Ted Danson and Casey Coats divorced after 15 years, 1 month of marriage. The settlement was reportedly an estimated $30M. See the full timeline.
Figures are reported estimates. Last updated Oct 2026.
Cheers star's divorce, after his high-profile affair with Whoopi Goldberg.
Ted Danson, the actor who played the bartender Sam Malone on the sitcom Cheers, and Casey Coats, an interior designer and the daughter of a successful family, married in 1977, when Danson was a struggling actor. They had two daughters, Kate and Alexis. Coats supported the family through his early years in Hollywood, long before his television fame, and was a regular presence at his side during the early part of his career.
Danson's fortune came from Cheers, which began in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons, making him one of the highest-paid television actors in the world. By the end of the show's run, he reportedly earned around $450,000 per episode. He also appeared in films such as Three Men and a Baby and later starred in Becker, Damages and The Good Place. Most of his earnings from Cheers were made during the marriage.
The couple married in 1977 and stayed together for 15 years. In 1992 Danson began a relationship with Whoopi Goldberg, who was then a co-star in the film Made in America, and the marriage ended, with the divorce finalized in 1993. His appearance at a roast of Goldberg in blackface later that year caused a major controversy. Danson married Mary Steenburgen in 1995, and the two have been together ever since.
The reported settlement was around $30 million, according to press accounts, though the specifics were never published. The couple shared custody of their daughters. The settlement reflected a share of Danson's earnings from Cheers and from his film work, and was agreed without a long public fight.
Danson's income at the height of Cheers was very large, and under California law the earnings of the 15-year marriage were shared equally. Coats's support during the early years of his career was a further factor in reaching a generous settlement.
Danson's career continued without a break, with the series Becker in the late 1990s and later work as a respected character actor and television star. He also became an environmental activist, working with the group Oceana. The divorce had no significant effect on his earnings.
The Danson case is similar in size to the Kelsey Grammer settlement, with both involving the star of a long-running sitcom. In both, the key factor was the high pay for television work in the era of big network hits.
Danson's career was hurt for a time by the controversy over the Friars Club roast, but he recovered. His marriage to Mary Steenburgen has lasted for decades. The $30 million figure is a reported estimate.
Casey Coats's reported settlement was about $30 million.
They married in 1977 and divorced in 1993, a marriage of roughly 16 years.
No prenuptial agreement was reported.
Yes, the family is reported to include 2 children.
Reported assets include: Los Angeles home, Cheers residuals.
Danson's income at the height of Cheers was very large, and under California law the earnings of the 15-year marriage were shared equally. Coats's support during the early years of his career was a further factor in reaching a generous settlement.
* Settlement terms were not publicly disclosed. This figure is an estimate.