Ted Danson's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation D.B. Russell Damages Arthur Frob… Cheers Sam Malone The Good Place Michael Bored to Death George Chri… Becker Dr. John Be… Help Me Help You Dr. Bill Ho… Tucker's Witch Danny Kirkw… Pearl Sal Gary the Rat Terry McMil… Ink Mike Logan The Whoopi Goldberg Show Ted Danson

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American actor, author and producer, well known for his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He is currently starring in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as D.B. Russell. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm, starred alongside 'Glenn Close' in legal drama Damages and was a regular on the HBO comedy series Bored to Death.

Danson was born in San Diego, California, the son of Jess Danson (née MacMaster) and Edward Bridge Danson, Jr., an archaeologist and museum director and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Danson is well known for his role as "Sam Malone" in the television series Cheers (1982). During the show's 12-year run, he was nominated nine times for an Emmy Award as Best 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.

Danson and his third wife, actress 'Mary Steenburgen' married on October 7, 1995. He is stepfather to her daughter, Lilly, and son, Charles, who are the children of Steenburgen's ex-husband actor 'Malcolm McDowell'. They both starred in and were executive producers of the CBS comedy series Ink (1996).

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), 3 Men and a Baby (1987), 3 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).

He 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' 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.

Danson adheres to a vegan diet for both health and ethical reasons.


TRIVIA:

• Said in a TV 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.".
• Likes to tap dance.
• Played 'Jason Ritter' (qv)'s father in _Mumford (1999)_ (qv). His wife 'Mary Steenburgen' (qv) played Ritter's mother in _"Joan of Arcadia" (2003)_ (qv).
• Graduated from Kent School in 1966, the same high school 'Peter Farrelly' (qv), 'Sebastian Siegel (I)' (qv), 'Treat Williams' (qv) and 'Seth MacFarlane' (qv) attended.
• Has heard one of his more famous characters, "Dr. John Becker," described by a fan as "the American Medical Association's answer to Basil Fawlty." Danson completely agrees with this sentiment.
• Is one of the 3 actors who appeared in all 273 episodes of _"Cheers" (1982)_ (qv).
• Has appeared in episodes of three different series with 'John Mahoney (I)' (qv): _"Cheers" (1982)_ (qv), _"Frasier" (1993)_ (qv) and _"Becker" (1998)_ (qv).
• Children: Katherine Danson (born December 24th 1979) and Alexis Danson (born 1985), adopted by Ted and Casey Danson in 1987. Step-children are 'Lilly McDowell' (qv) and 'Charlie McDowell' (qv).