Ted Danson, 76, On The Joy Of Acting: “It Still Makes Me So Happy”
At 76, Ted Danson is as in love with acting as ever. The iconic actor recently shared his passion for the craft at the Los Angeles premiere of A Man on the Inside, which hits Netflix on November 21. Ted reflected on what keeps him going strong in his career after decades in Hollywood, revealing that he still feels “the same joy I did in my late twenties when I drove through the studio gate.”
Seeing the familiar faces of guards, crew members, and other actors on set is a source of true happiness for Ted. “I’m not sure how good I am; it doesn’t matter. It makes me so happy to be doing this,” he told PEOPLE. He attributes this joy to why he continues to take on so many roles even now.
In A Man on the Inside, Ted plays Charles, a retiree turned amateur private investigator, inspired by the 2020 documentary The Mole Agent by Maite Alberdi. The show, created by Michael Schur, gives the actor the chance to explore what it means to be funny, and in his words, “What is it like to be 76 and be funny, trying to be funny?… Oh my God, my greatest joy is to be funny possibly in every possible way I can.”
Ted also sees his role as a message of encouragement to others in their later years. “You can still do anything even at our age,” he said. He wants to show that creativity and productivity don’t have to slow down with age.
“…One of the things you have to teach them is how to die and how to live right up until you do. Don’t call it quits, don’t wind down, keep going. The world needs you,” he stated.
For Ted, A Man on the Inside sends a message of purpose and resilience, something he hopes for himself, too. “That’s what I want for myself,” he stated, adding that this theme is “one of the great messages of this piece.”
Fans can catch Ted in A Man on the Inside on Netflix on November 21, where he brings all his love for acting, humor, and life’s wisdom to the role of Charles. It’s a reminder that, in Ted’s words, “The world needs you” — no matter your age.
