6 Things You Never Knew About Ted Danson (He Can Do What With Swedish Fish?)
Ted Danson has played many familiar and beloved characters for decades, from his breakout role in Cheers as bartender Sam Malone to Michael in The Good Place and, more recently, Charles on the Netflix series Man on the Inside. He seems to be as charming in real life as he is onscreen, with a longstanding marriage to fellow actor Mary Steenburgen to boot. In honor of his upcoming achievement of the 2025 Carol Burnett Award at the Golden Globes on January 5, let’s learn some interesting facts about the star:
1 Soap Opera Beginnings
Before he was Sam Malone, the charming bartender on Cheers, Ted Danson was making a name for himself in soap operas. From 1975 to 1976, he played Tom Conway on Somerset, and in 1977, he appeared as Dr. Mitchell Pierson on The Doctors. These were very different roles from those he is known for, but they sparked his successful career nonetheless.
2 The Face of Aramis Cologne
In the ’70s, Danson’s suave demeanor caught the attention of advertisers, and he became the “Aramis man” in a series of cologne commercials. Do you remember those commercials? Not only did these ads boost Aramis’s popularity, but they also gave Danson’s career a boost as well.
3 Basketball Dreams Led to an Acting Career
NBC/Everett Collection
Before becoming a household name, Ted Danson had his sights set on basketball. As a freshman at Stanford, he dreamed of making it big on the court. While he ultimately decided to give up on basketball, he certainly found a new dream and one that paid off big time.
4 Joining Curb Your Enthusiasm Out of Empathy
John P. Johnson/HBO/Everett Collection
Danson’s recurring appearances on Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm started with an act of kindness. After attending a private screening of the pilot, Danson felt bad about the lukewarm reaction from the audience. He approached David, offering his help if needed. A year later, David took him up on the offer and the rest is history. Danson’s dry humor and self-deprecating wit made his appearances a highlight of the show.
5 A Bizarre Party Trick
Justin Lubin/NBC/Everett Collection
On the set of The Good Place, Danson’s co-stars got a glimpse of his quirky sense of humor. Manny Jacinto, who played Jason Mendoza, recalled a shocking moment when Danson performed a strange party trick involving a piece of Swedish Fish candy. He managed to eat it through his mouth and snort it out through his nose, leaving everyone both amused and horrified.
6 Champion for the Environment
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Beyond his onscreen roles, Danson is a passionate environmentalist. In 1987, he co-founded the American Oceans Campaign, which later merged with Oceana, a nonprofit dedicated to ocean conservation. As vice chair of Oceana, Danson has championed efforts to protect marine ecosystems. He even coauthored a book titled Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them.
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