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Split image of Ted Danson with Casey Coates, and Whoopi Goldberg© Getty

Ted Danson admits to being a 'liar' in relationship as he recalls 'messy' Whoopi Goldberg scandal

The Cheers and The Good Place alum reflected on his behavior in his second marriage, to Casey Coates

Beatriz Colon
Beatriz Colon - New York
New York WriterNew York
July 9, 2024
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Ted Danson is looking back at his complicated relationship history, and how he moved past his admitted immaturity.

The Cheers alum first married when he was 23 years old in 1970 to Randy Danson (née Gosch), and after they divorced in 1975, he married Casey Coates two years later.

Their relationship however was marred with both heartbreak and later scandal; in 1979, Casey suffered from a stroke while giving birth to their first daughter, and amid their 1993 divorce — said to be one of the costliest in Hollywood history — the The Good Place actor made headlines for his reported affair with Whoopi Goldberg.

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"I didn't really grow up emotionally until I was in my 40s," Ted, who married wife Mary Steenburgen in 1995 when he was 48 years old, admitted to NPR during a recent conversation.

Though he noted he "won't be too specific," he further confessed: "I was a bit of a liar in my relationship," adding: "I'll leave it at that."

He continued: "I started to work on myself very seriously around that time. I went to clinics and a psychologist and a mentor. I worked very hard to not be that person who hid his emotions and left out the back door."

Casey Coates, Alexis Danson and Ted Danson during "Earthwalk Benefit" - April 22, 1990 at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles, California© Getty
Ted and Casey share two daughters, Alexis and Kate

His admission came as he recalled whether he had been a rebellious teenager, to which he said: "I brought my parents to their knees when I was 45," seemingly referring to when both his divorce and his romance with Whoopi became instant tabloid fodder.

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"That was all kind of messily in the press, and my poor parents were going, 'What?'" he recalled, adding: "I finally called them and they were very sweet and they came to support me and everything."

Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson in 1993© Getty
Whoopi and Ted were together for just under two years

"The press sounded horrible. But the work underneath the press was invaluable. I'm very glad for that time, even though it was messy — very messy," he further shared.

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Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson in 1994© Getty
The actor and his wife Mary in 1994

Still, despite the mess of it all, he maintained: "I wouldn't choose a do-over," noting: "You know, if I did something differently and I took a different path, I wouldn't be with my wife, Mary Steenburgen."

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Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen arriving on the red carpet at the 96th Annual Academy Awards in Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, March 10, 2024© Getty
The couple will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary next year

He went on: "I wish I hadn't become a liar and walked out the back door early in life. I wish that hadn't been me, but even your wounds, you kind of have fondness for if you've gone through them and live through it and acknowledged it and made amends and all that stuff."

"I am horribly embarrassed about many things in my past, things that are cringeworthy, but that's my life."

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