Biography
Who is Ted Danson?
Early life and education
Born Edward Bridge Danson III on December 29, 1947, in San Diego, California, he is the son of Edward Bridge Danson Jr. And Jessica Harriet MacMaster. His father worked as an archaeologist and curator at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Ted grew up primarily in Flagstaff, Arizona, and has one older sister named Jessica Ann Haury. He possesses English and Scottish ancestry, with family roots extending back to colonial New England figures like Anne Hutchinson.
In 1961, at the age of 14, he attended the Kent School in Connecticut where he participated in basketball. He eventually developed an interest in drama while studying at Stanford University. Seeking a more focused acting curriculum, he transferred to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He successfully completed his studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama in 1972.
Television and film career
Ted Danson launched his television career in the mid-1970s appearing on soap operas like Somerset and The Doctors. He also worked in commercials, especially acting as the Aramis man. His first film appearance was in the 1978 crime drama The Onion Field, where he played Officer Ian Campbell. He continued to build his resume with roles in films such as Body Heat, Creepshow, and Dad throughout the 1980s.
His major breakthrough arrived in 1982 when he was cast as Sam Malone, the bartender and former baseball player on the NBC sitcom Cheers. The show ran for 11 seasons until 1993 and became a cultural hit, earning him two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. Following this, he starred in the CBS sitcom Becker from 1998 to 2004 and appeared as a fictionalized version of himself on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm for many years.
Awards and personal life
Throughout his career, Ted has received significant recognition for his performances. Beyond his Emmys for Cheers, he earned an honorary doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. In 2025, he was honored with the Carol Burnett Award and the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, the latter shared with his wife, Mary Steenburgen.
He married actress Mary Steenburgen in 1995. He is also known for his long-term dedication to ocean conservation and environmental activism. He co-authored a book titled Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them in 2011 with journalist Michael D'Orso. He is a father and continues to remain active in the entertainment industry as both an actor and producer.
Birthday and age
Ted Danson was born on December 29, 1947, which makes Ted 78 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Ted shares the date with 30 other famous people.
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