Q&A with Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen


Posted on Nov 14, 2007
By Glenn Close

Comments(3)
Mary and Ted with their dogs Arthur, Lulu and Roxy.
Mary and Ted with their dogs Arthur, Lulu and Roxy.
When I met Ted, twenty-three years ago, working on a movie for TV called Something About Amelia, he was well on his way to becoming one of the most loved actors of his generation. When we were brought together again this year, in F/X's Damages, Ted's risky, passionate, joyous work blew us all away. His gorgeous wife, Mary, is a sublimely inspirational actress. There is simply no one else like her. Together they are a formidable couple; passionately committed to their family, human rights issues and the environment. Perhaps they are most eloquent when talking (and laughing) about their dogs: Roxy, Lulu and Arthur. Billy, Jake and I are proud to have them all as our guests on LIVELY LICKS. - GC

Roxy, Lulu and Arthur; quite a dog posse.
Roxy, Lulu and Arthur; quite a dog posse.

GC: When did you become a dog lover?
TED: I didn't become a ferocious dog lover until after I met my wife's dog, Lucy, who was a rescued Australian Shepherd-Blue heeler cross from Ojai. She was an amazing dog who actually understood English. She was very demonstrative. She was very civilized until Mary and I started dancing together and Lucy's cattle dog instincts took over and she tried to tackle us and knock her over. We miss her every day of our lives. We've gone on to deeply love other dogs but we will miss her forever.

we're laugh junkies and we find our dogs endlessly humorous.GC: Why dogs?
T&M Because we're laugh junkies and we find our dogs endlessly humorous.

GC: Have you ever rescued a dog?
T&M: We rescued Lulu 10 miles outside of Todos Santos, Mexico in Baja. It was 3 months after Lucy (who was also a rescue dog) died. Mary woke up that morning saying, "Lucy will find us a dog today." Later that day, driving back from a restaurant, Mary suddenly shouted, "Stop!" She had seen a little face peering through a hole in an old adobe wall. We got out and tracked her down. She was running with a semi-wild pack of street dogs and, according to our vet, would have died in a few days. She was covered with fleas, lice, ticks and sores. It took her 8 months to recover. She is now our family's pride.


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Roxy and Lulu as angels.
Roxy and Lulu as angels.

GC: Do you ever take your dogs to work with you?
T&M: No, they draw too much attention away from us.

GC: Is there a secret that only your dogs know about you?
TED: That I love to pee outside with them.
MARY: That I have more pictures of them than Ted in my wallet.

GC: What is your dogs' pet peeve about you?
TED: That I kick all three of them off the bed when it's time to go to sleep.

GC: What is your pet peeve about your dog?
TED: Roxy could give a damn about what I think or want and has a total lack of gratitude.

Lulu and Roxy do the backstroke.
Lulu and Roxy do the backstroke.

GC: What is your favorite thing to do with your dog?
T&M:Synchronized swimming


GC: What do your dogs like most about you?
T&M: a) That we feed them. b) That we feed them. c) That we feed them.

GC: What is it that makes you most proud about your dog?
TED: They are such individual characters. They are hilarious together and they do take care of each other.
MARY: They're a great little dog posse

Arthur's life is a day at the beach.
Arthur's life is a day at the beach.

GC: Where do your dogs sleep?
T&M: On our bed until we go to sleep and then with pained expressions they will go to sleep on the sofas, preferably on any article of clothing we may have left out.

GC: Do your dogs have special talents?
Ted: Arthur actually hugs you.
Mary: People can't believe it when they see it. He literally puts his paws on either side of your neck, hugs you, crying all the while, telling you how much he loves you. It's pretty amazing. We call Lulu the nose because she has an incredible sense of smell. Roxy's talent is being able to hypnotize you into thinking you haven't fed her. She's able to watch TV and spot and bark at any animals - even in the back of the shot. If we need to leave her alone, we turn on Animal Planet and let her have at it.

Ted and the crew on the beach.
Ted and the crew on the beach.

GC: What kind of car would each dog drive?
Arthur: a Prius (because of his concern for the world)
Lulu: a 1954 Cadillac (just because)
Roxy: a Mack truck while smoking a cigar (because of her lack of concern for the world)

GC: What would be the title of your dogs' autobiographies?
Arthur: I'm A Lover, Not A Fighter
Lulu: My Life in Los Estados Unidos
Roxy: My Life As A Dowager Empress

GC: What musical instruments would your dogs play?
Arthur: cello
Lulu: castanets
Roxy: tuba

Mary on a boat with Arthur and Lulu.
Mary on a boat with Arthur and Lulu.

GC: What does your dog think about cats?
Arthur wants to play with them.
Lulu wants to eat them.
Roxy is affronted by them.

GC: What do your dogs think about politicians?
T&M: Arthur is a Democrat. Lulu is particularly interested in the candidate's stance on immigration policies. Roxy is an Independent. However, if they ever want to eat again, they'll vote for Hillary Clinton.

GC: If your dog were human, what would be his/her favorite movie?
Arthur: Crocodile Dundee
Lulu: Y Tu Mama Tambien
Roxy: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

GC: If your dog were a famous person, who would it be?
T&M: Arthur would be Crocodile Dundee. Lulu would be Freda Kahlo. Roxy would be Madam Chiang Kai Shek.

GC: What excites your dog the most?
Arthur : playing with other dogs
Lulu: chasing rabbits
Roxy: eating food

GC: Do your dogs like to dress up?
T&M: They love being a part of our Christmas cards. Roxy has been featured in the books, Wilson the Pug.

GC: What is your dogs' idea of perfect happiness?
T&M: Being with us.

GC: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
T&M: We're living it and we're grateful to these little creatures for sharing their lives with us and making us laugh every single day.
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Comments
They sound so much like our family! Our dogs, Buddy and Sophie, aka Queen Sophia, are totally spoiled and virtually human. Sophie sleeps on our bed - usually right between us -- but Buddy stays in his own little bed on the floor next to ours because he is a space hog and won't move when we want to turn over! Sophie watches over him and lets us know when he wants to potty. He's a giant baby to the point that the kids call him "The Goo" as in baby talk (gaga googoo). Speaking of the kids . . . they come home from school and talk to / play with the dogs long before they even think to greet their parents! :-) That's ok with me, though, because they are totally attached to them. Sophie even chewed the corner of the gate off so that she could look out from the backyard. They are only out there to potty or when we aren't home, of course. She chewed just far enough to stick her nose out and see who is going by the house. So the kids got used to saying, "Let's see the nose!" when we pull up on the driveway. When she sees that it is indeed my car, she runs back around the house and waits at the sliding glass door, with Buddy right behind her. If we got together with the Dansons, I'm sure that we would have a good, old-fashioned puppy love fest!! :-) They were both adopted from Pets 'n' Pals just south of Stockton, California, so here's a shout-out for that shelter. They are wonderful and never put an animal down. If it is not adopted, it lives out its days there. We had an Alaskan spitz, Snowball, for 13 years that we also adopted there. (The dumbest dog on the planet, but loyal and loving.) So three cheers for Pets 'n' Pals! BTW, love damages. Being a lawyer, I find it endlessly intriguing . . . and often far too reflective of real life.
Posted By JH
on Nov 17, 2007
One of Ted Dansons dogs looks like a Jack Russel Terrier. It is the spitting immage of mmmy dog that died last July. We loved him very much. I have been looking for one to replace him. Since they have three dogs, I think Ted and Mary should give him to me. (of course I am kidding). If anyone has a dog like that or knows where I can get one, let me know.
Posted By Ron
on Jun 6, 2008
Loved this blog. I'm new to this site, and just grazing around. Enjoyed hearing how Ted and Mary came across Lulu, very heartwarming. Thanks for posting it
Posted By Laura Jean
on Apr 1, 2009
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Welcome to LIVELY LICKS: Profiles of Dogs and their People.
I hope that you will be entertained, comforted and inspired by the people and dogs that I have the privilege of featuring on this blog. Since starting it over a year and a half ago, it has pulled me into an incredible journey. Besides being able to celebrate some of my wonderful friends and the profound bond they have with their dogs, LIVELY LICKS has introduced me to the world of avalanche dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, service dogs for our wounded warriors and dogs in need of rescue and adoption. I have been inspired by the selfless dedication of the people who run grassroots shelters as well as urban care and control centers. I have been deeply moved by their stories in which dogs heal and empower their humans. Those of us who have dogs, know how much they enhance our quality of life with their unquestioning loyalty and unconditional love. There are an infinite number of stories to tell, so I hope you will stay with me as I continue to explore and discover and delight in the journey.

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