Kate Danson Biography | Career, Family and Personal Life
Kate Danson is an American actress, director, producer, and photographer known for her work in television, film, and theater. She is also recognized as the eldest daughter of actor Ted Danson and interior designer Casey Coates. Her career includes guest roles, independent projects, and work supporting families as a birth and postpartum doula.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Katherine Danson |
| Known as | Kate Danson |
| Date of birth | December 24, 1979 |
| Age | 46 as of October 29, 2026 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Ted Danson and Casey Coates |
| Sister | Alexis Danson, also known as Katrina |
| Professions | Actress, director, producer, photographer, and doula |
| Known projects | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Raising the Bar, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog |
| Former spouse | Jesse Bochco |
Early Life and Family Background
Born in Los Angeles on December 24, 1979, Kate Danson grew up in a family connected to the entertainment world. Her father, Ted Danson, became widely known for television roles including Sam Malone on Cheers, while her mother, Casey Coates, worked as an interior designer. Kate has maintained a more private public profile than her father, even as she built a creative career of her own.
Growing up in a blended family
Kate is Ted Danson and Casey Coates’s older daughter. The couple later adopted a second daughter, Alexis, who is also known as Katrina. After Ted Danson and Coates divorced in 1993, Ted married actor Mary Steenburgen in 1995. Steenburgen became Kate’s stepmother, and Kate became part of a blended family that also includes Steenburgen’s children, Lilly and Charlie McDowell.
Having a famous parent can bring public attention before a person has chosen a career. Kate’s professional record, however, includes work in several creative fields, rather than relying only on her family connection. She has acted on screen and on stage, worked behind the camera, and developed interests outside traditional entertainment.
Kate Danson’s Acting Career
Kate began appearing in screen projects while still young and later took on television, film, and theater work. Her roles have included guest appearances and independent productions. Although her filmography is smaller than that of many leading television actors, it shows a steady interest in performance and in the creative work that supports a production.
Early screen appearances
One of Kate’s early screen credits was a small role in the film Cousins, released in 1989. Later credits include the legal drama Raising the Bar, in which she played Lara Lawson, and the online musical comedy Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, where she appeared as Tie-Die in 2008. These projects placed her in different formats, from a network television drama to a short-form musical comedy.
Working on CSI with her father
Kate appeared in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Jill McDermott in episodes during the show’s later seasons. One appearance brought her into a scene opposite her father, Ted Danson, who joined the series as D.B. Russell. The shared project offered a rare chance for the two to work together professionally, while Kate still played a character with her own place in the story.
Film and television projects
Other credits associated with Kate include The Protector, The Wrights, The Dinner Party, Kemper, and Alien Theory. These projects span television, independent film, and genre work. As with many performers who work across independent productions, individual projects may have limited distribution or visibility, but they contribute to the range of experience reflected in her career.
Work Behind the Camera and in Theater
Kate’s interests extend beyond acting. She has worked as a producer and director, and her theater work has included both performance and production responsibilities. Moving between these roles allows her to take part in the process of shaping a story, from the work of performers to the practical choices involved in bringing a production to an audience.
Theater and creative collaboration
In 2017, Kate joined Triptych Theatre as a co-artistic director. The company produced plays during its 2017 to 2018 season, including Nocturne by Adam Rapp and a series of one-act plays by John Patrick Shanley. Kate made her directing debut on Shanley’s piece Tennessee. Her theater credits also include French Waitress and The Drowning Girls, demonstrating her involvement in both contemporary plays and ensemble productions.
Directing Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men
Kate has been connected with Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men, a project based on a play by Melissa K. and developed through staged readings and a later screen adaptation. She directed a fundraising staged reading at the Wallis Annenberg Theater in 2019, and coverage of her later work has described a 2021 film version as one of her notable directing projects. The work centers on conversations and advice passed between generations, giving Kate an opportunity to work with material focused on family and relationships.
Photography and Doula Work
Alongside her work in entertainment, Kate has pursued photography and birth-related support. She has described herself professionally as a photographer and a birth and postpartum doula. A doula provides nonmedical emotional, practical, and informational support to a person and family during pregnancy, birth, and the period after a baby arrives.
These roles differ from acting and directing, but they share a focus on listening, preparation, and working closely with people. Kate’s doula work also shows that her professional interests are not limited to Hollywood productions. Public information about her private practice and clients is limited, so specific claims about the size or scope of that work should be treated carefully.
Marriage and Personal Life
Kate’s personal life has received occasional attention because of her family background, but she generally keeps details away from the public spotlight. The clearest public information concerns her marriage and the family relationships that have been reported by established entertainment outlets.
Marriage to Jesse Bochco
Kate married television director and producer Jesse Bochco on September 26, 2009. Public biographical records list the marriage as ending in divorce in 2015. Jesse Bochco is known for his work in television and is the son of influential television producer Steven Bochco. Kate has not made her private life the main focus of her public identity, and details beyond these reported milestones are not widely documented.
Her relationship with Ted Danson
Kate and Ted Danson have occasionally appeared together at public events and shared screen time on CSI. In 2026, she accompanied her father to the Actor Awards, a rare public outing that drew attention to their close family bond. Kate has spoken warmly about him in interviews, describing him as funny and as a caring father and grandfather.
Public Profile and Career Today
Kate Danson maintains a lower profile than many people connected to major Hollywood stars. Her work has crossed acting, directing, producing, photography, theater, and doula support, but she has not built a public image around frequent interviews or celebrity news. This varied path makes her biography broader than a conventional account of an actor’s screen credits.
Her career is best understood through the range of roles she has taken on and the independent projects she has helped bring to life. Publicly available information does not establish a reliable personal net worth, and estimates that appear on low-quality celebrity websites should not be treated as confirmed financial facts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kate Danson
Who is Kate Danson?
Kate Danson is an American actress, director, producer, and photographer. She is also known as the eldest daughter of actor Ted Danson and Casey Coates.
How old is Kate Danson?
Kate Danson was born on December 24, 1979. She is 46 years old as of October 29, 2026, and will turn 47 in December 2026.
Who are Kate Danson’s parents?
Her parents are actor Ted Danson and interior designer Casey Coates. Her younger sister is Alexis Danson, also known as Katrina.
Was Kate Danson married to Jesse Bochco?
Yes. Kate Danson married television director and producer Jesse Bochco in September 2009. Public biographies report that they divorced in 2015.
What shows and films has Kate Danson appeared in?
Her screen credits include CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Raising the Bar, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, The Dinner Party, Kemper, and Alien Theory. She has also worked in theater.
What does Kate Danson do besides acting?
Kate has worked as a director, producer, photographer, and birth and postpartum doula. Her theater work has included serving as a co-artistic director with Triptych Theatre.
Conclusion
Kate Danson’s career reflects a mix of performance, creative leadership, and work outside the entertainment industry. While her connection to Ted Danson often brings public interest, her own experience includes television roles, theater projects, directing, photography, and doula support. The range of these pursuits offers a fuller picture of a creative professional who has chosen several ways to work with stories and people.
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