Ted Danson has reflected on the personal turmoil he experienced toward the end of his tenure on the beloved sitcom “Cheers,” admitting that his life was in such disarray that he was largely unaware of the show’s conclusion.
During a recent episode of his podcast, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” Danson, 78, described his state of mind as “Cheers” wrapped its 11-season run in 1993. He stated that he had “f–ked up my life so much that I didn’t even realize ‘Cheers’ was over.” The actor explained that he felt he was in a state of constant self-deception, confessing, “I wanted to stop being a liar.”
Danson characterized the final year of the show as a period of intense personal growth, stating he “took a 'postgrad grow-up class fast'” during that time. He sought guidance from a mentor, whom he described as “amazing,” for spiritual and therapeutic support. His primary goals were to achieve emotional maturity and initiate significant personal change.
This introspection also influenced his professional transition. When asked if he feared typecasting after “Cheers,” Danson indicated that the personal chaos made the shift manageable. He said he “blew my personal life up so badly” that he didn’t grasp the show's end for several months, as he was preoccupied with addressing his personal issues.
Danson starred as Sam Malone, the owner of the Boston bar, from the show’s inception in 1982 until its finale. He was one of the few cast members to appear in all 273 episodes. The decision to end the series came as Danson expressed a desire to explore new acting roles, leading executives to conclude the show could not 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,'" Danson recalled. He also expressed a curiosity about his ability to perform in other capacities if he didn’t leave the show at that time.
Following “Cheers,” Danson embarked on a diverse career, appearing in series such as “Becker,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” He later gained a new audience with his role in “The Good Place” and is currently starring in the Netflix show “Man on the Inside.”