MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The cast and crew of “Miami Vice” returned to South Florida Friday as the iconic, flashy police drama turned 40 years old.
The celebration of all things “Miami Vice” took place on South Beach.
Edward James Olmos, who played Lieutenant Marty Castillo on the show, said, “This celebration is long overdue.”
“Miami invited us to do our show here, in a big way, and it became something that was monumental,” Olmos said.
Olmos was part of a meet and greet with “Miami Vice” super fans who have come to South Florida from all over the world.
All weekend, there are guided tours and even a pop-up museum filled with scripts, photos and memorabilia showcasing Crockett and Tubbs, the show’s stylish crime-fighting duo.
All weekend there are guided tours and special dinners along Ocean Drive, as well as a pop up museum on 12th and Washington displaying show scripts, props, and memorabilia showcasing fictional detectives Crockett and Tubbs.
Real life Miami-Dade police officers are getting some attention, too. Fans and actors snapped selfies with uniformed officers who were at several of the events to provide security and community outreach.
“Being part of the series is definitely an honor,” said Miami-Dade Police Officer Argemis Colome.
Officer Angel Rodriguez said the department played an integral role in the show.
“We served as consultants for the actual production,” he said.
Detective Andre Martin, who wasn’t born yet when the show first aired, said he watched it in re-runs.
“It’s really good to see the attention to detail they took in honoring our department,” Martin said.
The series is also credited for transforming South Beach from a sleepy seaside retirement town into an iconic global city.
“Beautiful art deco but it was let go, so we started painting,” Olmos recalled.
“It really made South Beach - Miami - what it is today,” said fan Timothy Griffis.
Information on the 40-year celebration events can be found here: https://miamiviceevents.com