Sometimes love is priceless… but other times, it’ll cost you a whole lot more than you bargained for—just ask The Onion Field star Ted Danson.

Ah, celebrity scandals—always spicy, always juicy, and surely knows how to keep us entertained. But there’s one affair from the ’90s that still makes jaws drop whenever it’s brought up: the steamy romance between Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg. Yep, that scandal. The one that had tabloids working overtime and left Danson with a hefty price tag – not just emotionally, but financially too.

Ted Danson in A Man on the Inside (2024) | Credit: Netflix

So, Danson, everyone’s favorite bartender from Cheers, was happily married to Cassandra Coates. But then, the former finds himself falling for none other than Goldberg—Oscar-winner, comedian, and all-around force of nature. Cue the collective gasp of the public. He was already married yet, the spark between him and Goldberg was undeniable. Naturally, the world went absolutely bananas.

Ted Danson, Whoopi Goldberg, & the Love Triangle That Cost More Than You’d Think

Let’s be honest, few celebrity affairs have left as big a mark as Ted Danson’s romance with Whoopi Goldberg. Best known for his role on Cheers, Danson was married to producer Cassandra ‘Casey’ Coates in 1977. Their love story started off with promise, but things weren’t exactly smooth sailing. In 1979, while Coates was giving birth to their daughter Kate, she suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed (see Distractify).

Danson, being the devoted husband, put his career on hold to care for her during her recovery. It was a tough time for the former couple, but they powered through, eventually adopting a second daughter, Alexis. But, as anyone who’s been through a life-altering event knows, trauma can leave scars that are hard to heal.
Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple (1985) | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
As Danson admitted (via Closer Weekly):

A massive lack of trust. We were adjusting to the fact that we weren’t the same people we were before it happened.

And it wasn’t just the stroke that was putting a strain on their relationship. Over time, the emotional distance between the two only grew, making their marriage more fragile than ever.

Enter Goldberg. The pair had known each other for years, but in 1992, while working together on the film Made in America, their friendship blossomed into something more. At first, they kept it under wraps—after all, Danson was still married. But, it wasn’t long before Coates caught wind of the affair. And let’s just say, that was the final straw.

After 16 years of marriage, Coates filed for divorce in 1993, claiming that Danson’s infidelity was the tipping point in their already strained relationship. The divorce was one of the most expensive in Hollywood history. She walked away not only with their two children but with a whopping $30 million settlement (via The Telegraph). Ouch. That’s a pretty costly mistake!

Ted Danson’s 29-Year Love Story with Mary Steenburgen

After the split, both Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg didn’t exactly sit around moping. The latter married her third husband, Lyle Trachtenberg (1994 to 1995). But, as luck would have it, that marriage lasted about as long as a Hollywood minute—just a year before they called it quits.

Danson, on the other hand, found love again in 1995, marrying actress Mary Steenburgen, whom he met on the set of Pontiac Moon in 1993. Together, they formed a blended family when Danson became the stepfather to Steenburgen’s two children, Lilly and Charlie, from her previous marriage to actor Malcolm McDowell.

Mary Steenburgen in A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy (1982) | Credit: Warner Bros.

Despite the ups and downs of Danson’s past, it seems like he found stability with Steenburgen, and the two have opened up about their 29 years of marriage. When asked about the secret to their long-lasting relationship, Danson had a simple but powerful answer (People):

Just tell the truth. The only time I get really angry with Mary is when I’m wrong.

Now, that’s honesty! But of course, Steenburgen had a little fun with it too, teasing, “But he’s wrong a lot.” Ah, the kind of banter that comes with a relationship built on trust and a good sense of humor. Danson even admitted,

It’s only when you’re being defensive or fearful that you get angry.

So, what do we take from all this? Love can be unpredictable, but with a little honesty, patience, and maybe a few “I was wrongs” thrown in there, even the messiest Hollywood stories can lead to a happy ending.

And as for Goldberg? Well, she’s had her fair share of exes, but one thing’s for sure—she’s still standing strong. Ergo, sometimes life doesn’t go as planned, but it’s the lessons we learn and the people we meet along the way that make it all worthwhile. Just ask Danson and Steenburgen!