Ted Danson was presented with the Carol Burnett Award at the 2025 Golden Globes’ inaugural Golden Gala on Jan. 3, celebrating the Cheers alum for his extraordinary television career.
Everybody definitely knows Ted Danson‘s name at the 2025 Golden Globes.
The Cheers alum was bursting with gratitude as he accepted the Carol Burnett Award during the inaugural Golden Gala on Jan. 3 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
“I have to admit I’ve always had a confusing relationship with awards,” the 77-year-old told the audience, as seen in footage from the event obtained by Gold Derby. “If I win, I feel a little embarrassed and lonely. If I don’t win, I feel a little embarrassed and lonely. But not tonight, not tonight.”
Ted—who received the award from his wife of nearly 20 years Mary Steenburgen—then turned toward the award’s namesake Carol Burnett and added, “I am so thrilled to get this award, Carol. I cannot tell you how much it means to me. You have brought so much joy and happiness into households all over the world. You radiate kindness. I love you so much.”
For her part, the Carol Burnett Show alum returned the sentiment, shouting from the crowd, “I love you.”
Continuing his speech, Ted reflected on his career, saying, “As Sam Malone said, I truly am the luckiest son of a b—h I’ve ever met, and Carol, you know what’s wonderful about this award is that every year we are gathered together to celebrate laughter and joy, we will celebrate you, Carol, and we will celebrate all the funny men and women that came before us.”
Ted and Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient Viola Davis also received a special shout out during the Jan. 5 ceremony hosted by Nikki Glaser. (Find out all the winners of the 2025 Golden Globes here.)
The Good Place actor is only the fifth person to receive the honor, which is presented to those who have made outstanding contributions to television, on or off screen, and is chosen based on the impact of their career on both the industry and audiences. Former recipients include the award’s first winner Carol Burnett, in 2019, Ellen DeGeneres in 2020, Norman Lear in 2021 and Ryan Murphy in 2023.
And as Helen Hoehne, President of the Golden Globes, explained, it only made sense that Ted be the next honoree, adding to his three Globes from years past.
“Ted Danson has entertained audiences for decades with his iconic performances that will forever be ingrained in television history,” she said in a Dec. 2 press release. “His renowned career is a testament to his remarkable talent and versatility as an actor and bears resemblance to the award’s legendary namesake.”
And of course, Ted was incredibly appreciative of the award even before receiving it.
“I would be happy with a cookie named after Carol Burnett,” he joked to Variety in an interview published Jan. 2. “I love her, I adore her, I respect her so much.”
And despite his already historic career and 12 Golden Globe nominations—including one this year for Best Actor in a TV series, Musical or Comedy, for A Man on the Inside alongside fellow nominees Steve Martin (Only Murders in The Building), Jason Segel, (Shrinking), Martin Short (Only Murders in The Building), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) and Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This)—Ted is still finding new ways to approach the roles he takes on.
“My joy, the thing that makes me happiest in a script or in life, is if you can find the laugh in the sadness,” he told Variety. “Or if it’s a drama, if you can find the laugh underneath it.”
Ted added, “If it’s a comedy, I want to know that there’s sadness at the bottom of that funny. That’s my favorite kind of thing to act.”
But Ted wasn’t the only one picking up a golden statue at the show. Keep reading to see all the winners from the 2025 Golden Globes.
Best Motion Picture—Drama
WINNER: The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nickel Boys
September 5
Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy
Anora
Challengers
WINNER: Emilia Pérez
A Real Pain
The Substance
Wicked
Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, Nightbitch
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
WINNER: Demi Moore, The Substance
Zendaya, Challengers
Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama
Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl
Angelina Jolie, Maria
Nicole Kidman, Babygirl
Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door
WINNER: Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Kate Winslet, Lee
Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama
WINNER: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Daniel Craig, Queer
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Best Supporting Actress—Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Dakota Fanning, Ripley
WINNER: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer
Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country
Best Actress in a Television Series—Drama
Kathy Bates, Matlock
Emma D’Arcy, House of the Dragon
Maya Erskine, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Keira Knightley, Black Doves
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
WINNER: Anna Sawai, Shogun
Best Supporting Actress—Motion Picture
Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Margaret Qualley, The Substance
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
WINNER: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
The Gentlemen
WINNER: Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
Best Miniseries or Motion Picture—Television
WINNER: Baby Reindeer
Disclaimer
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The Penguin
Ripley
True Detective
Best Television Series—Drama
The Day of the Jackal
The Diplomat
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
WINNER: Shogun
Slow Horses
Squid Game
Best Supporting Actor—Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
WINNER: Tadanobu Asano, Shogun
Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
Diego Luna, La Máquina
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture—Television
WINNER: Colin Farrell, The Penguin
Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Kevin Kline, Disclaimer
Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Ewan McGregor, A Gentleman in Moscow
Andrew Scott, Ripley
Best Actor in a Television Series—Drama
Donald Glover, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Jake Gyllenhaal, Presumed Innocent
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Eddie Redmayne, The Day of the Jackal
WINNER: Hiroyuki Sanada, Shogun
Billy Bob Thornton, Landman
Best Supporting Actor—Motion Picture
Yura Borisov, Anora
WINNER: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Denzel Washington, Gladiator II
Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Hugh Grant, Heretic
Gabriel LaBelle, Saturday Night
Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness
Glen Powell, Hit Man
WINNER: Sebastian Stan, A Different Man
Best Actress in a Television Series—Musical or Comedy
Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Kathryn Hahn, Agatha All Along
WINNER: Jean Smart, Hacks
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture—Television
Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
WINNER: Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
Sofía Vergara, Griselda
Naomi Watts, Feud Capote vs. the Swans
Kate Winslet, The Regime
Best Actor in a Television Series—Musical or Comedy
Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside
Steve Martin, Only Murders in The Building
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in The Building
WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Best Motion Picture—Animated
WINNER: Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Moana 2
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Best Original Song—Motion Picture
“Beautiful That Way,” The Last Showgirl
“Compress/Repress,” Challengers
WINNER: “El Mal,“ Emilia Pérez
“Forbidden Road,” Better Man
“Kiss the Sky,” The Wild Robot
“Mi Camino,” Emilia Pérez
Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement—Motion Picture
Alien: Romulus
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Deadpool & Wolverine
Gladiator 2
Inside Out 2
Twisters
WINNER: Wicked
The Wild Robot
Source: www.eonline.com