Ted Danson facts for kids

Edward Bridge Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American actor. He became famous for playing the main character Sam Malone on the TV show Cheers (1982–1993). For this role, he won two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. He was also nominated for Emmys for the TV shows Damages (2007–2010) and The Good Place (2016–2020). In 2025, he received the Carol Burnett Award.

Danson first appeared in a movie in 1978 in the crime drama The Onion Field. He became well-known in movies for the comedies Three Men and a Baby (1987) and Three Men and a Little Lady (1990). He also acted in films like Body Heat (1981), Creepshow (1982), Dad (1989), and Saving Private Ryan (1998).

Danson has also had main roles in other TV shows. These include the sitcom Becker (1998–2004) and the dramas CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2011–2015) and CSI: Cyber (2015–2016). In 2015, he was in the second season of the show Fargo. He has also appeared in comedies like Bored to Death (2009–2011), Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024), Mr. Mayor (2021–2022), and A Man on the Inside (2024–present).

Danson has been married to actress Mary Steenburgen since 1995. He is also well-known for his long-time work in ocean conservation. He wrote a book called Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them (2011) with journalist Michael D'Orso.

Quick facts for kids Ted Danson
Danson in 2018
Born	Edward Bridge Danson III (1947-12-29) December 29, 1947 (age 77) San Diego, California, U.S.
Education	Stanford University Carnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Randall Gosch ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1975)​ Cassandra Coates ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1993)​ Mary Steenburgen ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	2
Relatives	Charlie McDowell (stepson) Lily Collins (step-daughter-in-law)

Early Life and Education

Ted Danson was born on December 29, 1947, in San Diego, California. His father, Edward Bridge "Ned" Danson Jr., was an archaeologist and worked at the Museum of Northern Arizona. His mother was Jessica Harriet (née MacMaster). Ted has an older sister named Jessica Ann "Jan" Haury. He grew up mostly in Flagstaff, Arizona. His family has Scottish and English roots, and some of his ancestors lived in colonial New England.

When he was 14, in 1961, Danson went to the Kent School in Connecticut. He was a great basketball player there. He became interested in acting when he went to Stanford University. To find a better acting program, he moved to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in Drama in 1972.

Career Highlights

Early Acting Roles (1975–1981)

Danson started his TV career on the daytime soap opera Somerset from 1975 to 1976. He also played a doctor on The Doctors in 1975 and 1977. He appeared in many commercials, including one for "Aramis cologne." In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he made guest appearances on popular TV shows like Laverne & Shirley, Taxi, and Magnum, P.I.. His first movie role was in The Onion Field (1978), and he also appeared in Body Heat (1981).

Danson at the 42nd Emmy Awards in 1990

Becoming a Star with Cheers (1982–1992)

In 1982, Danson got the role of Sam Malone in the NBC sitcom Cheers. Sam was a former baseball player who owned a bar. On the show, he had a complicated relationship with Diane Chambers, a smart, college-educated woman. Even though Cheers was not popular in its first season, critics loved it. By 1986, it was one of the top ten most-watched shows.

The series ran for 11 seasons, ending on May 20, 1993. The final episode was watched by 80 million people, making it one of the most-watched series finales ever. Cheers won four Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series. Danson himself won two Emmys and two Golden Globes for his role as Sam Malone. TV Guide magazine called Cheers one of the "Greatest Shows of All Time." Danson later played Sam Malone again in an episode of Frasier and voiced his character in an episode of The Simpsons.

During his time on Cheers, Danson also appeared in several movies. His most famous film roles were in Three Men and a Baby (1987) and its sequel Three Men and a Little Lady (1990). He also acted in Creepshow (1982) and Dad (1989). While known for comedy, he also acted in the TV drama Something About Amelia (1984), for which he won a Golden Globe.

After Cheers (1994–2014)

After Cheers ended, Danson continued to act in movies like Made in America (1993), Getting Even with Dad (1994), and Saving Private Ryan (1998). In 1996, he starred with his wife, Mary Steenburgen, in the TV sitcom Ink and the TV miniseries Gulliver's Travels.

From 1998 to 2004, Danson played the main character in the successful sitcom Becker. He also played a version of himself on the show Curb Your Enthusiasm from 2000 to 2024. In 1999, Ted Danson received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

In 2007, Danson starred in the drama Damages as a rich, dishonest businessman. This role earned him an Emmy nomination. From 2009 to 2011, he was in the HBO sitcom Bored to Death, where critics often praised his funny performance. From 2011 to 2015, Danson starred in the police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as D.B. Russell. He continued this role in the spin-off show CSI: Cyber until 2016.

The Good Place and Beyond (2015–Present)

In 2015, Danson appeared in the second season of the TV show Fargo. From 2016 to 2020, he starred as Michael, a demon, alongside Kristen Bell in the NBC sitcom The Good Place. He won many awards for his performance in this popular show.

Danson also had the main role in the NBC sitcom Mr. Mayor (2021–2022), playing a wealthy businessman who becomes mayor of Los Angeles. In 2024, he starred as Charles in the Netflix comedy series A Man on the Inside. As of 2024, Ted Danson has been a regular actor in twelve different TV shows, which is a lot for an actor! In 2024, Danson and Woody Harrelson started a podcast called Where Everybody Knows Your Name, where they interview other celebrities.

Personal Life

Marriages and Family

Danson with wife Mary Steenburgen in December 2009

Danson's first wife was actress Randall "Randy" Gosch. They were married in 1970 and divorced in 1975.

His second wife was producer Cassandra "Casey" Coates. They married in 1977. In 1979, while giving birth to their first daughter, Kate, Casey had a stroke. Danson spent several years helping her recover. They later adopted a second daughter, Alexis. They divorced in 1993.

On October 7, 1995, Danson married actress Mary Steenburgen. They met while working on the movie Pontiac Moon in 1993. Danson became the stepfather to Mary's children, Lilly and Charlie, from her previous marriage. Danson has tried different diets, and as of 2016, he follows a pescetarian diet, which means he eats fish but no other meat. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Environmental Work

Danson testifying about plastic in 2019

Danson's interest in protecting the environment started when he was 12 years old. He and his friends would remove outdoor advertising signs that were blocking natural views.

Over the years, Danson became very concerned about the health of the world's oceans. In the 1980s, he helped start the American Oceans Campaign. This group later joined with Oceana in 2001, and he is still a board member there. His dedication to the environment led him to host the TV series "Challenge of the Seas" in 1991.

In March 2011, Danson published his first book, Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do To Save Them. He wrote it with journalist Michael D'Orso. In October 2019, Danson was arrested along with actress Jane Fonda at a protest about climate change in Washington, D.C.

Political Involvement

Ted Danson is friends with former President Bill Clinton. Danson has given money to Democratic candidates and groups, including Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama. He and his wife, Mary Steenburgen, supported Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential campaign. They also attended the wedding of Bill and Hillary Clinton's daughter, Chelsea Clinton, in 2010.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Ted Danson para niños