Ted Danson Biography (1947-)

Original name, Edward Bridge Danson III; born December 29, 1947, in San Diego, CA; son of Edward Bridge, Jr. (an archeologist and museum director) and Jessica (maiden name, McMaster) Danson; married Randall "Randy" Lee Gosch, August, 1970 (divorced, 1977); married Cassandra "Casey" Coates (a designer), July30, 1977 (divorced, 1993); married Mary Steenburgen (an actress), October 7,1995; children: (second marriage) Kate, Alexis; (third marriage): stepson, stepdaughter. Addresses: Agent: Creative Artists Agency, 9830 WilshireBlvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Manager: Industry Entertainment, 955 S. Carrillo Dr., Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor, producer
Birth Details
December 29, 1947
San Diego, California, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Ian Campbell, The Onion Field, Avco Embassy, 1979
  • Peter Lowenstein, Body Heat, Warner Bros., 1981
  • Harry Wentworth, "Something to Tide You Over," Creepshow, Warner Bros., 1983
  • Eugene, Little Treasure, TriStar, 1985
  • Spence Holden, A Fine Mess (also known as Blake Edwards' A FineMess), Columbia, 1986
  • Chip Davis, Just between Friends, Orion, 1986
  • Jack Holden, Three Men and a Baby, Buena Vista, 1987
  • (Uncredited) Himself, She's Having a Baby, Paramount, 1988
  • Larry Kozinski, Cousins, Paramount, 1989
  • John Tremont, Dad, Universal, 1989
  • Jack Holden, Three Men and a Little Lady, Buena Vista, 1991
  • Hal Jackson, Made in America, Warner Bros., 1993
  • Washington Bellamy, Pontiac Moon, Paramount, 1994
  • Raymond "Ray" Gleason, Getting Even with Dad, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,1994
  • Himself, Visions of a New World, 1995
  • Dr. Jonathan Dempsey, Loch Ness, Gramercy, 1996
  • Gianni Saletzzo, Homegrown, Columbia/TriStar, 1998
  • Captain Hamill, Saving Private Ryan, DreamWorks, 1998
  • Jeremy Brockett, Mumford, Buena Vista, 1999
  • Film Work
  • Executive producer, Pontiac Moon, Paramount, 1994
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Tom Conway #2, Somerset (also known as Another World: Somerset and Somerset: Bay City), NBC, 1974-1976
  • Dan Slater, Benson, ABC, 1980-1981
  • Sam "Mayday" Malone, Cheers, NBC, 1982-1993
  • Mike Logan, Ink, CBS, 1996
  • Dr. John Becker (title role), Becker, CBS, 1998-
  • Miniseries
  • (Uncredited) Assistant to Dr. Clemens, The French Atlantic Affair,1979
  • Lemuel Gulliver (title role), Gulliver's Travels, NBC, 1996
  • Jim Tuite, Thanks of a Grateful Nation (also known as Dying forOur Country and The Gulf War), Showtime, 1998
  • James Van Praagh, Living with the Dead, CBS, 2002
  • Movies
  • Norm, The Women's Room, ABC, 1980
  • Jack Chenault, Once upon a Spy (also known as Lethal Games), ABC, 1980
  • Gip, Our Family Business, ABC, 1981
  • Dale Weeks, Cowboy, CBS, 1983
  • Quarterback Princess, CBS, 1983
  • Steven Bennett, Something about Amelia, ABC, 1984
  • Dr. Alex Delaware, When the Bough Breaks, NBC, 1986
  • Duffy Lynch, We Are the Children, ABC, 1987
  • The Canterville Ghost, ABC, 1996
  • Guy who loved Vicki, Jerry and Tom, Showtime, 1998
  • Pilots
  • Steve Goodwin, Dear Teacher, 1981
  • David Harrison, Allison Sidney Harrison, NBC, 1983
  • Specials
  • TV's Censored Bloopers, NBC, 1984
  • The NBC All-Star Hour, NBC, 1985
  • The American Film Institute Salute to Billy Wilder, NBC, 1986
  • NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986
  • Sex Symbols: Past, Present and Future, syndicated, 1987
  • Mickey's 60th Birthday Special, NBC, 1988
  • Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1988
  • Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1989
  • Sam "Mayday" Malone, Cheers: Special 200th Episode Celebration, NBC, 1990
  • Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special (also known as The Earth Day Special), ABC, 1990
  • Himself, Help Save Planet Earth, 1990
  • Host, Challenge of the Seas (documentary), Arts and Entertainment,1990
  • Host, Danger at the Beach (documentary), TBS and PBS, 1990
  • Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1990
  • Voices That Care, Fox, 1991
  • Rock the Vote, Fox, 1992
  • What Is This Thing Called Love?, ABC, 1993
  • Last Call: A Cheers Celebration, NBC, 1993
  • For Our Children: The Concert, The Disney Channel, 1993
  • An American Reunion: New Beginnings, Renewed Hope, HBO, 1993
  • An Affectionate Look at Fatherhood, NBC, 1995
  • Night of about 14 CBS Stars, Comedy Central, 1996
  • Earth Day at Walt Disney World, The Disney Channel, 1996
  • Host, Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond, UPN, 1996
  • To Life! America Celebrates Israel's 50th (also known as America Celebrates Israel's 50th), CBS, 1998
  • Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope, ABC, 1998
  • Behind the Laughs: The Untold Stories of Television's Favorite Comedies (also known as Behind the Laughs: The Museum of Television and Radio and A Museum of Television and Radio Special), Fox, 1998
  • (Uncredited) Himself, Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen(also known as US Comedy Arts Festival Tribute to Monty Python), HBO,1998
  • Himself, Intimate Portrait: Christine Lahti, Lifetime, 1998
  • Intimate Portrait: Mary Steenburgen, Lifetime, 1999
  • Himself, Cheers: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2000
  • Ted Danson: One Lucky Guy, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
  • Host, The Search for Atlantis, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
  • Himself, Scene Smoking: Cigarettes, Cinema & the Myth of Cool,2001
  • TV Guide's Truth behind the Rumors 2, Fox, 2001
  • Cheers (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 2001
  • Himself, NBC 75th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2002
  • Awards Presentations
  • The 37th Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards, ABC, 1985
  • The 39th Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1987
  • The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1990
  • Presenter, The 9th Annual American Comedy Awards, 1995
  • The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards, 1996
  • Presenter, The Second Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, 1996
  • Presenter, The 1996 Emmy Awards, 1996
  • Presenter, The 54th Annual Golden Globe Awards, 1997
  • Presenter, The 23rd Annual People's Choice Awards, 1997
  • Screen Actors Guild 4th Annual Awards, 1998
  • Presenter, The 50th Emmy Awards, NBC, 1998
  • Himself, The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1999
  • The 25th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1999
  • Prism Awards 2000, syndicated, 2000
  • The 27th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 2001
  • Episodic
  • Richard Dellinger, "Ladies of the Afternoon," Kate Loves a Mystery, NBC, 1979
  • Major Collings, "The Chinese Web," The Amazing Spider-Man, 1979
  • Tom Spencer, "Silent Night, Unholy Night," B. J. and the Bear, 1979
  • Randy Carpenter, Laverne's fireman boyfriend, "Why Did the Fireman ... ,"Laverne and Shirley, ABC, 1980
  • Lawyer, "Daylight Serenade," Family, ABC, 1980
  • Stewart Crane, "Don't Say Goodbye Boys," Magnum, P. I., CBS, 1981
  • Vincenzo Senaca, "The Unkindest Cut," Taxi, ABC, 1982
  • Danny Kirkwood, "The Good Witch of Laurel Canyon," Tucker's Witch,CBS, 1982
  • Host, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's Saturday Night, Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, 1989
  • Voice of Sam Malone, "Fear of Flying," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1994
  • Sam Malone, "The Show Where Sam Shows Up," Frasier, NBC, 1995
  • Nick Vanover, "Veronica's $600,000 Pop," Veronica's Closet, NBC, 1998
  • Himself, "Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute: Part Two," Ellen, ABC, 1998
  • "Lloyd Bridges," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
  • Himself, "The Roast," Diagnosis Murder, CBS, 1999
  • Voice of Jack the Dog, "Sleeping with the Enemy," Grosse Pointe, The WB, 2000
  • Himself, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS, 2001
  • Electric Playground, The Disney Channel, 2002
  • Also appeared in The Doctors, NBC; as Fantasy Sal, Pearl, CBS; as host, The List, VH1; in The Museum of Television and Radio:Influences, Bravo; himself, Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO.
  • Television Work
  • Series
  • (With others) Producer, Down Home, NBC, 1990-1991
  • Executive producer, Ink, CBS, 1996
  • Movies
  • Executive producer, When the Bough Breaks, NBC, 1986
  • Producer, We Are the Children, ABC, 1987
  • Producer, Follow Your Heart (also known as Walk Me to the Distance), NBC, 1990
  • Executive producer, Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771, 1993
  • Executive producer, On Promised Land, 1994
  • Pilots
  • Producer, Yesterday/Today, NBC, 1992
  • Stage Appearances
  • Reginald, The Real Inspector Hound, Theatre Four, New York City, 1972
  • Status Quo Vadis, Broadway production, 1973
  • Bodyguard, The Comedy of Errors, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre/Central Park, New York City, 1975
  • Gethin Price, The Comedians, Music Box Theatre, New York City, 1976
  • Major Tours
  • Toured as Reginald, The Real Inspector Hound.
  • RECORDINGS
  • Singles
  • Appeared on "Voices That Care."
  • Music Videos
  • Appeared in "Voices That Care."

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals
    • Daily News, November 29, 1987, p. 3
    • E, January/February, 1998, p. 10
    • Ladies' Home Journal, September, 1996, p. 50
    • Parade, December 6, 1987, p. 22
    • People Weekly, May 11, 1987, p. 108; spring, 1990, p. 26