman.”
Celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary, Kelley reflected on their enduring bond:
“I look back on our Memories that began this day 26 years ago and I would not change a DAY! You and I together have faced it all and nothing has ever stopped our Bond of Love. We have raised a family in a big beautiful family and never been more blessed and so we continue on together hand in hand.”
Don has spoken openly about the challenge of balancing his acting career with family life, noting the demands of film and television but appreciating the ability to now select projects that allow more personal time.
“Work-life balance is an interesting thing as an actor because movies eat your life. Television shows eat your life,”
he said.
“Luckily, I’m at a place where I can pick and choose roles, and sometimes I often prefer the supporting role because I still get joy out of what I do, but I don’t want to work those long hours and be away from my family.”
The Younger Generation: Atherton Grace and Jasper Johnson
Don Johnson and Kelley Phleger’s daughter Atherton Grace Johnson was born December 28, 1999. Raised primarily in Santa Barbara, she kept a relatively low public profile during childhood but stepped into fashion and arts in her late teens. Atherton made her Met Gala debut alongside Dakota Johnson in 2019 and walked the runway for the Christian Cowan x The Powerpuff Girls collection.
“My relationship with Dakota is a mix because she is not just my sister, she is my best friend,”
Atherton told Glamour Spain.
“For a long time, regardless of the age difference, she has always treated me as an equal.”
Jasper Breckenridge Johnson, born June 6, 2002, is another of Don’s children with Kelley. Jasper played basketball in high school and shares a supportive relationship with his parents.
“My parents have never missed a game and support me every step of the way,”
Jasper stated.
“I intend to major in business and graduate with a 4-year degree and pursue a career in that field.”
Deacon Johnson: The Youngest Son
Don Johnson’s youngest child, Deacon James Johnson, born April 29, 2006, rounded out the family’s youngest generation. Described as a source of joy, Deacon enjoys a degree of privacy online but his mother and family celebrate him warmly.
“Happy 19th Chap! Deacon James we love you and we couldn’t ask for a better YOUNGEST! You’re the Dude!”
—Melanie Griffith on Instagram
Enduring Family Bonds in Hollywood’s Spotlight
The intertwined lives of Melanie Griffith, Don Johnson, Dakota Johnson, and their extended family demonstrate resilience and mutual support in the demanding world of entertainment. From Melanie’s and Don’s early relationships to Dakota’s own challenges and triumphs, the family continues to navigate fame while prioritizing personal connections.
This rare occasion of mother and daughter together on the Dakota Johnson red carpet appearance reflects not only their personal bond but also a continuity of legacy and warmth amidst Hollywood’s shifting landscape. Fans can expect to see more inspiring moments from this close-knit family as they continue their creative and personal journeys.
