Ted Danson says turmoil left him unaware of Cheers finale

Actor Ted Danson has revealed that the final months of his celebrated run on the sitcom "Cheers" were overshadowed by profound personal turmoil, leaving him with little memory of the show's conclusion. In a recent episode of his podcast, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," the 78-year-old said his private life was in such disarray when the series ended in 1993 that the professional milestone barely registered.

Danson, who played bartender Sam Malone for the show's entire 11-season run from 1982 to 1993, described a period of intense self-reckoning. He said he had "f---ed up" his life so badly that he did not realize "Cheers" was over for several months, adding that he "barely knew" himself at the time. His focus, he explained, was on confronting his own behavior and seeking profound personal change.

"I wanted to stop being a liar," Danson said directly. "I wanted to be emotionally mature. I wanted to change."

To facilitate that change, Danson sought guidance from a mentor during his final year on the show, driving to Long Beach for what he called a "fast" lesson in growing up. He described the sessions as a "whole different kind of therapy, spirituality kind of thing." This period...