Ted Danson

Ted Danson
source
Name	Ted Danson
Caption	Danson in 2019
Birth name	Edward Bridge Danson III
Birth date	29 December 1947
Birth place	San Diego, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1975–present
Spouse	Randee Becker (m. 1970; div. 1977), Casey Coates (m. 1977; div. 1993), Mary Steenburgen (m. 1995)

Ted Danson. Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III is an acclaimed American actor best known for his iconic portrayal of the charming bartender Sam Malone on the long-running NBC sitcom Cheers, a role for which he earned two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. His extensive career spans television, film, and theater, including notable roles on series such as Becker, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Damages, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and The Good Place. Beyond acting, he is a prominent environmental advocate, co-founding the nonprofit organization American Oceans Campaign and serving on the board of Oceana.

Early life and education

Born in San Diego, California, he is the son of Ned Danson, an archaeologist who directed the Museum of Northern Arizona. His family moved frequently during his youth, living in places like Flagstaff, Arizona, where he was profoundly influenced by the landscapes of the American Southwest. He attended Kent School, a private college-preparatory school in Connecticut, before enrolling at Stanford University, though he did not complete his degree there. His interest in performance led him to study acting at the Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Career

His early career included stage work and minor television roles on shows like The Doctors and the soap opera Somerset. His breakthrough came in 1982 when he was cast as the lead in the James Burrows-created sitcom Cheers, set in a Boston bar, which became a cornerstone of 1980s American television and ran for eleven seasons. Following the success of Cheers, he starred in the self-titled sitcom Becker on CBS, playing a curmudgeonly doctor in The Bronx. He later received critical acclaim for dramatic roles, including a ruthless billionaire on the legal thriller Damages, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination, and as D.B. Russell on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. His performance as the demonic Michael on the philosophical comedy The Good Place earned him further Saturn Award recognition. His film work includes appearances in Three Men and a Baby, Dad, Saving Private Ryan, and The Onion Field.

Personal life

He has been married three times; his first marriage was to Randee Becker, and his second to Casey Coates, with whom he adopted a daughter. Since 1995, he has been married to actress Mary Steenburgen, whom he met on the set of the film Pontiac Moon; they have collaborated on projects like the series Curb Your Enthusiasm and Mr. Mayor. He faced significant public controversy in the early 1990s related to his attendance at a blackface-themed party, an incident for which he later expressed profound regret during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He is a longtime resident of Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

Select credits include the television series Cheers (1982–1993), Becker (1998–2004), Damages (2009–2010), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2011–2015), and The Good Place (2016–2020). Notable film roles encompass The Onion Field (1979), Body Heat (1981), Three Men and a Baby (1987), Dad (1989), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). He also executive produced and starred in the NBC comedy Mr. Mayor (2021–2022).

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and ten additional nominations for his work on Cheers, Damages, and The Good Place. He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy for Cheers and has been nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards. His performance in The Good Place earned him a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Philanthropy and activism

He is a dedicated environmentalist, particularly focused on ocean conservation. In 1987, he co-founded the American Oceans Campaign, which later merged with the international advocacy group Oceana; he serves as a board member and prominent spokesperson for the organization. His activism has involved testifying before the United States Congress, participating in documentaries like Discovery Channel's Save Our Seas, and collaborating with figures such as Sylvia Earle. He has also supported various charitable causes, including the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Amnesty International.

Category:American male television actors Category:American film actors Category:1947 births Category:Living people