Women's Health September 20, 2025 0 Comments

The Untold Story Behind Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson’s Surprising Romance – What You Never Knew!

Hollywood romances—can they ever not be a whirlwind of drama, mystery, and, well, a little bit of “Did that even happen?” If you blinked, you might’ve missed the fleeting, headline-making romance between Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg. While Ted was basking in the Cheers spotlight, it wasn’t his on-screen charm that had everyone buzzing—but his off-screen entanglement with the unmistakably brilliant Whoopi. A duo so unexpected and stirring, their brief fling left a lasting impression on Tinseltown’s gossip mills despite disappearing almost as quickly as it appeared. Curious how this sizzling pair met, what sparks flew, and ultimately what pulled them apart amid the glare of fame and controversy? Buckle up—this tale is anything but your usual Hollywood love story. LEARN MORE.

When it comes to Hollywood romances, flings come and go in the blink of an eye. From brief trysts to co-star courtships, you probably have forgotten most of the celebrity couplings that danced through the tabloids over the years—Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson’s brief and controversial pairing being one of them. While Danson was riding the high of his Cheers fame, he found himself making headlines not for his work on the screen but for his personal life. Here, read all about the brief romance between Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg.

How did Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg meet?

When these two successful actors got together, they were both well-established in the industry and had great success on both the big and small screens. Finally joining forces, it was while filming the 1993 movie Made in America when things allegedly turned romantic. However, their linking up wasn’t without controversy. For starters, at the time that they reportedly got together, Danson was married to Cassandra Coates. If the actor being in a committed relationship wasn’t enough to stir up controversy, he and Whoopi’s apparent romance being an interracial relationship fueled racist scrutiny.

Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson, Made in America, 1993Warner Brothers/Getty Images

Though it was working on this film in which things took an allegedly romantic turn, it was actually years prior when they both appeared on the same episode of The Arsenio Hall Show that the seed was first planted. As reported by People, when the show’s host made a remark that a woman in show business was either funny or attractive, Danson reportedly disagreed, referencing Whoopi, calling her a “very sexy, very funny lady.”

What did Ted and Whoopi say about each other?

From the start of filming, Ted and Whoopi were pulling pranks on one another and spending an increasing amount of time with eachother. “Whoopi is smart, and what she’s seen in life is worth the trip,” Danson said per People. “One of the first nights we were together in Berkeley, I walked down Telegraph Avenue with her, and it was like walking with royalty. I’m an actor, and I’m susceptible to jealousies and not wanting to be part of someone’s entourage, but I basked in the love that people poured on her.”

Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson, 1993Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

The downfall and aftermath

In June of 1993, Danson’s wife filed for divorce, and his personal and professional life soon were subject to a few hits. At a 1993 roast of Whoopi Goldberg, Danson appeared on stage in blackface and speaking racial slurs, sparking major controversy. Whoopi later came out and said she was in on the joke, even writing much of the material, but this still marked a major turning point.

About a month later, Ted and Whoopi had gone their separate ways. “We would like to set the record straight….We are no longer romantically involved,” the two said in a joint statement as reported by People in 1993, with both of their publicists citing that paparazzi and public scrutiny is what ultimately led to the couple’s demise. Danson would go on to marry actress Mary Steenburgen two years later, with Whoopi marrying Lyle Trachtenberg for a short period of time.