Ted Danson & Wife of 26 Years Mary Were Close Friends before They Fell in Love Hours into a Trip Together

Actors Ted Danson and his wife, Mary Steenburgen, started their relationship as friends but later realized they had feelings for each other. However, after his scandalous affair with one of Hollywood's elite stars, Danson was not in a good headspace to get involved with anyone else.

Ever since "Cheers" star Ted Danson and wife Mary Steenburgen wed in 1995, they still seem to be in a honeymoon phase in their enduring relationship.

The married couple is still madly in love with each other, Danson admitted to Us Weekly in July 2017, gushing over his beautiful spouse.

"I'm madly in love with Mary Steenburgen. She’s a remarkable human being, so I'm just incredibly blessed," the producer said of the actress. Danson shared he felt on cloud nine being with Steenburgen and that he would pass a happy man if he died any day from now.

"It feels like heaven on earth. If I were to die, I can say, I know what it's like to be loved and to love," he stated. Here is Danson's journey from painful heartbreaks to finding the love of his life.

DANON'S TUMULTUOUS LOVE LIFE BEFORE MEETING STEENBURGEN

The actor tied the knot for the very first time at age 23 to his college sweetheart, actress Randy Gosch, in 1970. The former couple met as undergraduate students and got hitched before graduating.

But their marriage was soon tested when their careers began taking off, and the pair grew apart, leading their union to fail. Gosch and Danson divorced in 1975 after four years together.

Danson gave marriage another chance when he wed his second wife, producer Cassandra Coates in 1977, and the duo had their first child together, a daughter, two years later.

Sadly, childbirth complications left Coates paralyzed on one side and her loving husband spent several years caring for her. The two later adopted another daughter together.

But Coates' injury had already created a significant rift between her and Danson, leading to their marriage suffering. Danson later admitted to Closer Weekly: "We were adjusting to the fact that we weren't the same people we were before it happened." He and Coates divorced in 1993.

While married to Coates, Danson got cast alongside renowned actress Whoopi Goldberg in the 1992 film "Made in America," and the co-stars began an affair.

Though the Hollywood stars attempted to keep their affair low-key, the tabloids discovered what was going on between them, and they soon made headlines.

Coates instantly filed for divorce after learning about her husband's infidelity and managed to walk away with $30 million, making the settlement one of the most expensive celebrity divorces.

Afterward, Danson and Goldberg went public with their relationship and were constantly spotted out and about. But their whirlwind romance was short-lived as they parted ways after 18 months together.

Commenting on their breakup to Closer Weekly, the "The View" host shared how painful it was and that she and Danson could not remain friends afterward.

DANSON WAS A 'HOT MESS' WHEN HE MET HIS THIRD WIFE STEENBURGEN

Danson found love again when he crossed paths with his future third wife, Steenburgen, while co-starring in the 1994 movie "Pontiac Moon." In an interview with AARP The Magazine in September 2017, the California native revealed that he was in a terrible state in his life at the time:

"I was a mess-and-a-half. I thought I'm incapable of being in a relationship. But I was working on myself."

The "Three Men and a Baby" star said he found it ironic that something better came along when he was ready to surrender to his misery.

But he was not the only one going through a hard time during that period. When he met Steenburgen, she was a single mother of two kids.

The singer-songwriter had a tough childhood growing up in Arkansas. Her father endured severe illnesses – including suffering from multiple heart attacks. Reports state Danson helped the Oscar winner find happiness after her traumatic upbringing.

Still, both individuals believed they were not ready to explore a relationship. Danson revealed to People in February 2021: "We both said the same phrase to ourselves, which was: 'Obviously we cannot be in a relationship.’ I could ruin anything. I'm not relationship material," he confessed.

Even Steenburgen had lingering thoughts about pursuing a romantic relationship with the "Mr. Mayor" star, stating that he seemed complicated. Although she was not ready to start something with Danson, the pair could not deny their connection:

"We just kept working together and becoming better and better friends."

DANSON & STEENBURGEN REALIZED THEY WERE IN LOVE DURING A CANOE TRIP

During an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show" in March 2022, Danson recalled when he realized he was head over heels in love with Steenburgen.

"If I got to lunch late and I didn't get to sit next to her, I was a little upset."

He mentioned that when they were filming the movie "Pontiac Moon," they went on a canoe ride in the Big River in Mendocino, California, along with some friends and were there for about four hours.

While there, Steenburgen wanted to explore more of the place, so they were left alone to see more of the environment. "By the time we got back, I'd say both of us were in love," Danson revealed.

The "Becker" alum shared that their experience on the trip made things official for them. "It was very magical. We came back in love, to be honest, I'll say smitten," he said.

The lovebirds walked down the aisle in October 1995 at their 150-guest star-studded wedding ceremony. The nuptials took place at Danson's Chilmark home in Martha's Vineyard. Guests reportedly included Bruce Springsteen and Tom Hanks, among others.

Per Chicago Tribune, the most notable guests were Bill Clinton, who was president at the time, along with his wife, First Lady Hilary Clinton, and their daughter Chelsea.

The presidential family attended the rehearsal dinner at Menemsha's Beach Plumm Inn, where Danson proposed, and the private ceremony.

DANSON'S FEARS MAKE HIM MORE APPRECIATIVE OF HIS LOVE FOR STEENBURGEN

When speaking about their marriage, Danson acknowledged that fear is inevitable. He explained that he turns it into gratitude whenever he has fearful thoughts such as jobs, money, health, and kids.

Seeing that he worries about his wife often, Danson thanks God that he has the opportunity to be married to a woman he loves wholeheartedly.

He said his love for Steenburgen makes him afraid that she might be hurt or something whenever she is not home. "I tell myself, 'Aren't you lucky?'" he divulged.

The pair have been married for over two decades and relish their lives together, especially with their blended family. Danson looks forward to growing old with Steenburg, saying:

"I want as long as possible in my life with Mary. I know it will have all of its hard parts, but I want to experience love in all those moments."

His wife felt the same way and admitted that she wished she could sign up for a "100 more lifetimes." The comedienne shared there is no doubt in her heart about her love for Danson or where she doubts his love for her. Steenburg firmly believes that she and Danson were destined to spend the rest of their lives together.

Meanwhile, her adoring husband gushed over the qualities she possesses. Danson mentioned that he loves how his spouse smiles and laughs, adding that he likes her willingness to take a leap of faith in life's most unpredictable circumstances.

He admires her sense of fairness and right and wrong. While in his seventies and Steenburgen in her sixties, the "Fargo" star said his wife is still sexy.