Mary Steenburgen first met her future husband, Ted Danson, in 1983 when he auditioned for the role of her spouse in the movie “Cross Creek.” However, he failed to land the part and was disappointed but managed to get something even better later on – Steenburgen.
The pair couldn’t pursue a relationship at the time because they were both married to other people. Danson might’ve missed out on acting alongside the actress, but he thought getting a chance to audition was a miracle because he was a mess back then.
Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen at the Creative Coalition Spotlight Awards Gala in New York City, New York, on November 30, 1998 | Source: Getty Images
Steenburgen confessed that the time they initially met just wasn’t their moment. However, in 1993, the pair were now single and had sworn off dating when they were cast together in “Pontiac Moon.”
The “Mr. Mayor” star had just finalized his divorce from his second wife, Casey Coates, and recently left his relationship with Whoopi Goldberg. With Coates, Danson had two daughters, Katrina and Kate.
Steenburgen had divorced Malcolm McDowell and focused on raising their children, Lilly and Charlie. The actor recalled how he and the actress both believed they couldn’t date, and he thought he was capable of ruining anything, adding:
“I’m not relationship material.”
The “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” star seemed to think the same about Danson as she initially thought he appeared complicated. However, the duo felt an attraction they couldn’t deny, but she wasn’t ready for a relationship.
The pair kept working together and started becoming closer as friends. At one point, the actor planned a trip to Mendocino, California, where he and Steenburgen went on a canoe trip and enjoyed a picnic; that outing confirmed their feelings for each other…CONTINUE READING