Veteran actor Ted Danson has revealed a recent health scare that prompted him to reassess his lifestyle and adopt new habits. Speaking on his podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Valerie Bertinelli, the 78-year-old star of The Man on the Inside described the experience as 'humbling' and a stark reminder of his own mortality.
Danson, who says he is now 'totally fine,' did not disclose the nature of the health issue but noted it came as a surprise since he had not 'f***ed up in some way' regarding his health routine. 'Mortality is the real deal, you know. It's not just a rumor. Ted Danson doesn't get a free pass,' he said.
The actor credited the scare as a positive turning point, saying it was 'the best thing that could have happened to me.' He has since taken up meditation, now meditating twice daily with his wife, Mary Steenburgen. 'The biggest gift of all: You can be curious about other people. You can listen, you can be supportive, caring, you can witness them,' he explained.
Danson and Steenburgen married in 1995. In a 2024 interview with NPR, he admitted he 'didn't really grow up emotionally until I was in my 40s,' when he began intensive therapy and self-work. Reflecting on his past, including a costly divorce and affair that made tabloid headlines, he said the messy period was 'invaluable' and ultimately led him to his current wife.
