Ted Danson's Love Story: How Meeting Mary Steenburgen Changed Everything

A Marriage Made in Hollywood Heaven

Let me tell you a story about one of Hollywood's most enduring love stories. It's about Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, a couple who have been together for nearly three decades. Yes, you heard that right—almost 30 years! And it's not just about staying together; it's about loving each other deeply, every single day. Ted, who's been around the block a few times with his legendary career, has nothing but sweet things to say about Mary. He recently opened up about their love while promoting his new Netflix series, A Man on the Inside.

Now, Ted, who’s 76, plays a retired widower turned amateur private investigator in his latest show. But when he’s not solving mysteries onscreen, he’s reflecting on the real-life miracle that is his marriage. In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning on November 10, Ted couldn’t stop gushing about Mary, who’s 71. He’s been talking about her like she’s straight out of a fairy tale, and honestly, who could blame him?

Heaven-Sent Love: A Match Made in the Stars

“Mary Steenburgen is, you know, literally heaven-sent,” Ted said, and you can practically hear the awe in his voice. “Before I met her, I spent about a year working on myself after Cheers. I was trying to become emotionally mature and real. I worked hard at it, and then—boom!—Mary Steenburgen walked into my life. We’re so blessed. To love someone and to be loved back, that’s one of those heaven-on-earth miracles. And it all happened because of Mary.”

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Ted and Mary tied the knot in 1995, and ever since, they’ve been Hollywood’s ultimate power couple. They’re not just famous for their acting chops; they’re famous for their love. Ted echoed this sentiment during a chat with Parade back in April, where he talked about how meeting Mary was nothing short of a miracle. “Yeah, 30 years ago, when I met Mary Steenburgen. Without a doubt. It was like this divine miracle that came my way and just changed my life completely. We both know how blessed we are,” he said.

The Secret to a Long-Lasting Marriage

Now, here’s the million-dollar question: What’s the secret to a marriage that lasts this long? Ted doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but he does have some touching advice. “First off, I don’t have a clue. My answer is, ‘Fall in love with Mary Steenburgen,’” he joked. But then he got serious. “I don’t know. I’ll tell you some of the things we both enjoy and do: We celebrate how blessed we are. We laugh a lot. We’re very supportive of each other’s creativity, wherever that leads. It’s really miraculous. The truth is, instead of offering advice, the only thing you can really say that’s real is, ‘Thank you. I don’t know how and why I’m blessed. Thank you.’”

Ted is a proud dad to Kate and Alexis Danson, whom he welcomed with his ex-wife Casey Coates. He’s also a stepdad to Mary’s kids, Lilly Walton and Charlie McDowell, from her previous marriage to Malcolm McDowell. Family is everything to this guy, and you can see it in the way he talks about them.

Embracing Life’s Journey

On top of his love for Mary and his family, Ted’s also embracing a new chapter in his career with A Man on the Inside. He’s got a fresh perspective on life now. “This is your life, not just up to, you know, 65 and then you retire and are going down. No, you get to live right up until you don’t live,” he shared. “And it’s your life. It’s such a gift. Explore it and be excited about it. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it’s sad. Yes, there’s grief. Yes, there’s all of that. But embrace it. Embrace it, is kind of what I think the message of the show is. It’s what I hope I live with.”

“I’m just emotional because I finally said something I wanted to say!” Ted concluded, and honestly, who can blame him? Sometimes the simplest truths are the most powerful.