CHEERS TED DANSON: Actor who turned 75 is 'madly in love' with wife of 27 years Mary Steenburgen
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA: Ted Danson, one of Hollywood's greatest acting legends, rang in his 74th birthday on Thursday, December 29. The acclaimed entertainer has successfully carved an unrivaled legacy for himself with his magnificent acting performances in movies including 'Cheers,' 'Three Men and a Baby,' and most recently 'The Good Place'. The two-time Golden Globe award winner will be celebrating his special day with his wife Mary Steenburgen, who brought new happiness into his life.
After nearly 27 years of a happy and loving marriage, Danson and Steenburgen are more in love than ever. The ‘Onion Field' star first crossed paths with Steenburgen, who is a renowned actress herself, back in 1983 when he auditioned to play her on-screen husband in 'Cross Creek.' Sadly he didn’t get the role, which he believes was a “miracle.” "I was a hot mess back then," Danson told PEOPLE in 2021. Steenburgen added, "I was married. He was married. That was not our moment." That moment came nearly a decade later.
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Ten years later, the couple again met as a co-star on the set of 'Pontiac Moon.' But this time dating was off the table for the couple. Danson had just broken up with Whoopi Goldberg and was finalizing his divorce with Casey Coates, while Steenburgen was also ending her marriage with her first husband Malcolm McDowell. "We both said the same phrase to ourselves, which was: 'Obviously we cannot be in a relationship,' "Danson told People. "I could ruin anything. I'm not relationship material." The pair then decided to just work together and become better friends during that time. But Steenburgen admitted that she was attracted to Danson even though she thought he was complicated.
The platonic friendship between the two took a romantic turn after Danson took Steenburgen on a canoe trip with friends in Mendocino, California. "It was very magical," he said. "We came back in love, to be honest, or I'll say smitten." The truly mesmerizing couple got engaged in 1995 on Steenburgen's birthday. Danson claimed that he spent nearly a month preparing a romantic speech for what he going to say when he will pop the question to the love of his life. After a short wait of 8 months, the couple exchanged vows on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts on October 7, 1995.
Talking about his feelings for his wife, Danson told US magazine that "I'm madly in love with Mary Steenburgen. She's a remarkable human being, so I'm just incredibly blessed." The couple has been together through thick and thin during their two-decades-long marriage. Steenburgen not just stood by Danson but also helped him to fall in love with the art of a spiritual practice that has become a lifesaver for him.
After their marriage, Steenburgen introduced her husband to transcendental meditation which has become an essential part of the couple’s routine. "Life gets more complicated and stressful the older you are. I no longer find [meditation] fun and interesting — I find it a lifesaver." Danson admitted. He said that while it started as something he and his wife could do together, it became an essential part of his daily life as he aged. Danson has arthritis and he believes the reason why his body is still working fine is his daily meditation. He admitted that the meditation practice helped him become a better ‘family man’. “Anytime you are more present, more in your body and less in your mind, you’re available to be real with whoever you’re with … be present with my granddaughters, be with my wife, be real, be loving, be present.” the actor said according to The Express.