The $30 Million Affair: 5 Shocking Facts About Ted Danson And Whoopi Goldberg's Controversial 18-Month Romance

Decades after it ended, the controversial relationship between celebrated actors Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg continues to be one of Hollywood's most discussed and re-examined affairs, frequently resurfacing in entertainment news even in late 2024 and 2025. This intense, 18-month romance, which took place in the early 1990s, was an explosive media spectacle that not only shattered Danson’s long marriage but also resulted in a staggering financial cost and a career-defining public relations disaster.

The enduring fascination with this coupling stems from its dramatic fallout: a major divorce settlement, a massive public scandal, and the stark contrast between their careers before and after the affair. While both stars have since found stability—Danson with his enduring marriage to Mary Steenburgen and Goldberg as a host on *The View*—the brief period they spent together remains an indelible, and often painful, part of their public history.

Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg: Biographical Profiles

The two stars who ignited this media firestorm came from vastly different backgrounds but converged at the height of their careers.

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Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Elaine Johnson)

• Born: November 13, 1955, in New York City, New York.
• Career Highlights: One of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Award). Breakthrough role in *The Color Purple* (1985), Oscar win for *Ghost* (1990), star of *Sister Act* (1992), and co-host of *The View* (2007–Present).
• Relationship Status (At the time of the affair): Recently divorced from her second husband, David Claessen.

Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III

• Born: December 29, 1947, in San Diego, California.
• Career Highlights: Best known for his iconic role as Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom *Cheers* (1982–1993). Other notable roles in films like *Three Men and a Baby* (1987) and later acclaimed TV shows like *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, *Damages*, and *The Good Place*.
• Relationship Status (At the time of the affair): Married to his second wife, Casey Coates.

The Spark: How a Film Set Led to an $18 Million Divorce

The relationship began not on a film set, but with a friendship forged years earlier. Danson and Goldberg first met in late 1988 when they both appeared on *The Arsenio Hall Show*. However, their connection deepened significantly when they were cast as co-stars in the 1993 comedy film, *Made in America*.

The film, which centered on an interracial sperm-donor mix-up, was a box office success, but the real-life drama quickly overshadowed the movie's plot. Danson was still married to his second wife, Casey Coates, at the time. The subsequent affair became major tabloid fodder, leading to the collapse of Danson's 17-year marriage to Coates.

The divorce was one of the most expensive in Hollywood history at the time. Casey Coates allegedly received a staggering $30 million settlement from Danson. This enormous financial cost is often the primary detail re-highlighted when the affair is discussed in modern retrospectives, serving as a stark reminder of the price of a public scandal.

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The Infamous Friars Club Roast and Blackface Controversy

The relationship reached its nadir in October 1993 with a disastrous public appearance that remains one of the most controversial moments in celebrity history: the Friars Club roast of Whoopi Goldberg.

Ted Danson appeared on stage in blackface, wearing large white gloves and lips, and proceeded to use racial slurs and controversial jokes, including the N-word, over a dozen times. The audience, a mix of Hollywood elite and comedians, was reportedly stunned and deeply uncomfortable, with some guests walking out.

The immediate backlash was enormous, threatening to derail Danson’s career, especially given his beloved status as Sam Malone on *Cheers*, which had just concluded its run. However, Goldberg, who was present and his girlfriend at the time, publicly defended him.

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Goldberg later clarified that she had helped write the controversial material, arguing that the intent was a satirical take on racial stereotypes and that Danson was simply performing the material they had created together for a private, raunchy event like a roast. Despite her defense, the incident remains a dark stain on Danson's public image and a frequent subject of re-examination in the media when discussing their relationship.

The Aftermath: Moving On to Lasting Love

The intense scrutiny and the fallout from the roast proved too much for the couple, and their 18-month romance ended shortly after the Friars Club incident. Both actors quickly moved on to new, and ultimately, more stable relationships.

For Ted Danson, the end of the affair led him to his third and current wife, actress Mary Steenburgen. They met on the set of the film *Pontiac Moon* in 1993, shortly after his divorce from Casey Coates was finalized. Danson and Steenburgen married in 1995 and are celebrated as one of Hollywood's most enduring and happy couples, often citing mutual respect and deep friendship as the keys to their three-decade-long marriage.

Danson has occasionally reflected on his past relationships, including the period with Goldberg, admitting to "immaturity" in his earlier life, which he credits with leading him to a deeper, more committed relationship with Steenburgen. Steenburgen herself has noted that when they met, both had "sworn off relationships," indicating the emotional toll the public drama had taken on Danson.

Whoopi Goldberg has maintained a private life regarding her romantic partners since the 1990s. She continues her highly visible role on *The View* and has had a prolific career in film and television, cementing her status as an EGOT winner and a cultural icon. While she rarely discusses the Danson affair, her long-standing defense of him during the blackface scandal speaks to the depth of their connection, even if it was short-lived and controversial.

Key Entities and Legacy of the Ted Danson-Whoopi Goldberg Relationship

The story of Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg is more than just a celebrity fling; it’s a case study in media scrutiny, the cost of fame, and navigating public scandal. The legacy of their romance is tied to several key entities:

• The $30 Million Divorce Settlement: The financial price Danson paid to Casey Coates remains a headline figure in the story.
• *Made in America* (1993): The film where their professional and romantic lives intersected.
• The Friars Club Roast: The location of the career-threatening blackface incident.
• Casey Coates: Danson's second wife, whose marriage ended due to the affair.
• Mary Steenburgen: Danson's third wife, representing his subsequent stability and happiness.
• *Cheers* and *The View*: The career pillars that defined their public images before and after the controversy.
• Interracial Relationship: The highly publicized nature of their coupling was a significant point of discussion in the media at the time.

In 2025, the relationship remains a touchstone for discussions about Hollywood scandals of the 1990s. The fact that the story is constantly retold, often with sensationalized headlines about the divorce cost, proves that the curiosity surrounding the *Cheers* star and the EGOT winner's brief, fiery romance is far from over.