Sometimes there is a disconnect between the image fans have of someone and the image they have of themselves. That sounds like it happened to Ted Danson. The former star of Cheers, now 78, revealed that women considered him to be a sex symbol when the hit sitcom was first out of the gate. That bowled him over.
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Danson played Sam Malone, the owner of a friendly neighborhood watering hole in Boston. The zany characters who frequented the bar and their personal quirks kept loyal viewers laughing for 11 seasons. They (especially the ladies!) just loved Ted Danson and still do to this day.
Danson Tackled This Subject on His Podcast
When Ted Danson had actress Lisa Ann Walter as his guest on his podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, she asked him a key question. It had to do with "what a hottie" he was back in the day.
Danson replied, "I won't go back too far because it's not necessary, but I was the guy who literally I would be, the woman would be standing opposite me naked and I'd be going 'What?' I'd look over my shoulder and be like, 'You mean me?' Literally, it took me until the second year of 'Cheers' when I decided, 'You know what? Keep your mouth shut, Ted.'"
Getting Used to His Sex Symbol Status Was Hard
For Danson, it was quite an adjustment. He even mentioned that when someone would bring up the topic, he would have to fight the urge to deny it. Then he would merely stay silent.
His strategy, for coping with the compliments was simple. He figured that attractive women were brought on the show who exclaimed, "Wow, he's sexy" about Sam Malone. Danson seemed to assume that some of their ardor maybe inadvertently rubbed off on him.
Whatever the explanation, he candidly shared, "I got that mantle and I finally learned to keep my mouth shut."
He Finally Left 'Cheers'
When Ted Danson exited the sitcom, the higher-ups decided to shut the show down for good. Without him, it would not have been the same. Cheers was shuttered but never forgotten.
