Is Whoopi Goldberg married? When it comes to surprising celebrity pairings, the past serves up some fascinating examples. A standout example from the 1990s is the unexpected romance between The Good Place’s Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg of The View. Despite their relationship lasting a little over a year, it is a piece of Hollywood history that’s often overlooked.
Riding high on his fame from his role as the bartender Sam Malone in Cheers, Danson embarked on a controversial love story with Sister Act’s Goldberg, while shooting the 1993 film made in America. Initially a secret, their romance was catapulted into public scrutiny by tabloid revelations that effectively ended Danson’s second marriage to Cassandra “Casey” Coates. Following a 16-year union, Coates split from Danson, taking their two children and a $30 million settlement, which was one of Hollywood’s costliest divorces at the time (according to Zimbio).
Both Danson and Goldberg maintained silence about his separation, however, their affection for each other was visible in the following months. Reportedly, the pair had plans to walk down the aisle once Danson’s divorce was finalized. “I could live in Whoopi’s shadow forever. I admire her so much,” Danson confessed (as per Fabiosa). Yet, due to external pressures, after an 18-month relationship, Danson parted ways with Goldberg. “Ted was ready to wed Whoopi as soon as he got separated, but he ended things under his parents’ influence,” the insider revealed.
Ted Danson Causes Controversy at Whoopi Goldberg’s Roast
In October 1993, Danson participated in Whoopi Goldberg’s Friars Club roast. While roasts are known for pushing the envelope with their humor, Danson’s blackface routine crossed the line. People magazine reported that Danson’s inappropriate performance included a racially insensitive speech that made crude jokes about their intimate relationship and ended with him eating a plate of watermelon. As film critic Roger Ebert observed, “It was a stark reminder of the grave sensitivity of America’s history with racial tension, which is no subject for coarse humor.”
Goldberg responded to the audience’s reaction to Danson’s routine on stage, according to Slate. “It requires bravery to appear in blackface in front of 3,000 people,” she said. “Your opinion doesn’t matter to me. I enjoyed it!” However, the subsequent backlash was too much to bear. Danson and Goldberg called it quits just a few weeks after the roast, a departure that took a toll on Goldberg.
“It was excruciatingly painful and highly public,” Goldberg admitted, as quoted by Closer. “Losing his companionship was a significant blow. We can’t even go out for a soda anymore. I’ve maintained friendships with almost all of my exes, except for him.”
Despite the painful split, both Danson and Goldberg managed to move on relatively swiftly.
Is Whoopi Goldberg Married? Ted Danson Discovers Unexpected Romance
After parting ways with Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson found an unexpected spark with his co-star from Pontiac Moon — the actress Mary Steenburgen. Recalling his emotional state post-breakup, Danson confessed to AARP’s magazine that he was in turmoil, crediting therapy for helping him navigate through. Convinced he was unfit for relationships, it was when he gave up the fight that fate intervened.
Steenburgen, a single mother of two, was equally averse to new relationships. She had shared with her friends that she was done with romantic entanglements. Yet, the undeniable chemistry between her and Danson was impossible to resist.
Fast forward 25 years and the pair are still happily married. Danson admits he still feels a rush to impress Steenburgen.
Whoopi Goldberg Prefers Solitude over Matrimony
Although Whoopi Goldberg has been married thrice — her last marriage with Lyle Trachtenberg happening a year post the Danson split — the renowned actress from the movie Ghost, realized matrimony wasn’t her cup of tea. She expressed to the New York Times in July 2019 that societal expectations led her to try marriage multiple times, but she wasn’t comfortable with the dynamics of sharing her life intimately with another.
Goldberg admitted grappling with the feelings of not experiencing what she felt she should in a marriage. One day, she realized she didn’t need to conform to societal norms. She had tried marriage and it wasn’t her thing. Being expected to stay married wasn’t a good enough reason to continue with it.
Goldberg found her happiness in solitude. She enjoys spending time with others on her terms, without the commitment of sharing her living space. Her sentiments resonate with others who value their independence.
Is Whoopi Goldberg Married? Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg maintain amicable post-breakup relations
Despite parting ways, it appears that there is no remaining tension between former couple Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg. As reported by HuffPost, during her December 2015 guesting on Watch What Happens Live, Goldberg humorously discussed her life after Danson, asserting that their relationship was a thing of the past and that they’d ceased communication.
Interestingly, she doesn’t blame Danson for the infamous roast controversy. In her New York Times profile in July 2019, Goldberg stated that the roast was exactly what it should have been, but was perhaps held in an inappropriate setting and attended by the wrong crowd. It’s worth noting that she crafted some of the jokes Danson used that night. Goldberg believed humor was the best response to the negativity surrounding her relationship with Danson.
While Danson has been relatively quiet regarding their past relationship, it’s evident from Goldberg’s comments that they’ve put their history behind them, focusing instead on flourishing in their respective careers.
