Ted Danson
| Ted Danson | |
|---|---|
 Danson in 2008 | |
| Born |
Edward Bridge Danson III December 29, 1947 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, author, producer |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Randall Danson (1970–1975; divorced) Cassandra Coates (1977–1993; divorced) Mary Steenburgen (m. 1995) |
| Children | 2 (with Coates) |
Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American actor, author, and producer, well known for his role as lead character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the sitcom Becker. He is currently starring in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as D.B. Russell.[1][2] 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.
In his 30-year career, Danson has been nominated for 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning two; ten Golden Globe Awards nominations, winning three; one Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination; one American Comedy Award and a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He was ranked second in TV Guide's list of the top 25 television stars.[3] Danson has also been a longtime activist in ocean conservation. In March 2011, he published his first book, Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them, written with journalist Michael D'Orso.
Early life
Danson was born in San Diego, California, the son of Jessica (née MacMaster) and Edward Bridge Danson, Jr., an archaeologist and museum director. He was raised in Flagstaff, Arizona.[4][5] His ancestry includes English and Scottish.[6][7]
In 1961, he enrolled in the Kent School, where he was a basketball star. He became interested in drama while attending Stanford University. He transferred to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama, in 1972.
Career
Television
Early career
Danson began his television career as a contract player on daytime soap opera, Somerset. He played the role of "Tom Conway" from 1975 to 1976. He then spent a few years (1977-1982) as a doctor on the daytime soap opera The Doctors. He was also in a number of commercials, most recognizably as the "Aramis man".
He made a number of guest appearances in episodic television in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including spots on Laverne and Shirley; B.J. and the Bear; Family; Benson; Taxi; Magnum P.I.; and Tucker's Witch.
Career breakthrough: Cheers
In 1982, Danson was cast, in his most recognizable role, as the womanizing former baseball player and bartender Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom Cheers, who has on-and-off relationship with college-educated, sophisticated Diane Chambers. Though the show finished last in the ratings in the first season, it was well received by critics and ratings slowly but surely improved in 1983 and by 1986, Cheers was one of the top ten shows on TV. The show had a run of 11 seasons and its finale (May 20, 1993) was watched by 80 million people, becoming the second most watched finale in television history at that time. It won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and a Golden Globe for Best Series – Musical or Comedy. The show ran from 1982 to 1993, with Danson receiving 11 consecutive Emmy nominations and nine Golden Globe nominations, ultimately winning two Emmys and two Golden Globes. In 2002, TV Guide named Cheers the 18th Greatest Show of All Time. It was also included in Time Magazine's 100 Greatest Shows of All Time.
Danson also appeared as Sam Malone in guest-starring roles on other sitcoms, such as Frasier (a Cheers spin-off), The Jim Henson Hour, and The Simpsons.
Later career
Danson went on to star in the successful CBS sitcom Becker (produced by Paramount Television, which also produced Cheers), which ran from 1998–2004. Danson also plays himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm. He reprised his role of "Sam Malone" in a second season episode of Frasier and voiced him in The Simpsons episode "Fear of Flying".
Although he was best known for his work in comedy, he also appeared in an acclaimed 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. In 1996, 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 returned to series television in the fall of 2006, playing a psychiatrist in the ABC sitcom Help Me Help You, which was canceled at midseason due to low ratings.
In 2006, 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 2007, 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 lost to co-star Željko Ivanek. In the second season, Danson became a recurring character instead of one of the principal cast. Nevertheless, Danson received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, but lost to Michael J. Fox for his guest appearance in Rescue Me.
In 1999, Danson was presented a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
In 2011, 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 comedy series, Bored to Death, playing George Christopher, the laconic, salubrious 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".[8][9]
In July 2011, it was announced that Danson would star in CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He plays D.B. Russell, a new graveyard shift supervisor who previously headed a crime lab in Seattle, Washington. Tony Shalhoub, Robin Williams and John Lithgow were also considered for the role.[1][2][10]
In March 2013 it was confirmed that Danson had signed a deal extending his stay on the crime drama for two more years.[11]
Film
Danson has also been featured in numerous films. His most notable film appearances were in 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, A Fine Mess, Dad, Made in America, Getting Even with Dad, and Saving Private Ryan.
Personal life
Danson and his first wife, actress Randall "Randy" Gosch (now professionally known as Randy Danson), were married in 1970 and divorced in 1975. Danson's second wife was producer Cassandra "Casey" Coates; they were married in 1977. On December 24, 1979, while giving birth to their first daughter Kate, Coates suffered a stroke, and Danson spent several years caring for her and helping her recuperate. They later adopted a second daughter Alexis. Danson's affair with actress Whoopi Goldberg led to their divorce in 1993.[12] It was one of Hollywood's costliest divorces, reportedly costing Danson $30 million.[13]
On October 7, 1995, Danson married actress Mary Steenburgen, whom he met on the set of the movie Pontiac Moon in 1993, and became the stepfather to Steenburgen's daughter Lilly and son Charles from her previous marriage to actor Malcolm McDowell.
Danson adheres to a vegan diet for both health and ethical reasons.[14]
Roast of Whoopi Goldberg
Danson experienced substantial negative press attention on October 8, 1993 after his appearance in blackface at a Friars Club comedy roast in honor of then-girlfriend Whoopi Goldberg. In his monologue, Danson made extensive use of offensive racial stereotypes, used the word "nigger" more than a dozen times, and ate a watermelon, angering such guests as Montel Williams and Mayor David Dinkins.[15][16] 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.[15][17] Danson and Goldberg issued statements emphasizing "the Friars Club tradition of raucous and over the top humor" and describing those offended as newcomers who "were uncomfortable with what to expect."[15] Substantial excerpts from the performance were later printed in Spy.[18] The incident was parodied in Howard Stern's New Year's Rotten Eve with Stern as Danson and Sherman Hemsley as Goldberg.[19]
Environmentalism
Danson's interest in environmental concerns was ignited when he was twelve years old and Bill Breed, then a curator at the Museum of Northern Arizona, introduced Danson and friend Marc Gaede to a game he referred to as "billboarding". Armed with an axe and saw, Breed, Gaede, and Danson ended up destroying over 300 outdoor advertising signs.[20]
Danson's interest in environmentalism continued over the years, and he began to be concerned with the state of the world's oceans. In 1988, he said we had 10 years to save the oceans or we would pay the consequences, which would be death. In the 1980s, he was a contributing founder of the American Oceans Campaigns, which merged with Oceana in 2001, where Danson is a board member.[21]
In March 2011, Danson published his first book, Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans And What We Can Do To Save Them, written with journalist Michael D'Orso.
Political activism
Danson is a friend of former United States President Bill Clinton, who attended Danson and Mary Steenburgen's wedding. Danson has donated more than $85,000 to Democratic candidates, including Al Gore, John Edwards, Barbara Boxer, Bill Clinton, Al Franken, and John Kerry. He has also donated to the Democratic Party of Arkansas and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Danson and Steenburgen campaigned for Sen. Hillary Clinton during her 2008 Presidential campaign.[22] He attended the wedding of their daughter Chelsea on July 31, 2010.[23]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Onion Field | Det. Ian James Campbell | |
| 1979 | The French Atlantic Affair | Assistant | Television film |
| 1980 | The Women's Room | Norman | Television film |
| 1980 | Once Upon a Spy | Jack Chenault | Television film |
| 1981 | Body Heat | Peter Lowenstein | |
| 1981 | Dear Teacher | Steve Goodwin | Television film |
| 1981 | Our Family Business | Gep | Television film |
| 1982 | Creepshow | Harry Wentworth | |
| 1983 | Cowboy | Dale Weeks | Television film |
| 1984 | Something About Amelia | Steven Bennett | Television film |
| 1985 | Little Treasure | Eugene Wilson | |
| 1986 | Just Between Friends | Chip Davis | |
| 1986 | When the Bough Breaks | Alex | Television film |
| 1986 | A Fine Mess | Spence Holden | |
| 1987 | Three Men and a Baby | Jack Holden | |
| 1987 | We Are the Children | N/A | Television film |
| 1989 | Cousins | Larry | |
| 1989 | Dad | John Tremont | |
| 1990 | Three Men and a Little Lady | Jack Holden | |
| 1993 | Made in America | Hal Jackson | |
| 1994 | Getting Even with Dad | Raymond Gleason | |
| 1994 | Pontiac Moon | Washington Bellamy | |
| 1996 | Loch Ness | Dempsey | |
| 1996 | Gulliver's Travels | Lemuel Gulliver | Television movie |
| 1998 | Jerry and Tom | Guy | |
| 1998 | Thanks of a Grateful Nation | Jim Tuite | Television film |
| 1998 | Homegrown | Gianni Saletzzo | |
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan | Capt. Hamill | |
| 1999 | Mumford | Jeremy Brockett | |
| 2000 | Search for Atlantis | Himself | Television film |
| 2002 | Living with the Dead | James Van Praagh | Television film |
| 2004 | Fronterz | N/A | |
| 2004 | It Must Be Love | George Gazelle | Television film |
| 2005 | Our Fathers | Mitchell Garabedian | Television film |
| 2005 | Knights of the South Bronx | Richard | Television film |
| 2007 | Nobel Son | Harvey Parrish | |
| 2007 | The Amateurs | Moose | |
| 2008 | Mad Money | Don Cardigan | |
| 2008 | The Human Contract | E.J. Winters | |
| 2009 | The Open Road | Coach | |
| 2012 | Big Miracle | J.W. McGrath | |
| 2012 | Ted | Himself | Uncredited |
| 2014 | The One I Love | Therapist | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–1976 | Somerset | Tim Conway #2 | Unknown episodes |
| 1979 | The Amazing Spider-Man | Major Collings | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | Columbo | Richard Dellinger | Episode: "Ladies of the Afternoon" |
| 1979 | Trapper John, M.D. | Injured Man | Episode: "Love Is a Three-Way Street" |
| 1979 | B. J. and the Bear | Tom Spencer | Episode: "Silent Night, Unholy Night" |
| 1980 | Laverne & Shirley | Randy Carpenter | Episode: "Why Did the Fireman..." |
| 1980 | Family | David Bartels | Episode: "Daylight Serenade" |
| 1981 | Benson | Dan | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | Magnum, P.I. | Stewart Crane | Episode: "Don't Say Goodbye" |
| 1982 | Taxi | Vincenzo Senaca | Episode: "The Unkindest Cut" |
| 1982–1993 | Cheers | Sam Malone | 275 episodes |
| 1989 | The Jim Henson Hour | Himself | Episode: "Aquatic Life" |
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Sam Malone | |
| 1994 | The Simpsons | Sam Malone | Episode: "Fear of Flying" |
| 1995 | Frasier | Sam Malone | Episode: "The Show Where Sam Shows Up" |
| 1996–1997 | Ink | Mike Logan | 22 episodes |
| 1998–2004 | Becker | Dr. John Becker | 129 episodes |
| 1998 | Veronica's Closet | Nick Vanover | Episode: "Veronica's $600,000 Pop" |
| 2000–2009 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Ted Danson | 13 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Help Me Help You | Dr. Bill Hoffman | 14 episodes |
| 2006 | Heist | Tom | 2 episodes |
| 2007–2010 | Damages | Arthur Frobisher | 23 episodes |
| 2008 | King of the Hill | Tom Hammond | Episode: "The Accidental Terrorist" |
| 2009–2011 | Bored to Death | George Christopher | 24 episodes |
| 2010 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Little Danson Man | Episode: "Greene Machine" |
| 2011–present | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | D.B. Russell | 79 episodes |
| 2013 | CSI: NY | D.B. Russell | Episode: "Seth and Apep" |
| 2015 | Fargo | Sheriff Hank Larsson | |
Awards and nominations
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rice, Lynette; Hibberd, James (July 12, 2011). "Breaking: Ted Danson takes over 'CSI'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 McEvoy, Colin (July 13, 2011). "Ted Danson to join the cast of 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'". The Express-Times. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Ted Danson Will Move Into CSI Replacing Laurence Fishburne | A&E Playground". Artsandentertainmentplayground.com. July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ↑ Ted Danson Biography
- ↑ http://www.filmreference.com/film/68/Ted-Danson.html
- ↑ http://www.wargs.com/other/danson.html
- ↑ Danson stated in an interview with Craig Ferguson that he has Scottish ancestry; Video on YouTube
- ↑ James Poniewozik (September 18, 2009). "TV Weekend: Private Eye-rony; Also, Curb’s Return". Time.
- ↑ Franklin, Nancy (August 1, 2011). "HBO’s Bored to Death review". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ↑ "Ted Danson moves to 'CSI'". Variety. July 12, 2011. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ↑ "CBS RENEWS ‘CSI’ FOR SEASON 14". CSI Files. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
- ↑ "Ted, Whoopi rumored to have split". The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon). November 6, 1993. p. 2A.
- ↑ Singh, Anita (April 14, 2009). "Mel Gibson to top the list of biggest celebrity payouts". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ↑ Runkle Nathan. ""Cheers" to Ted Danson for Going Vegan", Mercy For Animals, 5 February 2012, Archive
- "Tonights Guest Ted Danson". March 27, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Whoopi Goldberg Defends Ted Danson's Blackface Act At Friars Club Roast". Jet 84 (26): 12–14, 60–61. 25 October 1993.
- ↑ Racial Jokes Spur Apology from Friars New York Times, October 10, 1993
- ↑ New York Magazine – Google Boeken. Google Books. February 17, 1997. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ↑ Theroux, Louis (February 1994). "The Fine Print: Danson in the Dark". Spy: 21–26.
- ↑ Howard Stern "In Black Face" as Ted Danson & Da Woopi at YouTube
- ↑ Chase, Alston (1995). In A Dark Wood. Houghton Mifflin. pp. xvii. ISBN 0-395-60837-6.
- ↑ Ted Danson: acting for the oceans – interview with actor and American Oceans Campaign co-founder Ted Danson | E: The Environmental Magazine | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ↑ "Danson to Hit the Road for Clinton Again". The Washington Post. February 15, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ↑ "Chelsea Clinton Marries Marc Mezvinsky". The People. July 31, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
Further reading
- Piccalo, Gina. "Ted Danson is hip again". Los Angeles Times, October 18, 2009. Web. January 5, 2012. <http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/18/entertainment/ca-ted-danson18>.
- "Ted Danson, On Life (And 'Death') After 'Cheers'". Fresh Air, September 17, 2009. Web. January 11, 2012. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112884242>. Interview with Ted Danson is hosted by David Bianculli.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ted Danson. |
- Ted Danson at the Internet Movie Database
- Danson receives the Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award from his alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University, in 2003
- Video of Danson at Oceana event on YouTube
- NYTimes March 2010 feature article
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