Ted Danson
Known for
Ted Danson has managed something almost unheard of: headlining beloved sitcoms across five different decades. Born in San Diego in 1947, he became a television institution as Sam Malone, the womanizing bartender of 'Cheers' (1982-1993), winning two Emmys. He reinvented himself repeatedly: the title doctor of 'Becker', a scene-stealing fictionalized Ted Danson in 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', the folksy sheriff of 'Fargo' (2015) and the dapper demon architect Michael in 'The Good Place' (2016-2020), before 'A Man on the Inside' (2024). On film he anchored the smash '3 Men and a Baby' (1987). Few performers have aged this gracefully on camera.
Ted Danson
35 Movies
30 Series
Ted Danson has managed something almost unheard of: headlining beloved sitcoms across five different decades. Born in San Diego in 1947, he became a television institution as Sam Malone, the womanizing bartender of 'Cheers' (1982-1993), winning two Emmys. He reinvented himself repeatedly: the title doctor of 'Becker', a scene-stealing fictionalized Ted Danson in 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', the folksy sheriff of 'Fargo' (2015) and the dapper demon architect Michael in 'The Good Place' (2016-2020), before 'A Man on the Inside' (2024). On film he anchored the smash '3 Men and a Baby' (1987). Few performers have aged this gracefully on camera.
Movies
Plays Captain Hamill
Saving Private Ryan
1998
Plays Peter Lowenstein
Body Heat
1981
Plays Dr. Dempsey
Loch Ness
1996
Plays Harry Wentworth (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
Creepshow
1982
Plays John Tremont
Dad
1989
Plays Jack Holden
3 Men and a Baby
1987
Plays Larry Kozinski
Cousins
1989
Plays Don Cardigan
Mad Money
2008
Plays J. W. McGraw
Big Miracle
2012
Plays Jack Holden
3 Men and a Little Lady
1990
Plays Therapist
The One I Love
2014
Plays Ray
Getting Even with Dad
1994
Plays E.J Winters
The Human Contract
2008
Producer
Plays Bill
Bye Bye Benjamin
2006
Plays Hal Jackson
Made in America
1993
Plays Ian Campbell
The Onion Field
1979
Plays Spence Holden
A Fine Mess
1986
Plays Ted
Mrs. Pilgrim Goes to Hollywood
2003
Plays Dave
Hearts Beat Loud
2018
Plays Jeremy Brockett
Mumford
1999
Plays Moose
The Amateurs
2006
Plays The Guy Who Loved Vicki
Jerry and Tom
1998
Plays Maitre D'
Fight for Your Right Revisited
2011
Plays Gianni Saletzzo
Homegrown
1998
Plays Harvey Parrish
Nobel Son
2007
Plays Pezulu (voice)
Jock the Hero Dog
2011
Producer
Plays Washington Bellamy
Pontiac Moon
1994
Plays Coach
The Open Road
2009
Plays Eugene Wilson
Little Treasure
1985
Plays Richard Mason
Knights of the South Bronx
2005
Plays Chip Davis
Just Between Friends
1986
Plays Norman
The Women's Room
1980
TV Shows
Plays Sam Malone
Cheers
1982
Plays John Becker
Becker
1998
Plays D.B. Russell
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Plays Michael
The Good Place
2016
Plays Ted Danson
Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000
Producer
Plays Mike Logan
Ink
1996
Plays George Christopher
Bored to Death
2009
Plays Arthur Frobisher
Damages
2007
Plays Mayor Neil Bremer
Mr. Mayor
2021
Plays D.B. Russell
CSI: Cyber
2015
Producer
Plays Charles Nieuwendyk
A Man on the Inside
2024
Plays Sheriff Hank Larsson
Fargo
2014
Plays Bill Hoffman
Help Me Help You
2006
Plays Admiral Perry
The Orville
2017
Plays Dr. Ray Petit (voice)
American Dad!
2005
Plays Abe Santley
The French Atlantic Affair
1979
Plays James Van Praagh
Living with the Dead
2002
Plays Lemuel Gulliver
Gulliver's Travels
1996
Plays Maj. Collings
The Amazing Spider-Man
1978
Plays Danny Kirkwood
Tucker's Witch
1982
Plays Stewart Crane
Magnum, P.I.
1980
Plays Sam Malone (voice)
The Simpsons
1989
Plays Sam Malone
Frasier
1993
Plays Ted Danson
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
Plays (voice)
Mulligan
2023
Plays Tom Hammond (voice)
King of the Hill
1997
Plays Vincenzo Senaca
Taxi
1978
Plays Little Danson Man
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
2007
Plays Richard Dellinger
Mrs. Columbo
1979
Plays Nick Vanover
Veronica's Closet
1997
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Henry David Thoreau
Full Filmography
A Man on the Inside
Charles Nieuwendyk · 16 episodes
2024–
TV
Mulligan
(voice) · 1 episode
2023–
TV
Mr. Mayor
Mayor Neil Bremer · 19 episodes
2021–
TV
Hearts Beat Loud
Dave
2018
Film
The Orville
Admiral Perry · 6 episodes
2017–
TV
The Good Place
Michael · 50 episodes
2016–
TV
CSI: Cyber
D.B. Russell · 18 episodes
2015–
TV
The One I Love
Therapist
2014
Film
Fargo
Sheriff Hank Larsson · 10 episodes
2014–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Ted Danson and where are they from?
Ted Danson is 78 years old, born on December 29, 1947 in San Diego, California, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Ted Danson?
Ted Danson is best known for roles in Saving Private Ryan, Ted, Creepshow.
How many movies has Ted Danson been in?
Over a 47-year career (since 1979), Ted Danson has appeared in 35 movies and 30 TV shows.
What was Ted Danson's first movie?
The career of Ted Danson began with The Onion Field (1979).
What is Ted Danson's most recent movie or series?
Ted Danson's most recent release is Henry David Thoreau, which premiered on March 30, 2026.
What TV shows has Ted Danson appeared in?
On television, Ted Danson has appeared in The Simpsons, Fargo, American Dad!, The Good Place.
Ted Danson
1947-12-29 · San Diego, California, USA
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm, starred alongside Glenn Close in legal drama Damages and is now a regular on the HBO comedy series Bored to Death.
In his thirty-year career, Danson has been nominated for fourteen 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.
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.Ted Danson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.