Ted Danson remains one of television’s most recognizable faces in 2025. At 77, the American actor continues landing major roles and awards. His net worth of approximately $80 million reflects a career that spans five decades.
Born Edward Bridge Danson III on December 29, 1947, in San Diego, California, he stands 6’2½” tall. Most know him as Sam Malone from Cheers, but his work extends far beyond that iconic role. He’s married to actress Mary Steenburgen and currently stars in Netflix’s A Man on the Inside.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Edward Bridge Danson III |
| Date of Birth | December 29, 1947 |
| Age | 77 years old |
| Height | 6’2½” (1.89 m) |
| Net Worth | $80 million |
| Spouse | Mary Steenburgen (married 1995) |
| Children | 2 biological, 2 stepchildren |
| Famous Roles | Sam Malone (Cheers), Michael (The Good Place) |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University, B.F.A. in Drama (1972) |
| Activism | Ocean conservation, board member of Oceana |
| Current Show | A Man on the Inside (Netflix) |
Early Life and Background
Ted Danson grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona, where his father worked as an archaeologist. His dad served as curator at the Museum of Northern Arizona from 1959 to 1975. This upbringing surrounded young Ted with natural history and sparked his environmental awareness.
At age 12, Danson did something unusual—he helped destroy over 500 outdoor advertising signs. Bill Breed, the museum’s geology curator, introduced him to this radical form of protest called “billboarding.” They used axes and saws to cut down signs they viewed as environmental eyesores.
Education and Acting Training
Danson attended Kent School in Connecticut starting at age 14. He played basketball there before moving on to Stanford University. During his second year at Stanford, he discovered his passion for drama.
He transferred to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1972 with a B.F.A. in Drama. After graduation, he worked as an understudy in Tom Stoppard’s Off-Broadway production of “The Real Inspector Hound.” In 1978, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time.
Career Beginnings
Danson’s first professional role came on the soap opera Somerset from 1975 to 1976, playing Tom Conway. The experience nearly ended his career. In a 2025 Deadline interview, he described having a severe panic attack during his debut that left him “sweating all over his co-stars.”
Before Cheers, he appeared in shows including Taxi, Magnum, P.I., and The Amazing Spider-Man. He also worked as the “Aramis man” in cologne commercials. His film debut came in 1978’s The Onion Field, where he played Officer Ian James Campbell and learned bagpipes specifically for the part.
Television Dominance with Cheers
Cheers premiered in 1982 and finished last in ratings during its first season. NBC executives kept it on air because critics loved it. By 1986, the show ranked among the top ten most-viewed programs on television.
Danson played Sam Malone, a former baseball player turned bartender, for 11 seasons. He earned 11 consecutive Emmy nominations and won twice—in 1990 and 1993. He also claimed two Golden Globe Awards during the show’s run.
The series finale on May 20, 1993, drew 80 million viewers, becoming the second-most watched series finale in television history at that time. Danson earned $450,000 per episode during the final season, totaling $12 million for that year alone. At the 2023 ATX TV Festival reunion, he admitted his life was a “hot mess” when the show ended, which motivated him to make changes.
Post-Cheers Career Evolution
After Cheers ended, Danson starred in the CBS sitcom Ink (1996) with wife Mary Steenburgen. The show lasted only 22 episodes. Becker (1998-2004) marked his successful return, playing a curmudgeonly doctor for six seasons and 129 episodes.
From 2000 to 2024, he appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm as a fictionalized version of himself. In a 2025 Parade interview, Danson revealed he “felt he had reached the stage where he was no longer funny” before Larry David revitalized his career. “It revitalized my desire to be around funny because it was so effortless,” he said, crediting David with bringing back his comedic confidence.
He also joined CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2011-2015) as D.B. Russell, earning $250,000 per episode during 2013-2014. He reprised the role across CSI: NY and CSI: Cyber, becoming one of few actors to play the same character in three franchise series.
The Good Place and Recent Success
The Good Place (2016-2020) showcased Danson’s range as Michael, a demon learning to be good. Creator Mike Schur designed the role specifically for him. The show ran for 52 episodes across four seasons and explored philosophical themes about morality and redemption.
Danson won a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 2017. He received three Emmy nominations for the role. About Schur, Danson told Parade: “He’s so bright. He’s one of my favorite people in the world. He’s all those things that The Good Place was. He’s ethical. He leads a purposeful life.”
In 2024, he began starring in A Man on the Inside, based on the documentary The Mole Agent. He plays Charles, a widower who takes an undercover assignment in a retirement home. Netflix renewed the show for a second season in 2025, with Mary Steenburgen joining the cast.
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Film Work
Danson’s film career includes notable projects across multiple decades. Three Men and a Baby (1987) with Tom Selleck and Steve Guttenberg became a massive commercial success. He reprised his role as Jack Holden in Three Men and a Little Lady (1990).
In 1989, he worked alongside his idol Jack Lemmon in Dad. Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan (1998) featured Danson as Captain Fred Hamill. Getting Even with Dad (1994) paired him with Macaulay Culkin, earning Danson $4 million.
He’s also made uncredited cameos in films like She’s Having a Baby (1988) and Ted (2012). His film work demonstrates versatility, though television remains his primary medium.
Marriage to Mary Steenburgen
Danson married actress Mary Steenburgen on October 7, 1995, on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. They first met in 1983 when he auditioned for Cross Creek but didn’t get the part. Ten years later, they reconnected as co-stars in Pontiac Moon (1994).
After filming wrapped, Danson invited Steenburgen on a canoe trip in Mendocino, California. “It was very magical,” Danson said. “We came back in love, to be honest, or I’ll say smitten.”
Then-President Bill Clinton attended their wedding and warned Danson at the rehearsal dinner: “Listen, I love this girl. You don’t hurt her. Better do right by her.” The couple practices meditation together daily, a habit they started after their wedding.
Family Life and Children
Danson has two daughters from his second marriage to Cassandra “Casey” Coates—Kate, born December 24, 1979, and adopted daughter Alexis. Through Steenburgen, he became stepfather to Charlie McDowell and Lily McDowell.
Charlie McDowell is now a film director married to actress Lily Collins since September 4, 2021. Malcolm McDowell, Steenburgen’s ex-husband, told PEOPLE in 2023 that he has a “fantastic” relationship with both Steenburgen and Danson, often seeing them at family gatherings.
The couple maintains what they call the “24-hour rule”—they cannot go more than 24 hours without seeing each other. Steenburgen revealed in 2018 that Danson tells her she’s beautiful “every single day.” They’ve collaborated on multiple projects, including Ink, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the upcoming A Man on the Inside Season 2.
Environmental Activism
Danson’s commitment to environmental activism began with teenage rebellion and evolved into legitimate advocacy. He became a contributing founder of the American Oceans Campaigns in the 1980s. In March 2011, he published Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do To Save Them, written with journalist Michael D’Orso.
On October 25, 2019, Danson was arrested alongside actress Jane Fonda at a climate-change protest outside the United States Capitol according to CBS News. At 71 years old, his willingness to face arrest demonstrated continued dedication to environmental causes. He serves as a board member for Oceana, focusing on ocean conservation issues.
Danson has donated over $177,000 to Democratic candidates and PACs as of June 2024, including Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and the Jane Fonda Climate PAC. He and Steenburgen attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding on July 31, 2010, reflecting deep friendships within Democratic circles.
Awards and Recognition
Danson has accumulated impressive awards throughout his career. He won two Emmy Awards for Cheers in 1990 and 1993. He also won three Golden Globe Awards—one for Something About Amelia (1984) and two for Cheers (1989 and 1990).
As of 2024, he’s appeared as a regular in twelve television shows, reportedly the most any actor has done historically. This reflects not just longevity but remarkable adaptability across different formats and genres.
In 2025, Danson received the Carol Burnett Award at the Golden Globes for lifetime achievement. He and Mary Steenburgen were also awarded the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. These honors recognize both his acting career and contributions to society through activism.
Current Projects and Ventures
In 2024, Danson and Woody Harrelson started a Team Coco podcast called Where Everybody Knows Your Name. The title cleverly references the Cheers theme song. They interview celebrities about their lives and careers.
Danson also became the official spokesperson for Consumer Cellular in 2024. He embraces commercial work as part of a diversified career strategy. When asked about retirement, he told Parade: “I can’t imagine retiring. I really enjoy what I’m doing.”
He’s currently filming Season 2 of A Man on the Inside with Mary Steenburgen joining the cast as his love interest. The show shifts from a retirement home setting to a college campus. The premise allows Danson to address aging, loneliness, and purpose with both humor and depth.
Legacy and Impact
Ted Danson’s career demonstrates how an actor can remain relevant across changing television landscapes. He successfully navigated from traditional three-camera sitcoms like Cheers and Becker to single-camera comedies like The Good Place. His improvisational work on Curb Your Enthusiasm showed his willingness to mock his own image.
When asked about their marriage secret, Danson told Parade: “First off, no idea. My answer is, ‘Fall in love with Mary Steenburgen.'” More seriously, he added: “We celebrate how blessed we are. We laugh a lot. We are very supportive of the other person’s creativity, wherever that leads.”
At 77, Ted Danson isn’t treating his career as a victory lap. His recent roles tackle meaningful themes about aging with purpose rather than simply replicating past successes. In an industry obsessed with youth, he’s made being 77 look interesting—proof that talent combined with perseverance can create a career spanning generations.
Conclusion
Ted Danson has built more than a successful career—he’s created a blueprint for longevity in entertainment. From teenage environmental activism to playing a demon learning morality to becoming a septuagenarian detective, he consistently chooses projects that challenge him. His $80 million net worth reflects steady work across five decades.
His relationship with Mary Steenburgen shows that personal growth matters as much as professional achievement. As he continues filming new projects in 2025, Danson proves that reinvention matters more than reputation—and that the best role might always be the next one.
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FAQ About Ted Danson
What is Ted Danson’s net worth in 2025?
According to Celebrity Net Worth Ted Danson’s net worth is approximately $80 million as of 2025.
How tall is Ted Danson?
Danson stands 6’2½” (1.89 m) tall.
Who is Ted Danson married to?
He’s been married to actress Mary Steenburgen since October 7, 1995.
How old is Ted Danson?
Born December 29, 1947, Ted Danson is 77 years old in 2025.
What is Ted Danson’s most famous role?
Sam Malone on Cheers (1982-1993) remains his most iconic role.
Does Ted Danson have children?
Yes, he has two daughters and two stepchildren through Mary Steenburgen.
What awards has Ted Danson won?
He’s won two Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and the 2025 Carol Burnett Award.
What is Ted Danson doing now?
He’s filming Season 2 of A Man on the Inside for Netflix and hosts the podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name.
Hello, I’m Serena Flores, a passionate writer with over 4 years of experience in lifestyle, biography, and internet culture content. I specialize in creating engaging, easy-to-read articles that simplify modern trends, slang, and real-life stories for every reader. My goal is to make complex topics relatable, offering well-researched insights and fresh perspectives that keep readers informed, inspired, and connected.