Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American Emmy Award winning and Golden Globe nominated actor notable for his television work, and specifically, for his role as central character Sam Malone in the classic sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He is currently a regular on Larry David's HBO sitcom, Curb Your Enthusiasm and stars alongside Glenn Close in legal drama Damages.

Ted Danson is well known for his role as Sam Malone in the television series "Cheers" (1982). During the show's 12-year run, he was nominated nine times for an Emmy Award as Best Actor in a Comedy Series and won twice, in 1990 and 1993. The role also earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 1989 and 1990. He and his wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, starred in and were executive producers of the CBS comedy series "Ink" (1996). In 1984, Danson received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in the television movie _Something About Amelia (1984) (TV)_, in which he starred opposite Glenn Close. He also starred opposite Lee Remick in Women's Room, The (1980) (TV). In 1986, he made his debut as a television producer with When the Bough Breaks (1986) (TV), in which he also starred. He later starred in the mini-series Gulliver's Travels (1996) (TV) and Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998) (TV). Danson's numerous feature film credits include Onion Field, The (1979), in which he made his debut as Officer Ian Campbell, Body Heat (1981), _Three Men and a Baby (1987)_, 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990), Cousins (1989), Dad (1989), Made in America (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Mumford (1999), and Jerry and Tom (1998). Danson was raised just outside Flagstaff, Ariz. He attended Stanford University, where he became interested in drama during his second year. In 1972, he transferred to Carnegie-Mellon University (formerly Carnegie Tech) in Pittsburgh. After graduation, he was hired as an understudy in Tom Stoppard's Off Broadway production of "The Real Inspector Hound." Danson moved to Los Angeles in 1978 and studied with Dan Fauci at the Actor's Institute, where he also taught classes. Danson lives with his family in Los Angeles. He is a founding member of the American Oceans Campaign (AOC), an organization established to alert Americans to the life-threatening hazards created by oil spills, offshore development, toxic wastes, sewage pollution and other ocean abuses.