Woody Harrelson Credits Ted Danson for Bandaging Him Up After Motorcycle Accident

Woody Harrelson attends HBO Special Screening of 'White House Plumbers' at U.S. Navy Memorial Theater in Washington on April 19, 2023. Paul Morigi/Getty Images for HBO

Woody Harrelson has opened up about a recent motorcycle accident, detailing how his longtime friend, Ted Danson, came to the rescue by bandaging up his wounds.

The two actors were scheduled to appear together on the June 16 episode of Conan O'Brien’s “Needs a Friend“ podcast. However, the interview was momentarily delayed after the ”Natural Born Killers“ star took a ”tumble” over the handlebars of his motorcycle while on his way to the podcast taping.

“I was passing this Tesla on the left that I felt was moving a little slow, but I didn’t realize he was moving slow because he’s taking a left,” the 62-year-old shared while humorously recounting the ordeal during the interview.

Mr. Harrelson noted that he preferred riding his motorcycle around Los Angeles because his travel times were generally shorter. “But today, it proved not to be so very fast in terms of transporting,” he joked.

Despite being thrown over the hood of the Tesla during the accident, the actor told Mr. O'Brien, 61, that he only suffered minor injuries. “There was some pain involved; I felt the pain,” he explained. “But I never thought I’d be, you know, killed or anything.”

Mr. Harrelson acknowledged that his injuries could have been more severe had he not been wearing protective gear.

“I was wearing a helmet. And so, actually, it did help me because I did hit my head, but [I was wearing] the helmet, so no problem,” he said, adding that the incident has inspired him to “slow down in life.”

Ted Danson to the Rescue

During the episode, Mr. O'Brien pointed out that Mr. Harrelson’s hand was “wrapped up like someone in a cartoon.”

“That’s ‘cause I wrapped it,” Mr. Danson, 76, replied. “I wrapped it, and I thought it looked funnier that way.”

Actors Woody Harrelson and Ted Danson during the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 21, 2018. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Turner

Expounding on the comical chain of events, Mr. Harrelson explained that he asked Mr. Danson to help tend to his injuries.

“We’re in the bathroom, and I’m like, ‘Didn’t you...you played a doctor, right?’ And he says, ‘Yeah, I also played a lawyer so we can sue the guy,’” Mr. Harrelson recalled, presumably referencing Mr. Danson’s role as Dr. John Becker on the sitcom “Becker,” which was on the air for six seasons, from November 1998 to January 2004.

“This is fascinating just to be behind the scenes and know that—Woody, you’re headed here to do the podcast with your friend, Ted Danson. You, uh, wipe out on the motorcycle, you hit a Tesla, you get it together, you come here, you need medical attention. So Ted Danson is the one that helps clean the wound and wrap you?” Mr. O'Brien asked incredulously.

The “White Men Can’t Jump” star remarked that he “never doubted” Mr. Danson’s abilities for a second. “His confidence, his demeanor, everything about the way he does it is you feel like, ‘Yes, I’m in the best hands,’” he said.

‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name’

Mr. Harrelson and Mr. Danson were costars over three decades ago, both landing their breakthrough roles on NBC’s popular ‘80s sitcom “Cheers,” which chronicled the lives of employees and patrons at a fictional bar in Boston of the same name.

Mr. Danson portrayed the leading role of Sam Malone—a bartender and former Major League Baseball player—from the show’s inception, while Mr. Harrelson, who played bartender Woody Boyd, joined the cast during the show’s fourth season following the death of castmate Nicholas Colasanto. The late actor played the character Ernie Pantusso, Malone’s former baseball coach who becomes a bartender at Cheers, up until his death in February 1985. Mr. Colasanto passed away from a heart attack at the age of 61.

Reflecting on Mr. Harrelson’s first appearance on the show, Mr. Danson said “he hit a home run.”

“I mean, your first joke was through the roof,” he continued. “You nailed it.”

“It was the greatest reception I could imagine. Everybody was so lovely, so kind,” Mr. Harrelson said of his time on the sitcom. “I just saw all these guys dealing with the loss of their dear friend and teammate. But boy, they couldn’t have been nicer. It was the most wonderful job.”

Actors Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif., April 6, 1993. Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

The duo recently teamed up to launch their own podcast, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name With Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (Sometimes).”

The show, which premiered on June 12, pays homage to the iconic “Cheers” theme song.

“Though I’ve always dreaded small talk at a cocktail party, I’ve found that it is a genuine privilege to sit down with someone for a deep, uninterrupted conversation. With this podcast, we’ll do just that,” Mr. Danson shared in a statement.

“And that I get to do it with Woody, my dear friend of many decades, is the cherry on top of the sundae,” he continued. “Each week, we’ll reflect on our own friendship and careers, and get to the core of the special guests who join us. I can’t wait for you to listen.”