Ted danson biography cheers groin injury

American actor (born )

Edward BridgeDanson III (born December 29, )^[1] is an American actor. He achieved stardom playing the lead character Sam Malone on the NBCsitcomCheers (–), for which he received two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

He was further Emmy-nominated for the FX legal drama Damages (–) and the NBC comedy The Good Place (–). He was announced as the recipient of the Carol Burnett Award.

Danson made his film debut in in the crime drama The Onion Field. His breakout film role was in the comedies Three Men and a Baby () and Three Men and a Little Lady ().

He also acted in Body Heat (), Creepshow (), Dad () and Saving Private Ryan ().

Danson's other leading roles on television include the CBS sitcom Becker (–), CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (–), and CSI: Cyber (–).^[2][3] In , he starred in the second season of FX's anthology series Fargo.

He has played roles in the HBO comedies Bored to Death (–) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (–), the NBC sitcom Mr. Mayor (–), and the Netflix comedy A Man on the Inside ().

Danson has been married to actress Mary Steenburgen since He is also known for his longtime activism in ocean conservation and wrote Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them () with journalist Michael D'Orso.

Early life and education

On December 29, , Danson was born in San Diego to Edward Bridge "Ned" Danson, Jr.,^[4][5] an archaeologist and curator of the Museum of Northern Arizona from to , and Jessica Harriet (née MacMaster).^[6][7] He has an older sister, Jessica Ann "Jan" Haury.^[7] Danson was primarily raised in Flagstaff, Arizona.^[8] He has Scottish and English heritage.

Their ancestors lived in colonial New England and are descended from historical figures such as Anne Hutchinson.^[9][10]

In , at age 14, Danson enrolled at the Kent School, a university-preparatory school in Connecticut; he was a star player on the basketball team. He became interested in drama while later attending Stanford University.

In his search for a better acting program, he transferred to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a B.F.A. in Drama in ^[11]

Career

– Early roles

Danson began his television career as a contract player on the daytime soap opera Somerset.^[12] He played the role of Tom Conway from to In , he played Dr.

Mitchell Pierson on the daytime soap opera The Doctors, having also appeared earlier in as another character, Dr. Chuck Weldon.^[13] He was also in a number of commercials, most notably as the "Aramis man".^[14] His guest appearances on television in the late s and early s include being on Laverne & Shirley, B.

"Cheers" I on Sports (TV Episode 1987) - IMDb

J. and the Bear, Family, Benson, Taxi, Magnum, P.I., The Amazing Spider-Man, Tucker's Witch, and Mrs. Columbo.

– Cheers and stardom

In , Danson was cast in the role of Sam Malone, a former local-legend baseball player and bartender, for the NBC sitcom Cheers.

On the show, he has an on-again-off-again relationship with the college-educated, sophisticated Diane Chambers. Although the show finished last in ratings in its first season, it was well-received by critics. Ratings gradually improved by , and by , Cheers was among the top ten most-viewed shows on television.

The series ran for 11 seasons (–), with the series finale (May 20, ) being watched by 80 million people, the second-most watched series finale in television history (in ). Cheers won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, plus a Golden Globe for Best Series–Musical or Comedy. During his time on the show, Danson won two of his 11 consecutive Emmy nominations for the role of Sam Malone, and won two of his nine Golden Globe nominations.

In , TV Guide magazine named Cheers the 18th “Greatest Show of All Time”. On December 15, , Danson got into a minor car accident in which he got a bloody nose, he was in some pain, but his nose wasn’t broken. The bloody nose was written into the episode of Cheers How to Win Friends and Electrocute People. It was included in Time's “ Greatest Shows of All Time”.^[15] Danson reprised the role of Sam Malone in a second-season episode of Frasier, and did the voiceover for his character in an episode of The Simpsons, "Fear of Flying".

– Post-Cheers roles

Danson has also been featured in numerous films. His most notable film appearances included Three Men and a Baby with Tom Selleck and Steve Guttenberg, its sequel Three Men and a Little Lady, and Cousins with Isabella Rossellini. He also appeared in The Onion Field (his first film, as the bagpipe-playing Officer Ian Campbell), Creepshow, Body Heat, Little Treasure, Just Between Friends (with Mary Tyler Moore), A Fine Mess, Dad, Made in America, Getting Even with Dad, Loch Ness, and Saving Private Ryan.

Although he was best known for his work in comedy, he also appeared in a drama, Something About Amelia, about a family devastated by the repercussions of incest, which co-starred his later co-star on Damages, Glenn Close. He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie and was nominated for an Emmy Award.

Ted danson biography cheers groin injury video While a guest on The Arsenio Hall Show in late , he met actress Whoopi Goldberg ; he describes her as "a sexy, funny woman". Edit page. The Amazing Spider-Man. MusicBrainz Emmy Awards.

In , three years after Cheers concluded, Danson starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom Ink with his real-life wife Mary Steenburgen. In the same year, they starred as Lemuel Gulliver and his wife in an acclaimed television miniseries of Gulliver's Travels. Danson went on to star in the successful CBS sitcom Becker (produced by Paramount Television which also produced Cheers), which ran from to Danson also plays a fictionalized version of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

In , Danson was presented with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Danson returned to series television in , playing a psychiatrist in the ABC sitcom Help Me Help You, which was canceled at midseason due to low ratings. Also in , Danson received a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries for his role in Knights of the South Bronx.

In , Danson starred in the FX Network drama Damages as a corrupt billionaire, Arthur Frobisher. The role earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, but he lost to co-star Željko Ivanek. During the second season Danson became a recurring character instead of one of the principal cast. He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series but lost to Michael J.

Fox for Fox's guest appearance in Rescue Me. In , Danson appeared in the music video for "Make Some Noise" by the Beastie Boys. He is also mentioned in the song's lyrics.

Danson starred in the HBO sitcom Bored to Death as George Christopher, the laconic and sometime downright infantile editor of Edition magazine.

Critics often praised Danson as being the highlight of the program, calling his character a "scene stealer."^[16][17] From to , Danson starred in the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He played D.B. Russell, a new graveyard-shift supervisor who previously headed a crime lab in Seattle.

Tony Shalhoub, Robin Williams, and John Lithgow were also considered for the role.^[2][3][18] He reprised his role in the third CSI spin-off, CSI: Cyber, which was canceled after two seasons.

–present

In , Danson appeared in the second season of the TV show Fargo, portraying Sheriff Hank Larsson.^[19] From to Danson appeared opposite Kristen Bell as the character Michael in the NBC sitcom The Good Place.

He was nominated for and won numerous awards for his performance as Michael.

Settings

Cheers (TV Series 1982–1993) - Ted Danson as Sam ... - IMDb

Cheers Clips: Groin injury - YouTube

Cheers "Groin Injury Rap" - Dailymotion

Danson had the main role on the NBC sitcom Mr. Mayor (–), in which he plays a wealthy businessman who runs for mayor of Los Angeles for all the wrong reasons. Episode of the Beef and Dairy Network Podcast, entitled 'Ted Danson', features Danson playing an alternate version of himself (referred to as 'The Actor Ted Danson') seeking to collect on a debt of million tons of grain.

In , he starred as the leading role of Charles in Netflix comedy series, A Man on the Inside, based on the Academy Award-nominee documentary The Mole Agent.^[20] As of , Danson has played a regular in 12 television shows, the most any actor has done historically.^[21]

Personal life

Marriage and relationships

Danson and his first wife, actress Randall "Randy" Gosch (known as Randy Danson), were married in and divorced in ^[22]

Danson's second wife was producer Cassandra "Casey" Coates, whom he married in On December 24, , while giving birth to their first daughter, Kate, Coates suffered a stroke.

Danson spent several years caring for her and helping her recuperate. They later adopted a second daughter, Alexis.^[23] His affair with actress Whoopi Goldberg contributed to their divorce in ^[24] At the time, it was known as one of Hollywood's costliest divorces and reportedly cost Danson $30 million.^[25]

Whoopi Goldberg

While a guest on The Arsenio Hall Show in late , he met actress Whoopi Goldberg; he describes her as "a sexy, funny woman".^[26] They became friends and were in Help Save Planet Earth in which is about saving the environment (Danson played himself, Goldberg portrayed Mother Earth).^[27] While making Made in America in April , the two became romantically involved, a pairing that was heavily featured in gossip tabloids such as the National Enquirer.

The couple also appeared on the Rock the VoteTV special in the same year;^[28] they were set to star in a Paramount-produced version of Neal Barrett Jr.'s Pink Vodka Blues,^[29] written by Marshall Brickman.^{[citation needed]}

Danson received negative press attention October 8, , after his appearance wearing blackface at a Friars Clubcomedy roast in honor of Goldberg, and for using many racist slurs.

Later, Goldberg defended the sketch, explaining that she had helped write much of the material and referred Danson to the makeup artist who painted his face as a societal critique.^[30]

Mary Steenburgen

On October 7, , Danson married actress Mary Steenburgen, whom he met on the set of Pontiac Moon in , and became the stepfather to Steenburgen's children, Lilly and Charlie, from her previous marriage to actor Malcolm McDowell.^[31] Danson has been on a plant-based diet multiple times,^[32][33] but as of , he is on a pescetarian diet.^[34] Danson is Episcopalian.^[35]

Environmentalism

Danson's interest in environmental concerns began when he was 12 years old.

Bill Breed, then curator of geology at the Museum of Northern Arizona, introduced Danson and their friend Marc Gaede to a "game" he referred to as "billboarding". Armed with axes and saws, Breed, Gaede, and Danson destroyed over outdoor advertising signs.^[36]

Danson's interest in environmentalism continued over the years, and he began to be concerned with the state of the world's oceans.

He was a contributing founder of the American Oceans Campaigns in the s; it merged with Oceana in and he is a board member.^[37] His commitment to the environment led him to host the A&E television series "Challenge of the Seas" in , filming 26 one-hour episodes.^[38]

In March , Danson published his first book, Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do To Save Them which was written with journalist Michael D'Orso.^[39][40] On October 25, , Danson was arrested and charged along with actress Jane Fonda at a climate-change protest outside the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.^[41]

Political activism

Danson is a friend of former President Bill Clinton, who attended Danson and Steenburgen's wedding.

Danson has donated over $, as of June to Democratic candidates and PACs, including Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Al Gore, John Edwards, Barbara Boxer, Bill Clinton, Al Franken, John Kerry, and the Jane Fonda Climate PAC.^[42] He has also donated to the Democratic Party of Arkansas and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Danson and Steenburgen campaigned for Senator Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign.^[43] He attended the wedding of Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton's daughter Chelsea on July 31, ^[44] He appeared with Steenburgen at the Democratic National Convention. On October 3, , he attended the opening of Hillary Clinton's new campaign office in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at the old Queen Pharmacy on King Street.^[45][46][47]

Filmography

Film

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
–	Somerset	Tom Conway #2	Unknown episodes
,	The Doctors	Dr. Chuck Weldon () / Mitch Pierson ()	19 episodes
	The Amazing Spider-Man	Major Collings	2 episodes
	Mrs. Columbo	Richard Dellinger	Episode: "Ladies of the Afternoon"
	Trapper John, M.D.	Injured Man	Episode: "Love Is a Three-Way Street"
	B. J. and the Bear	Tom Spencer	Episode: "Silent Night, Unholy Night"
	The French Atlantic Affair	Abe Stanley, Assistant to Dr. Clemens	Miniseries; Episode #
	The Women's Room	Norman	Television film
	Once Upon a Spy	Jack Chenault	Television film
	Laverne & Shirley	Randy Carpenter	Episode: "Why Did the Fireman"
	Family	David Bartels	Episode: "Daylight Serenade"
	Benson	Dan Slater	2 episodes
	Magnum, P.I.	Stewart Crane	Episode: "Don't Say Goodbye"
	Dear Teacher	Steve Goodwin	Television film
	Our Family Business	Gep	Television film
	Taxi	Vincenzo Senaca	Episode: "The Unkindest Cut"
	Tucker's Witch	Danny Kirkwood	2 episodes
–	Cheers	Sam Malone	Main role, episodes
	Allison Sydney Harrison	David Harrison	Television film
	Cowboy	Dale Weeks	Television film
	Something About Amelia	Steven Bennett	Television film
	When the Bough Breaks	Alex Delaware	Television film
	We Are the Children	—	Television film
	Mickey's 60th Birthday	Sam Malone	Television film
	Saturday Night Live	Himself (host)	Episode: "Ted Danson/Luther Vandross"
	The Jim Henson Hour	Himself	Episode: "Aquatic Life"
	The Earth Day Special	Sam Malone	Television special
	The Simpsons	Sam Malone (voice)	Episode: "Fear of Flying"
	Frasier	Sam Malone	Episode: "The Show Where Sam Shows Up"
–	Ink	Mike Logan	Main role, 22 episodes
	Gulliver's Travels	Lemuel Gulliver	2 episodes
	Pearl	Sal	Episode: "The Write Stuff: Part 2"
–	Becker	Dr. John Becker	Main role, episodes
	Thanks of a Grateful Nation	Jim Tuite	Television film
	Veronica's Closet	Nick Vanover	Episode: "Veronica's $, Pop"
	Diagnosis: Murder	Himself	Episode: "The Roast"
–	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Himself	Recurring role, 34 episodes
	Search for Atlantis	Himself	Television film
	Grosse Pointe	Jack the Dog (voice)	Episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy"
	Living with the Dead	James Van Praagh	Television film
	Gary the Rat	Terry McMillian (voice)	Episode: "Mergers and Acquisions"
	It Must Be Love	George Gazelle	Television film
	Our Fathers	Mitchell Garabedian	Television film
	Knights of the South Bronx	Richard	Television film
	Heist	Tom	2 episodes
–	Help Me Help You	Dr. Bill Hoffman	Main role, 14 episodes
–	Damages	Arthur Frobisher	Main role, 23 episodes
	King of the Hill	Tom Hammond (voice)	Episode: "The Accidental Terrorist"
–	Bored to Death	George Christopher	Main role, 24 episodes
	Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!	Little Danson Man	Episode: "Greene Machine"
–	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Director D.B. Russell	Main role, 84 episodes
	CSI: NY		Episode: "Seth and Apep"
–	CSI: Cyber		Main role, 18 episodes
	Fargo	Sheriff Hank Larsson	Main role, 10 episodes
–	American Dad!	Dr. Ray Petit (voice)	4 episodes
–	The Good Place	Michael	Main role, 52 episodes
	Finding Your Roots	Himself	Episode: "Puritans and Pioneers"
–present	Advancements	Himself	79 episodes
–	The Orville	Admiral Perry	Recurring role (season ); 6 episodes
–	Mr. Mayor	Mayor Neil Bremer	Main role, 20 episodes
	Mulligan	Brad Chadman (voice)	Episode: "Not My President"
	A Man on the Inside	Charles	Main role, 8 episodes

Theatre

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Ted Danson

Bibliography

• Danson, Ted (with Michael D'Orso).

  (March 15, ) Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them. New York: Rodale Books. ISBN&#;

References

Further reading

External links