Uzo Aduba Learns Surprising Connection to Ted Danson’s Family

Uzo Aduba, renowned for her role in ‘Orange is the New Black’, experienced an emotional revelation about a connection to actor Ted Danson during an appearance on the podcast “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” featuring Ted Danson and sometimes Woody Harrelson. This revelation was linked to Aduba’s late mother, Nonyem Aduba, who passed away four years ago from pancreatic cancer.

During the podcast, Ted Danson shared a poignant moment involving his wife, Mary Steenburgen, and Aduba’s manager, Eric Kranzler. Danson recounted receiving a phone call from Kranzler informing him about Nonyem’s diagnosis while Kranzler was in Vineyard Haven, visiting Danson and Steenburgen. “I don’t know if you knew this,” Danson said to Aduba, “but when you made that phone call to Eric, he was walking with Mary and me.” He added that Kranzler did not share the news with them at that time but later disclosed how and when he received Aduba’s call.

Aduba was visibly moved upon learning this, admitting, “You are telling me that—I did not know that at all. I’m getting a little choked up, so forgive me.” This incident follows Aduba’s heartfelt tribute to her mother on her birthday, in which she expressed deep admiration for Nonyem.

“Thanks for showing me how to do this job,” Aduba wrote in her tribute, reflecting on how she is raising her own family with husband Robert Sweeting. “I see you in so many of the parts. I’m so grateful for that,” she added.

This podcast episode also featured a conversation between Danson and his ‘The Good Place’ co-star, D’Arcy Carden, about Danson’s fears after filming the pilot episode of the iconic series ‘Cheers’.

Danson shared his emotional reaction to his performance, pulling aside director Jimmy Burrows and fearing he had performed poorly. Despite his fears, Danson went on to play the beloved bartender Sam Malone for eleven seasons from 1982 to 1993.