Ted Danson recently opened up about the state of his personal life during the final years of the popular sitcom “Cheers.” On his podcast “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” the 78-year-old actor candidly described his experiences as the show concluded in 1993.
Danson admitted that he was so consumed with personal challenges that he didn’t fully grasp the show’s ending. “I had f—ed up my life so much that I didn’t even realize ‘Cheers’ was over,” he shared. He reflected on his journey of self-discovery, acknowledging he “barely knew” himself and had to embark on what he described as a “postgrad grow-up class fast” as the series wrapped up.
The actor also mentioned seeking guidance from a mentor in Long Beach, who offered him a different perspective on therapy and spirituality. “I wanted to stop being a liar,” Danson stated. “I wanted to be emotionally mature. I wanted to change.”
In a past episode of his podcast, Danson discussed with guest Charlie Day his concerns about being typecast post-‘Cheers.’ He remarked that dealing with personal issues helped ease the transition away from the show. “The transition was easy because I blew my personal life up so badly,” Danson said, adding that he took months to realize the show had ended.
Danson played Sam Malone on “Cheers” from 1982 to 1993, becoming one of the few cast members to appear in all 273 episodes. After expressing interest in exploring other roles, the show concluded with executives deciding not to continue without him. “I was changing for the better and working really hard at that, so I thought, ‘Might as well jump completely off the cliff,'” he explained about his decision to leave.
Following “Cheers,” Danson found success in various shows, including “Becker,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” He also gained new followers through “The Good Place.” Currently, he stars in the Netflix show “Man on the Inside” as a retired professor turned undercover spy in a nursing home. Danson describes the series as inherently funny due to the unexpected nature of the character’s new role at 76 years old.