Ted Danson, the beloved actor who portrayed Sam Malone on the iconic television show ‘Cheers,’ recently shared his surprise at being considered a sex symbol during the early years of the series. In a candid conversation on his podcast, ‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name,’ Danson, now 78, recounted his initial disbelief when women found him attractive.

Unexpected Recognition

During the podcast episode, Danson spoke with ‘Parent Trap’ star Lisa Ann Walter, who asked him about his realization of being a ‘hottie.’ Danson humorously recalled moments when he would question if the attention was truly directed at him, often looking over his shoulder in disbelief. It wasn’t until the second year of ‘Cheers’ that he decided to accept the attention without protest, learning to ‘keep his mouth shut.’

Danson attributed much of his sex symbol status to the show’s decision to cast ‘very sexy looking women’ who would admire his character, Sam Malone. He acknowledged that this casting choice played a significant role in shaping public perception, though Walter assured him that his charm was not solely due to the women around him.

Career Beyond ‘Cheers’

Danson’s portrayal of Sam Malone spanned over 12 years, earning him two Emmy Awards. The show concluded after 11 seasons when Danson chose to leave in pursuit of new opportunities. Reflecting on his decision, Danson shared in a previous podcast episode that he wanted to challenge himself and explore different roles.

Following ‘Cheers,’ Danson appeared in various films and television shows, including ‘Pontiac Moon,’ ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ ‘Becker,’ ‘Damages,’ ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ and ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.’ More recently, he captivated a younger audience with his role as Michael in ‘The Good Place,’ earning three Emmy nominations.

Danson expressed gratitude for being part of ‘The Good Place,’ noting the joy of connecting with both children and their parents who enjoyed the show. Currently, he stars in Netflix’s ‘Man on the Inside,’ portraying a retired professor turned spy.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.