Ted Danson, the renowned star of the beloved sitcom "Cheers," recently shared his candid struggles with embodying his iconic character, Sam Malone, in the show's early days. From the emotional challenges to the transformative moment that solidified his portrayal, Danson's revelations shed light on the journey of a character that would capture the hearts of millions.
Ted Danson, the Emmy-winning actor immortalized as the charming and womanizing bartender Sam Malone in the groundbreaking sitcom "Cheers," has opened up about the emotional rollercoaster he endured before embracing his iconic character. In a recent episode of the podcast "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," co-hosted by Danson and his former "Cheers" co-star Woody Harrelson, the 76-year-old actor revealed the self-doubt and uncertainty that plagued him during the show's early days.
"When I first started playing Sam Malone, I didn't know how to play him," Danson confessed, admitting that it took him a year and a half to truly understand and embody the character's complex nature. "I didn't know what arrogance meant. I had never been to a bar. I did not pick women up. I was not a womanizer. Maybe I wanted to be, but I wasn't."
Ted Danson Spills the Candid Truth: Embracing Sam Malone and the Path to Iconic Status
Danson's initial portrayal of Sam Malone was far from the confident and charming womanizer that viewers would come to love. "Women had to be standing opposite me naked for me to go, 'Oh, me? You're talking about me? Oh, wow...' That's the opposite of Sam Malone."
The turning point for Danson came after the first pilot episode aired. "It aired and, I said, 'Jimmy, can I talk to you?' and went behind the curtains... and broke into tears saying, 'I'm really bad. I'm awful. I don't know what to do,'" the actor recalled, referring to the show's director, James Edward Burrows.
Ted Danson Spills the Candid Truth: Embracing Sam Malone and the Path to Iconic Status
To Danson's surprise, Burrows' reaction was not one of concern or criticism. "He listened for a second, then broke into a huge laugh and walked off... so it was like, 'Oh, all right. I'll keep that one to myself.'"
Danson's struggles resonated with podcast guest Lisa Kudrow, who portrayed the quirky Phoebe Buffay on the hit sitcom "Friends." Kudrow shared that she also grappled with understanding her famous character in the show's early days, recognizing a moment when her co-star Matt LeBlanc helped her "slap" into her role.
Ted Danson Spills the Candid Truth: Embracing Sam Malone and the Path to Iconic Status
"It took me, if not a year and a half, maybe two seasons before I felt like I had Phoebe down," Kudrow said. "The things she said were so outrageously illogical that in order for me to justify them... I felt like 'oof,' it just took a lot of work to figure out."
LeBlanc's words, "You know who the character is now. You don't need to do the work you did. You got it," were enough to ease Kudrow's self-doubt and solidify her understanding of Phoebe.
Ted Danson Spills the Candid Truth: Embracing Sam Malone and the Path to Iconic Status
Danson's candid revelations not only provide a glimpse into the arduous journey of an actor finding their footing in an iconic role but also underscore the importance of support and collaboration in the creative process. By sharing his struggles and triumphs, Danson has not only humanized the legend of Sam Malone but has also inspired fellow actors to embrace their own paths to stardom.
