Get to Know Ted Danson’s Two Daughters: Kate and Katrina

Ted Danson and daughters Kate and Katrina at the ‘Mad Money’ film premiere in Westwood, California on January 9, 2008.
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Ted Danson is a devoted father to his daughters, Kate and Katrina Danson, born in 1979 and 1985 respectively, during his marriage to Casey Coates. The couple, however, separated in 1993. Danson later married actress Mary Steenburgen in 1995 after reconnecting on the set of Pontiac Moon.

As a stepfather to Steenburgen’s children, Lilly Walton and Charlie McDowell, Danson has cultivated a supportive blended family. He typically maintains a low profile regarding his daughters, who, like him, have pursued creative endeavors. Kate has worked on stage and screen, while Katrina has made a name for herself in music.

Unlike his more public relationship with Steenburgen, Danson rarely discusses his daughters in media interviews or shares details about them on social media. Despite this, Kate and Katrina have frequently supported their father’s career milestones. They played notable roles in his wedding, with Kate as a bridesmaid and Katrina as a flower girl.

In 2009, the sisters celebrated Steenburgen’s achievement of receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame alongside their father’s children from his marriage to Steenburgen, underscoring their close-knit family ties.

### Kate Danson, 46

Ted Danson and Kate Danson attend the Rise Fundraiser: ‘Everything I Ever Wanted To Tell My Daughter About Men’ play reading on March 12, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.
Credit: Tasia Wells/Getty

Ted and Coates welcomed Kate on December 24, 1979. After earning her degree from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, Kate followed in her father’s footsteps by pursuing a creative career in Hollywood.

However, she shared a “rebellious” phase in 2013, during which she distanced herself from acting. “I was like, ‘No, I’m going to be an individual,’” she explained, but ultimately realized her passion remained in acting.

She received support from her father and Steenburgen, who assisted her with acting lines and provided career advice. Reflecting on their relationship, she said, “I feel like I’ve gotten to know him better, too, now that I’m acting … That’s been really sweet.”

Kate’s career includes roles in television shows like Raising the Bar and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, where she notably appeared alongside her father in 2013. “I was really fortunate to get to work with him on CSI,” she remarked about the experience.

Beyond acting, Kate has a rich theater background as a director and producer, having been co-artistic director for Triptych Theatre and directing multiple plays. Concurrently, she works as a doula and expresses her creativity through photography.

Married to director and producer Jesse Bochco in 2009, she later split in 2015. In January 2022, she announced her move to Ojai, California, after living in Los Angeles.

While they keep their relationship private, Kate honored her father in a rare Instagram post during his climate change protest arrest in October 2019. She expressed pride in her father, saying, “I honestly couldn’t be prouder of you, dad.”

### Katrina Danson, 40

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen with their children Charlie McDowell and Katrina Danson at the screening of A&E Networks “Knights of the South Bronx” on December 1, 2000 in New York City.
Credit: Paul Hawthorne/Getty

Katrina was born in June 1985, the second child of Ted Danson and Casey Coates. In a 2009 interview, she candidly discussed the challenges of growing up in the limelight, acknowledging the unusual nature of constant public attention but expressing gratitude for her loving family.

Recalling experiences from her father’s time on Cheers, she noted the difficulty of staying up late for tapings but cherished the excitement of visiting the set.

Despite her father’s fame, Katrina has opted for a private life, creating music under the names Kat Danson and Lux Lovelle. Her song “It’s Like Summer,” featured on Dance Moms in 2012, showcases her musical talent while maintaining a low profile in the industry.