Don Johnson arrives at the premiere of his film Machete in Los Angeles on Aug. 25. A judge awarded him $51 million in the Nash Bridges lawsuit. (Matt Sayles/Associated Press)

Actor Don Johnson has been awarded $51 million in his lawsuit against the makers of his long-running series Nash Bridges.

A Los Angeles judge ruled Wednesday that he is owed $28 million in interest, which more than doubles the $23.2 million was awarded by a jury.

Johnson, who owned half the copyright to the police drama, sued producer Rysher Entertainment and three other firms in 2009 over distribution of profits from the show.

Rysher argued in the trial that Nash Bridges was expensive to produce, so there was little profit to share.

Johnson earned about $40 million as actor and producer of the show, Rysher said.

But Johnson's attorneys argued the actor was shut out of his share of profits for the show because of dodgy accounting.

Nash Bridges, starring Johnson and Cheech Marin as San Francisco police officers, began in 1996 and ran six seasons. It also is in syndication in 40 countries.

The jury ruled Johnson should receive half of all future earnings of the show.

"Nash Bridges was my project, and I poured my heart into it," Johnson said in a statement. "I feel a sense of vindication and sincere gratitude that both the jury and Judge [Michael] Stern continue to agree with me."

The actor recently appeared in the film Machete.

Rysher has said it plans to appeal.

With files from The Associated Press