The Forgotten, Controversial Love Between Whoopi Goldberg And Ted Danson
Danson And Goldberg Appeared On 'The Late Show' Together Before They Dated
Photo: The Late Show/FoxOn one 1986 episode of the short-lived Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, Danson and Goldberg greeted one another with a kiss before taking their seats on the talk show couch. Sparks weren't yet flying, however, most likely because Goldberg had just married cinematographer David Claessen at the time.
Romance Blossomed On The Set Of 'Made in America'
Video: YouTube
When Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg filmed the rom-com Made in America, Danson was happily married. According to People Magazine, Danson adored his then-wife, Casey Coates: "We are committed to each other, totally,” Danson said in 1989. “The idea of my having more relationships boggles my mind.”
Once filming began on Made in America, however, his feelings seemed to change:
By the time of [the movie's] publicity tour, [Danson and Goldberg's] public sightings had become too numerous - and affectionate - to ignore.
Danson Left His Wife For Goldberg
Danson and his wife, Casey Coates, had two young children together. The couple overcame significant adversity during their relationship: Coates suffered a stroke during her first childbirth, and Danson remained by her side throughout the lengthy rehab process.
When Danson and Goldberg played the romantic leads in Made in America, however, Danson began to stray. Not long after the affair began, it went public, leading to Danson and Coates's divorce. Coates allegedly received a payout of $30 million, making theirs one of the costliest celebrity divorces.
Danson Donned Blackface When Hosting Goldberg's Friars Roast
At Golderbg's 1993 Friars Roast, Danson demonstrated his affection for his then-girlfriend by painting his face in an offensive "blackface" fashion. Unsurprisingly, most attendees were less than amused, including famed film critic Roger Ebert:
[The audience] cringed in disbelief during the opening monologue by [Danson], who appeared in blackface and used the [N-word] more than a dozen times during a series of jokes that drew smaller and smaller laughs, until finally the audience was groaning.
In contrast, Goldberg defended Danson, stating, "Let's get these words all out in the open. It took a whole lot of courage to come out in blackface in front of 3,000 people. I don't care if you didn't like it. I did."
Howard Stern And Sherman Hemsley Parodied The Incident
Video: YouTube
After Ted Danson's disastrous roast of Goldberg, Howard Stern mocked the Cheers star on his equally tasteless New Year's Rotten Eve pay-per-view in 1994. Stern even enlisted the late Sherman Hemsley to portray "The Whoopi."
Danson And Goldberg Became Tabloid Fodder
Photo: PeopleFrom 1992 to 1994, Danson and Goldberg were one of the most famous couples in Hollywood. For close to two years, their relationship - fueled by controversy, confusion, and public fascination - seemed inescapable.
Danson's Parents Allegedly Pressured Him To Break Up With Goldberg
Photo: Made in America/Warner Bros.In 2013, National Enquirer explained, "[Danson and Godlberg] made plans to wed as soon as he could get a divorce, but under pressure from his parents, he dumped Whoopi." In 1994, Danson and Goldberg returned to single life, albeit briefly.
Danson Married His Next Love
After working on 1994's Pontiac Moon together, Danson and his co-star, Mary Steenburgen, began dating and eventually wed in 1995. Over twenty years later, Danson and Steenburgen are still together. They even played themselves on Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2007.
Goldberg's Next Relationship Was More Conventional
Photo: Georges Biard / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0Soon after her relationship with Danson ended, Whoopi began dating Frank Langella, a classically trained actor with an impressive resume in film, TV, and theater. The couple was together for five years before Goldberg "made her move" and broke up with Langella.
When prodded about the reason for the breakup, a source close to Goldberg claimed that Langella "was not bringing enough to the party."
Rumors Spread That Danson And Goldberg Slept Together After Their Break Up
Photo: Made in America/Warner Bros.According to National Enquirer, Danson and Goldberg had a "steamy fling in an upstairs room at Hollywood's House of Blues" after he began dating Mary Steenburgen. In their 2013 article, the tabloid went on to claim that Goldberg "hated" Steenburgen, and that, for Goldberg, Danson was "the one that got away." The tabloid's source was never confirmed.
Danson And Goldberg Are No Longer In Contact
Goldberg explained on a 2015 episode of Watch What Happens Live that she no longer speaks with Danson. “That’s, like, 20 years ago," she said, before declaring to the audience's delight, “I’ve [slept with] so many people since then.”
