Ted Danson Net Worth: From Sam Malone to TV Legend

Ted Danson is a California-born actor who has a net worth of $80 million. Ted Danson emerged as one of television’s most beloved actors thanks to his iconic role as Sam Malone in “Cheers” (1982-1993). Ted’s portrayal of the charming, former baseball player-turned-bartender helped establish “Cheers” as one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history. The role earned him two Emmy Awards, made him a household name, and, in the final seasons of the series, made him the highest-paid actor on television. More info on Ted Danson’s “Cheers” salary and other salaries in the next section below.

Ted Danson Early Life

Edward Bridge Danson III, better known as Ted Danson, was born in San Diego, California, on December 29, 1947. He was raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, along with his older sister Jan, because their father was an archaeologist and the director of the Museum of Northern Arizona from 1959 to 1975. He attended the Kent School, a prep school in Connecticut. There, he was a star basketball player. He continued his education at Stanford University, which is where his interest in acting began. In pursuit of a better acting program, he then transferred to Carnegie Mellon University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama in 1972.

Ted Danson Education

Ted began his education at Kent School. He went to Stanford University after finishing high school. Ted became interested in drama during his second year of college. After that, he enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. He received a Fine Arts degree in theater from there.

Ted Danson Career

Danson’s first paid acting job in television was as a contract player on the daytime soap opera “Somerset,” playing the character Tom Conway from 1975 to 1976. Then, in 1977, he landed the role of Dr. Mitchell Pierson on the show “The Doctors”. Additionally, around this time, he appeared in several commercials, most notably as the “Aramis man” for the Estee Lauder fragrance brand Aramis. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he continued to appear as a guest on many television shows, including “Laverne and Shirley,” “B.J. and the Bear,” “Family,” “Benson,” “Taxi,” “Magnum P.I.,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” and “Tucker’s Witch”. Then, Danson had his big breakthrough in 1982, when he was cast as the womanizing former baseball player Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom “Cheers.” Even though the show had poor ratings in its first season, the numbers slowly improved, and by 1986, it was one of the top shows airing on TV at the time. In total, the show had 11 seasons and aired its last episode on May 30, 1993. Its finale was actually watched by 80 million people, making it the second most-watched finale in history at the time. For his performance on “Cheers,” Danson actually received eleven consecutive Emmy nominations and nine Golden Globe nominations, winning two of each award. In addition to his long and lucrative television career, Danson has also occasionally acted in films. Some of the films he has appeared in include “The Onion Field” (1979), as Officer Ian Campbell; “Body Heat” (1981); “Creepshow” (1982); “Little Treasure” (1985); “Just Between Friends” (1986); “A Fine Mess” (1986); “Cousins” (1989) with Isabella Rossellini; “Three Men and a Baby” (1987) with Tom Selleck and Steven Guttenberg; its sequel “Three Men and a Little Lady” (1990) and “Saving Private Ryan” (1998). More recently, Danson has appeared in “The Open Road” (2009), “Big Miracle” (2012), “Ted” (2012), “The One I Love” (2014) and “Hearts Beat Loud” (2018).

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Ted Danson Real Estate Investment

Ted has been married to fellow actor Mary Steenburgen since 1995. Together, they own a number of properties around the country, primarily in the Los Angeles area. In June 2019, they sold a nine-acre property in Ojai, California, for $8.75 million. They bought the house in 2005 through a trust for $4.5 million. They own a different home in Ojai, which they bought in 2017 for $2.4 million. In 2014, they spent $3.5 million on a home in Santa Monica, California, and then in January 2019, they bought the property next door for $5.2 million to create a large private compound. They also own a small cottage in Nashville and a six-acre multi-residence spread on Martha’s Vineyard.

Ted Danson Personal Life

Danson has been married three times. His first marriage was to actress Randall “Randy” Gosch (now known as Randy Danson professionally) from 1970 to 1975. His second wife was producer Cassandra “Casey” Coates, with whom he shares two daughters. His third wife is actress Mary Steenburgen, with whom he has two stepchildren, Lilly and Charlie McDowell. Danson has been big into environmentalism over his life, and in March 2011, he released his first book, “Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do To Save Them.” In October 2019, he and actress Jane Fonda were arrested and charged at a climate-change protest outside the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Ted Danson Divorce Settlement

Danson’s divorce from his second wife, Casey Coates, is one of the most expensive celebrity divorces of all time. His affair with actress Whoopi Goldberg contributed to the divorce. Per the terms fo their divorce settlement, Ted paid Casey $2 million for every year they were together, a total of $30 million. That’s the same as around $50 million today, after adjusting for inflation.

FAQs

What is Ted Danson’s net worth?

Ted Danson’s net worth is approximately $80 million, largely due to his successful career in television, films, and real estate investments.

What is Ted Danson’s most famous role?

Ted Danson is most famous for his portrayal of Sam Malone, the charming former baseball player turned bartender, in the hit sitcom Cheers, which aired from 1982 to 1993.

How many Emmy Awards has Ted Danson won?

Ted Danson has won two Emmy Awards for his role as Sam Malone on Cheers. He also received eleven consecutive nominations for the role.

Who is Ted Danson married to?

Ted Danson has been married to actress Mary Steenburgen since 1995. They share a life in Los Angeles and own multiple properties across the country.

Conclusion

Ted Danson’s career has made him a beloved figure in entertainment, with his breakthrough role as Sam Malone on Cheers securing his place as one of television’s greats. His extensive body of work spans across television, film, and even literature, alongside a notable commitment to environmental activism. With a net worth of $80 million, Ted has built a legacy that includes not only his iconic roles but also his personal contributions to the arts and the planet. 

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