Ted Danson Pulled for ‘Crazy as Hell’ Woody Harrelson to GetCheersRole

Mar. 15, 2025

Woody Harrelson (left) and Ted Danson on ‘Cheers’ in 1988.Photo:Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Woody Harrelsonlanded hisCheerspart — and his big break — thanks in part to costarTed Danson.

“Tell me about the casting of Woody, how you first met Woody, what your impressions were and all of the above,” Danson, 77, said.

Harrelson was cast as Woody Boyd, and Glen, 82, pointed out that the character was named Woody well before anyone from the show had met the actor. “We said, we want a country bumpkin kind of guy, somebody from Iowa, Ohio, farm boy. And there’s the big city of Boston. So he’s a little naive. He needs to learn things,” he said.

Ted Danson (left) and Woody Harrelson in ‘Cheers’ in the 1980s.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

“We read a guy that was right on the money and I can’t remember, even remember his name. I think his name was John,” Glen remembered. The actor was “elated,” but the show’s casting director told the producers, “I know you think you’ve got your man, but I just saw something. I think there’s somebody you might want to look at. If not for this, for something else.”

They agreed and had Harrelson, now 63, read for the part, and the producers were “very interested.” They had Danson, who played bar owner Sam Malone, come and read with him. “We always wanted to do that whenever we could onCheers, audition actors together to see the chemistry,” Les, 76, said.

“I think it’s good for Woody to hear that I was all in favor of him. If you could say that so he could hear it,” Danson joked.

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“You fought like hell,” Glen told Danson. “I remember very well you said, ‘I know you think you’ve got your guy, but this guy’s more interesting.’ ” The other actor was “right on the money,” but Harrelson was “everything we wanted in the part, but a little more,” Glen added.

Woody Harrelson (left) and Ted Danson in 2023.Unique Nicole/Getty

Unique Nicole/Getty

Danson added, “He’s a dangerous motherf—–.” Glen agreed, adding, “There was an element of danger, crazy as hell.”

Harrelson’s Woody was a replacement forNicholas Colasanto’s Coach, a bartender at the titular bar. Colasanto died in 1985 after the show’s third season, and the character was also killed off in the series. Harrelson’s Woody — though decades younger — filled a similar role at the bar, as a simple but kind person who often didn’t understand jokes. It was Harrelson’s first major role. He received five Emmy nominations for the part, winning once.

Danson and Harrelson began hosting their podcast in June 2024, andDanson told PEOPLE in August why he’s cherished doing the series. “It’s been the best joining up with [Harrelson] again,” he said. “It’s the reason why we decided to do it. It was more of a, ‘Well, why not?’ Let’s do this.' Somebody asked and we went, ‘Yeah, that’ll be fun.’ ”

He added, “I’ve discovered what a privilege it is to sit opposite somebody and have an hour-and-a-half to talk in a purposeful, as deep as you want, kind of conversation and discover who that person is … And kind of celebrate that person is such a privilege.”

source: people.com