Kate Danson: Everything to Know About Ted Danson’s Daughter

Kate Danson is the daughter of famous actor Ted Danson. Her father is known for hit TV shows like Cheers. Kate grew up around actors and TV sets. But she wanted to make her own name.

Kate later became an actress too. She worked on TV and on stage. She also became a director and photographer. Later she started working as a doula. This job lets her help mothers and families.

Her life has many interesting parts. Her birth came during a very hard time for her family. She also acted with her famous father. Here is the story of Kate Danson and the life she built for herself.

Who Is Kate Danson?

Kate Danson is an actress and artist. Her full first name is Katherine. She is the oldest daughter of Ted Danson and his former wife Casey Coates. She was born and raised in California.

Many people first knew Kate because of her father. Ted Danson has been a TV star for many years. Still Kate did not want to be known only as “Ted Danson’s daughter.”

Kate chose her own path. She became an actress and worked in theater. She later became a director too. Kate also works as a doula and photographer. These jobs show her love for art and helping people.

Kate Danson’s Age and Birthday

Kate Danson was born on December 24 1979. This means her birthday is on Christmas Eve. As of September 2026 Kate is 46 years old. She will turn 47 in December 2026.

Kate was born in California. Her father was already working as an actor. But his biggest TV success was still ahead. Ted joined the hit show Cheers a few years after Kate was born.

Kate then grew up with a famous father. Millions of people knew Ted from TV. Still Kate had her own dreams. As she got older she worked hard to find out what she wanted from life.

Kate Danson’s Birth and Her Mother’s Stroke

Kate’s birth came during a scary time. Her mother Casey Coates had a serious stroke around the time Kate was born. It happened on Christmas Eve in 1979.

Casey could not move the left side of her body at first. She stayed in the hospital for about three and a half months. Kate was healthy. Family members and a nanny helped care for her.

Ted stayed close to Casey as she got better. The family even found ways to laugh during this hard time. Casey later said they joked about who would crawl first. Baby Kate won at eight months old.

Kate Danson’s Parents and Family

Kate Danson’s father is Ted Danson. Her mother is Casey Coates. Ted and Casey married in 1977. They welcomed Kate two years later. Their family grew again several years later.

Kate has a younger sister named Katrina Danson. Katrina was born in 1985. Ted and Casey later ended their marriage. Their divorce was final in 1993 when Kate was a teenager.

Ted married actress Mary Steenburgen in 1995. Kate was a bridesmaid at their wedding. Mary already had two children named Lilly and Charlie. They became part of Kate’s blended family.

Kate Danson’s Childhood With Ted Danson

Kate had an unusual childhood. Her father became one of the biggest stars on TV. Ted started playing Sam Malone on Cheers in 1982. Kate was still very young at the time.

As Kate got older she wanted her own life. She did not want people to think she became an actress only because of her father. She later said she went through a “rebellious” time.

For a while Kate tried to stay away from acting. But she soon learned something important. She truly loved acting. She knew she could follow her father’s path while still being her own person.

Kate Danson’s Education and Love for Art

Kate Danson had a strong love for art. She studied at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena California. Her studies gave her another way to explore her creative side.

Acting also stayed close to her heart. Kate finally told Ted that she wanted to become an actress. Ted was happy for her. He joked that she was now joining the family business.

Ted and Mary also helped Kate practice her lines. They sometimes worked with her over the phone. Ted told Kate to enjoy acting and have fun. His support helped her feel more sure about her choice.

Kate Danson’s Acting Career

Kate Danson started building her own acting career. She took smaller roles instead of trying to become a huge star overnight. She appeared in TV projects such as Raising the Bar.

Kate also worked on stage. One of her best-known stage roles was in The Drowning Girls. She played a woman named Bessie. The play tells the sad story of three women.

Acting gave Kate something else too. It helped her understand Ted better. She now knew what it felt like to learn lines and perform. Their shared love for acting helped bring father and daughter closer.

Kate Danson and Ted Danson on CSI

Kate got a special acting chance in 2013. She appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Ted was already one of the main actors on the show.

Kate played a lawyer named Jill McDermott. Ted played D.B. Russell. Their characters did not always agree. This meant Kate had to speak strongly to her real father during their scenes.

Kate said working with Ted was fun. She even noticed his surprised face during one scene. It was strange for both of them. But it was also a sweet moment that Kate remembered with joy.

Kate Danson’s Theater Career

Kate Danson did not only work on TV. She also found a home in theater. Acting on a stage is different from acting for a camera. There are no second takes. This gave Kate a new way to grow.

One of her known stage roles was Bessie in The Drowning Girls. Kate also worked with Triptych Theatre. She became a co-artistic director there. This meant she could help choose and shape plays.

Kate also moved behind the stage. She worked as a producer and director. Her theater work included French Waitress plus Nocturne and Stockholm. She also helped produce plays during the 2017 and 2018 season.

Kate Danson’s Work as a Doula and Photographer

Kate Danson later found another kind of work. She became a birth and postpartum doula. A doula helps a mother before and after a baby is born. The job can bring comfort during a big life change.

Her stepsister Lilly helped lead Kate toward this work. Lilly asked Kate to be there for the birth of her first daughter. The event had a strong effect on Kate. It helped her see how much she liked helping families.

Kate also became a photographer. She has worked with birth photos too. This lets her save very special family moments in pictures. Her work as a doula and photographer shows a softer side of her life away from TV.

Kate Danson’s Marriage to Jesse Bochco

Kate Danson was married to Jesse Bochco. Jesse worked as a TV director and producer. He also grew up in a famous TV family. His father was well-known producer Steven Bochco.

Kate and Jesse married in 2009. At the time both had strong links to the TV world. Kate had her own acting work while Jesse spent much of his career behind the camera.

Their marriage later ended. Kate and Jesse split in 2015. Kate has not shared many details about the end of their marriage. She has kept much of her love life private since then.

Kate Danson’s Life Today

Kate Danson once lived in Los Angeles. But she later chose a quieter place to call home. In January 2022 she shared that she had made an official move to Ojai California.

Ojai is away from the busy center of Hollywood. The move seemed to fit Kate’s life well. She could stay close to her creative work while also enjoying a life that was not always in front of cameras.

In July 2024 Kate also shared a post that was reported as news that she was expecting a baby. Public details after that have been limited. Kate has long kept her family life private. So it is best not to guess about details she has not shared.

Kate Danson’s Relationship With Ted Danson

Kate and Ted Danson do not often talk about each other in public. Still their shared moments show a warm bond. Kate has supported her father at events. Ted has also supported her acting work.

Their time together on CSI was a good example. Kate got to see Ted as both her father and another actor. She once said that acting helped her get to know him better. That made their shared work even more special.

Kate has also praised her father in public at times. In 2019 Ted was arrested during a climate protest with Jane Fonda. Kate wrote that she was proud of him. She joked that he should have brought the whole family.

Final Thoughts

Family has remained an important part of Kate Danson’s story. She has her younger sister Katrina. She also gained Lilly and Charlie after Ted married Mary Steenburgen.

The family has come together for big events over the years. Kate and her siblings joined Mary when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009. Kate has also appeared with Ted at public events.

Yet this family does not share every part of life with the public. Kate and Katrina both keep a lower profile than their father. That has allowed them to build their own lives outside Ted’s fame.

(FAQs)

What movies and shows is Kate Danson in?

Kate Danson appeared in Cousins and CSI. She also worked in Raising the Bar and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. She even acted with her father Ted Danson on CSI.

Who is Kate Danson’s husband?

Kate Danson was married to TV director Jesse Bochco. They married in 2009. Their marriage ended in 2015. Kate keeps her current love life private.

How old is Kate Danson?

Kate Danson was born on December 24 1979. She is 47 years old as of September 2026. Her birthday is on Christmas Eve.

What is Kate Danson’s net worth?

Kate Danson’s exact net worth is not known. There is no trusted public record of her wealth. She has worked as an actress director photographer and doula.

Where does Kate Danson live and what is her ethnicity?

Kate announced her move to Ojai California in 2022. She is American. Some sites call her White but Kate has not publicly shared a clear statement about her ethnicity.

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