Ted Danson’s Relationship with Whoopi Goldberg Ended Due to Parental Disapproval, Sources Claim

Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg's brief romance in the early '90s not only resulted in a costly divorce settlement for Danson but also destroyed any hope of a friendship with his Made in America co-star.

Their relationship was often the subject of tabloid speculation, with many wondering why they ultimately broke up.

According to sources, it was Danson's parents who disapproved of his involvement with Goldberg.

Keep reading to find out more about the alleged reasons behind their split.

Danson, known for his role as Sam Malone, a womanizer on Cheers, considered himself a family man in real life.

He grew up with his grandparents and parents, who had long-lasting marriages that served as inspiration for him.

In a 1987 interview with People magazine, Danson mentioned how his parents' successful marriage influenced his own views on relationships.

In 1970, Danson married his college sweetheart, actress Randy Gosch, but they divorced in 1975.

The following year, he met Casey Coates, his second wife, whom he married in 1977.

Unfortunately, Coates suffered a stroke during childbirth in 1979, which led Danson to prioritize his family over his career.

Despite his rising fame, Danson remained committed to his marriage, stating in a 1993 People article that he couldn't fathom having multiple relationships.

Danson crossed paths with Goldberg while filming The Arsenio Hall Show in 1989.

Their connection deepened when they co-starred in the movie Made in America in 1993.

At the time, Goldberg was recently divorced, while Danson was still married to Coates.

However, their feelings for each other could not be ignored, leading to a highly publicized affair.

The lack of a prenuptial agreement in Danson's divorce from Coates resulted in a hefty $30 million settlement.

The end of Goldberg and Danson's relationship came abruptly after Danson's controversial appearance at a New York Friars Club roast for Goldberg.

During the roast, Danson wore blackface and made racially insensitive remarks.

Despite claiming that it was a satirical commentary on racism and tabloid rumors, the backlash was severe.

Danson later revealed in an interview with NPR that his relationship with Goldberg had already ended by the time of the roast.

However, it wasn't until November that they officially announced their split.

According to The National Enquirer in 2013, sources claimed that Danson's parents played a significant role in the breakup, pressuring him to end things with Goldberg.

Reportedly, they were disappointed in their son's decision to end his marriage and believed he was going through a midlife crisis.

Although Danson never confirmed the exact reason for their split, he described that period of his life as “very adolescent.”

Reflecting on his parents' influence, he acknowledged that breaking away from their expectations was a pivotal moment.

Following his breakup with Goldberg, Danson went on to marry his next co-star, Mary Steenburgen, in 1995.

They are still together today.

In a recent appearance on The View to promote her film, Book Club: The Next Chapter, Steenburgen was present, while Goldberg, one of the show's co-moderators, was absent.