Early Life and Education

Edward Bridge Danson III was born on December 29, 1947, in San Diego, California. He was raised by his parents, Jessica and Edward Bridge Danson Jr., a respected archaeologist and museum director. Ted spent part of his childhood on a Navajo reservation in Arizona, where his father worked. He grew up alongside his older sister, Jan Haury.

Danson attended Stanford University, where he initially became interested in acting, influenced by his then-girlfriend’s involvement in the performing arts. Seeking to deepen his craft, he later transferred to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama.

Television Breakthrough and Major Roles

Ted Danson began his television career in the early 1970s. One of his earliest roles was on the NBC soap opera Somerset in 1974. He soon transitioned to film, appearing as a police officer in the 1979 crime drama The Onion Field. In the early 1980s, he acted in various made-for-TV projects, including The Women’s Room (1980) and Our Family Business (1981). That same year, he appeared in the critically acclaimed neo-noir thriller Body Heat, alongside Kathleen Turner and William Hurt.

Danson’s breakthrough came in 1982 when he was cast as Sam "Mayday" Malone, a former baseball player turned bartender, on the NBC sitcom Cheers. The show ran for 11 seasons and became one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history. His portrayal earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a host of additional nominations, solidifying his status as a leading television actor.

Post-Cheers Projects and Continued Success

Following the end of Cheers, Danson continued to build a successful television career with leading roles in shows such as Becker, where he played a misanthropic doctor, and later in HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, where he played a fictionalized version of himself.

One of his notable dramatic performances was in the 1984 television movie Something About Amelia, which earned him another Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film.

In recent years, Danson starred as Michael in the critically acclaimed NBC comedy The Good Place. His performance was widely praised, and he received multiple award nominations, including a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2019 Emmy Awards.

Personal Life and Family

Ted Danson has been married three times. His first marriage was to actress Randall “Randy” Gosch in 1970, which ended in divorce in 1975. He then married producer Cassandra “Casey” Coates in 1977. The couple had a daughter, Kate, born in 1979. They later adopted a second daughter, Alexis. Kate Danson went on to become an actress, appearing in TV shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Danson's marriage to Coates ended in 1993. Reports at the time cited his relationship with actress Whoopi Goldberg as a contributing factor. The divorce was widely publicized and reported to have cost Danson approximately $30 million.

Since 1995, Ted Danson has been married to actress Mary Steenburgen. The couple met on the set of the film Pontiac Moon and have since collaborated on several projects, including forming their own production company, Anasazi Productions.

Legacy and Net Worth

Over a career spanning more than four decades, Ted Danson has established himself as one of television’s most versatile actors. From his iconic comedic timing in Cheers to thought-provoking roles in dramas, he has consistently impressed audiences and critics alike. His longstanding contributions to television have not only made him a household name but also earned him a significant financial status, with an estimated net worth of over $80 million.