Although he is best known for the hit sitcom Cheers, set at the bar “where everybody knows your name,” there are countless Ted Danson movies and TV shows over his well-renowned acting career that are worth the watch.
Danson’s journey as an actor started long before his 1982 to 1993 series aired, but it came to life as a result of his role as the womanizing, now-sober bartender. Danson, however, has said he was the complete opposite of his character. He recalled on The Late Show with Seth Meyers, “It took me a year and a half on Cheers playing Sam Malone [to feel comfortable]… I never went to bars, I never picked up women.”
His ability to put a comedic spin on everything he said and did in Cheers won him multiple awards, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
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Ted Danson early career
Ted Danson was born in 1947 as Edward Bridge Danson III in San Diego, California. The actor attended Stanford University where he became interested in acting, and soon transfered to Carnegie-Mellon University, where he got his Bachelors in drama. A few years after his 1972 graduation, Danson moved to Los Angeles where he studied and taught classes at the Actor’s Institute.
Early on in his career, Danson had a few small roles on multiple television series, his first bout with the medium being the daytime soap opera Somerset (1970). Though his role was minor, it was the first time Danson was seen on screen.
Afterwards, he made appearances on The Doctors (1975), The Amazing Spider-Man (1979), B.J. and the Bear (1979), Laverne & Shirley (1980) and Magnum, P.I. (1981). He also appeared in some movies early on his career, including The Onion Field (1979), Once Upon a Spy (1980) and Our Family Business (1981).
Where everybody knows your name
Ted Danson’s career skyrocketed in 1982 when he booked the role of Sam Malone on Cheers, and throughout its run, everybody knew his name. Danson’s character, though a philandering, newly sober bartender, was a joy to have on the screen. His charming demeanor and good looks — accompanied by a truly great ensemble of actors — drew in an audience of nearly 26 million viewers weekly.
Though the show struggled initially, many tuned in every Thursday to see the passionate, on-again, off-again relationship between Sam and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). Danson remained on the series for the entirety of its 11-year run, even after Diane left. But in season 6, audiences met Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley), who played his next love interest.
Danson won two Golden Globes and two Emmys for his role in the series. He recalled his time on the show to Entertainment Tonight in 2022, reflecting, “It still makes me laugh when I watch sometimes. It’s funny and it’s great to see my friends and they make me laugh. I was so blessed.”
In 1993, Danson decided the series and his time as an aging player needed to come to an end. The last episode of Cheers, which pulled in a whopping 80.4 million viewers, was the second most-watched TV series finale of all time.
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