Ted Danson is opening up about the personal turmoil he says surrounded the final stretch of his time on “Cheers,” as reported by Page Six.

The 78-year-old actor discussed that period during a recent episode of his podcast, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” giving listeners a candid look at where his life stood when the sitcom ended in 1993.

Danson said the end of the show did not immediately register for him because his private life had become so difficult.

He described being so consumed by what was happening personally that the close of the series was not the main thing on his mind.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

During the conversation, Danson also said he “barely knew myself” during that time. He recalled taking what he called a fast lesson in growing up during his final year on the hit show.

The actor said he would drive to Long Beach to meet with a mentor. Danson described the mentor as “amazing” and said the person offered him “a whole different kind of therapy, spirituality kind of thing.”

Danson explained that he was trying to make serious changes in how he lived and behaved. “I wanted to stop being a liar,” he said.

He continued with another direct admission about the kind of person he wanted to become. “I wanted to be emotionally mature. I wanted to change.”

Ted Danson Wanted to “Stop Being a Liar” — But Still Wears a Hairpiece

Ted Danson, now 78, recently reflected on the end of Cheers in 1993 and admitted his personal life was in rough shape at the time. “People say, ‘What was it like? What did you do when she was over?’ I said,… pic.twitter.com/ZopcRTZPqy — Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) July 26, 2026

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star had also spoken about the end of “Cheers” during an August 2025 episode of his podcast.

In that earlier conversation, he reflected on how much his personal life shaped the way he experienced the show ending.

His guest, Charlie Day, asked whether Danson had been afraid of being typecast after the sitcom wrapped.

Danson responded that the transition was easier because he was already dealing with significant problems in his personal life.

He said he did not fully realize the show had ended for a few months. According to Danson, his focus at the time was on himself and the personal issues he was trying to face.

Danson played Sam Malone on “Cheers” from 1982 to 1993. He became one of the few cast members to appear in all 273 episodes of the series.

The beloved sitcom ended after 11 seasons. Danson had expressed a desire to pursue other acting opportunities, and executives decided the show should not continue without him.

Looking back, Danson said he was already working hard to change for the better when the decision came.

“I was changing for the better and working really hard at that, so I thought, ‘Might as well jump completely off the cliff,'” he said.

After “Cheers,” Danson went on to star in “Becker,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

He later introduced himself to another audience through “The Good Place.”

Danson is currently starring in the Netflix show “Man on the Inside.” In the series, he plays a retired professor who ends up working as an undercover spy in a nursing home.

Speaking to People in November 2024, Danson described the comic setup behind the show.

He said the story follows a man whose life has shut down and whose daughter becomes concerned enough to tell him to find a project.

That project turns out to place his character inside a retirement home as an undercover spy. For Danson, the humor comes from that unexpected situation and the stage of life his character is in.

The actor’s latest comments about “Cheers” focused less on the show’s legacy and more on the state of his own life when it ended.

 

His remarks painted the finale not as a clean professional farewell, but as a moment overshadowed by personal reckoning.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.