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IMDbPro

Ted Danson

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000239
Ted Danson
Premieres Jan. 7, Streaming Next Day
Play trailer2:17
Mr. Mayor (2021–2022)
81 Videos
99+ Photos
Ted Danson is well known for his role as Sam Malone in the television series Cheers (1982). During the show's 11-year run, he was nominated nine times for an Emmy Award as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and won twice, in 1990 and 1993. The role also earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 1989 and 1990. He and his wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, starred in and were executive producers of the CBS comedy series Ink (1996).

Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III was born in San Diego, California, to Jessica Harriet (MacMaster) and Edward Bridge Danson, Jr., who was an archaeologist and museum director. He has English, Scottish, and German ancestry. He was raised just outside Flagstaff, Ariz. Danson attended Stanford University, where he became interested in drama during his second year. In 1972, he transferred to Carnegie-Mellon University (formerly Carnegie Tech) in Pittsburgh. After graduation, he was hired as an understudy in Tom Stoppard's Off Broadway production of "The Real Inspector Hound." Danson moved to Los Angeles in 1978 and studied with Dan Fauci at the Actor's Institute, where he also taught classes. Danson lives with his family in Los Angeles. He is a founding member of the American Oceans Campaign (AOC), an organization established to alert Americans to the life-threatening hazards created by oil spills, offshore development, toxic wastes, sewage pollution and other ocean abuses.

In 1984, Danson received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in the television movie Something About Amelia (1984), in which he starred opposite Glenn Close. He also starred opposite Lee Remick in The Women's Room (1980). In 1986, he made his debut as a television producer with When the Bough Breaks (1986), in which he also starred. He later starred in the mini-series Gulliver's Travels (1996) and Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998). Danson's numerous feature film credits include The Onion Field (1979), in which he made his debut as Officer Ian Campbell, Body Heat (1981), Three Men and a Baby (1987), Three Men and a Little Lady (1990), Cousins (1989), Dad (1989), Made in America (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Mumford (1999), and Jerry and Tom (1998).
BornDecember 29, 1947
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 29, 1947
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000239
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Won 2 Primetime Emmys
    • 15 wins & 73 nominations total

Before They Were Famous: Actors' Early Roles

Before They Were Famous: Actors' Early Roles

See photos of celebrities like Michelle Williams and Jenna Ortega before they hit the big-time, and revisit some of their earliest onscreen roles.
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Photos

Photos814

Ted Danson and Manny Jacinto in The Good Place (2016)
Ted Danson and D'Arcy Carden in The Good Place (2016)
Ted Danson and Kristen Bell in The Good Place (2016)
Ted Danson and Kristen Bell in The Good Place (2016)
Ted Danson in The Good Place (2016)
Ted Danson and Kristen Bell in The Good Place (2016)
Ted Danson and Justin M. Lubin in The Good Place (2016)
Ted Danson in The Good Place (2016)
Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, and D'Arcy Carden in The Good Place (2016)
Holly Hunter, Ted Danson, and Vella Lovell in Mr. Mayor (2021)
Holly Hunter and Ted Danson in Mr. Mayor (2021)
Holly Hunter, Ted Danson, Mike Cabellon, and Vella Lovell in Mr. Mayor (2021)

Known for

Kirstie Alley, Woody Harrelson, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)
Cheers
7.9
TV Series
  • Sam Malone
Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, Marc Evan Jackson, William Jackson Harper, Manny Jacinto, Jameela Jamil, and D'Arcy Carden in The Good Place (2016)
The Good Place
8.2
TV Series
  • Michael
William Hurt and Kathleen Turner in Body Heat (1981)
Body Heat
7.4
  • Peter Lowenstein
  • 1981
Terry Farrell, Ted Danson, Alex Désert, Shawnee Smith, and Hattie Winston in Becker (1998)
Becker
7.3
TV Series
  • Dr. John Becker

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Scott Grimes, Penny Johnson Jerald, Seth MacFarlane, Peter Macon, Adrianne Palicki, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, and Halston Sage in The Orville (2017)
    The Orville
    • Admiral Perry
    • TV Series
    • 2019–2022
  • Holly Hunter, Ted Danson, Bobby Moynihan, Kyla Kenedy, Mike Cabellon, and Vella Lovell in Mr. Mayor (2021)
    Mr. Mayor
    • Neil Bremer
    • TV Series
    • 2021–2022
  • Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
    Curb Your Enthusiasm
    • Ted Danson
    • TV Series
    • 2000–2021
  • American Dad! (2005)
    American Dad!
    • Dr. Ray Petit (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2015–2020
  • Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, Marc Evan Jackson, William Jackson Harper, Manny Jacinto, Jameela Jamil, and D'Arcy Carden in The Good Place (2016)
    The Good Place
    • Michael
    • TV Series
    • 2016–2020
  • Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons in Hearts Beat Loud (2018)
    Hearts Beat Loud
    • Dave
    • 2018
  • The Wrights (2017)
    The Wrights
    • Phil
    • Short
    • 2017
  • Patricia Arquette, Peter MacNicol, James Van Der Beek, Shad Moss, Hayley Kiyoko, and Charley Koontz in CSI: Cyber (2015)
    CSI: Cyber
    • D.B. Russell
    • TV Series
    • 2015–2016
  • Fargo (2014)
    Fargo
    • Hank Larsson
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Ted Danson, Marg Helgenberger, Jorja Fox, and William Petersen in CSI: Immortality (2015)
    CSI: Immortality
    • D. B. Russell
    • TV Movie
    • 2015
  • Elisabeth Shue and Ted Danson in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
    • D.B. Russell
    • TV Series
    • 2011–2015
  • Couples Therapy (2014)
    Couples Therapy
    • The Therapist
    • Short
    • 2014
  • The One I Love (2014)
    The One I Love
    • Therapist
    • 2014
  • Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes in CSI: NY (2004)
    CSI: NY
    • D.B. Russell
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane in Ted (2012)
    Ted
    • Ted Danson (uncredited)
    • 2012

Producer

  • Best Summer Ever (2020)
    Best Summer Ever
    • executive producer
    • 2020
  • The Evening Journey (2008)
    The Evening Journey
    • associate producer
    • Short
    • 2008
  • Bye Bye Benjamin (2006)
    Bye Bye Benjamin
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2006
  • Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen in Ink (1996)
    Ink
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 1996–1997
  • Pontiac Moon (1994)
    Pontiac Moon
    • executive producer
    • 1994
  • Yesterday Today
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1992
  • Down Home
    • co-producer
    • TV Series
    • 1990
  • Ted Danson and Judith Ivey in We Are the Children (1987)
    We Are the Children
    • co-producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1987
  • When the Bough Breaks (1986)
    When the Bough Breaks
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1986

Soundtrack

  • Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, Marc Evan Jackson, William Jackson Harper, Manny Jacinto, Jameela Jamil, and D'Arcy Carden in The Good Place (2016)
    The Good Place
    • performer: "Blaze of Glory" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Terry Farrell, Ted Danson, Alex Désert, Shawnee Smith, and Hattie Winston in Becker (1998)
    Becker
    • performer: "Moonlight Becomes You" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1999
  • Kirstie Alley, Woody Harrelson, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)
    Cheers
    • performer: "Getting To Know You"
    • performer: "Singin' in the Rain"
    • performer: "Tickle Your Tummy and Laugh a Lot" (uncredited, "Theme from The Magnificent Seven") ...
    • TV Series
    • 1984–1993
  • Saturday Night Live (1975)
    Saturday Night Live
    • performer: "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1991
  • Voices That Care (1991)
    Voices That Care
    • performer: "Voices That Care"
    • TV Movie
    • 1991
  • Steve Guttenberg, Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, and Robin Weisman in Three Men and a Little Lady (1990)
    Three Men and a Little Lady
    • performer: "The Three Men Rap"
    • 1990
  • Steve Guttenberg, Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, Lisa Blair, and Michelle Blair in Three Men and a Baby (1987)
    Three Men and a Baby
    • performer: "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight", "My Girl", "Happy Birthday to You" (uncredited)
    • 1987
  • A Fine Mess (1986)
    A Fine Mess
    • performer: "That's Amore" (uncredited)
    • 1986
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos81

Mad Money
Clip 1:01
Mad Money
Mad Money
Clip 1:19
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Mad Money
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Clip 0:50
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Clip 0:43
Mad Money
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Clip 1:09
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Clip 1:08
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Mad Money
Interview 0:37
Mad Money
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Interview 0:28
Mad Money
Mad Money
Interview 0:36
Mad Money
Trailer
Trailer 2:38
Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Ted
  • Height
    • 6′ 2½″ (1.89 m)
  • Born
    • December 29, 1947
    • San Diego, California, USA
  • Spouses
      Mary SteenburgenOctober 7, 1995 - present (2 children)
  • Children
      Alexis Danson
  • Parents
      Edward Bridge Danson
  • Relatives
    • Jan Haury (Danson)(Sibling)
  • Other works
    (Late 1970s-1982) TV commercials: Aramis colognes (Aramis, Devin, and Aramis900) for men.
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Interviews
    • 8 Articles
    • 22 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Said in a television interview that his daughter was on the set during the scene from Creepshow (1982) where his character returns from the dead encased in rotted flesh and seaweed. He purposely tried avoiding his young daughter out of a fear of scaring her. Finally, despite his best efforts, she went up to him, looked at him and simply said, "Oh, Hi Dad".
  • Quotes
    If I had my way everyone would be in a 12-step program.
  • Trademarks
      Grey hair and glasses (in latter career)
  • Salaries
      CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
      (2000)
      $250,000 per episode (2013-2014)

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