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.
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– 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.