# Ted Wass
**Ted Wass** (birth name Edward Wass) is an American television director and former actor, born in 1952 in Lakewood, Ohio, best known for his acting roles as Danny Dallas on the sitcom *[Soap](https://www.edgepedia.org/soap-tv-series)* and Nick Russo on *Blossom*, and for a second career directing network sitcoms that began in 1992.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) • [6](https://www.archytele.com/person/ted-wass)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1952, Lakewood, Ohio[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) |
| Signature acting roles | Danny Dallas on *Soap* (ABC, 1977–81); Nick Russo on *Blossom* (NBC, 1990–95), appearing on 113 episodes by one count and 112 by another[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass) |
| Stage career | Broadway debut in the 1976 production of *Grease* as Danny Zuko; lead in Neil Simon's *They're Playing Our Song*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913637) • [5](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/) |
| Film roles | Sergeant Clifton Sleigh in *Curse of the Pink Panther* (1983), Vic Casey in *Sheena* (1984), Bobby Shelton in *Oh, God! You Devil* (1984)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) |
| Directing debut | 18 episodes of *Blossom* between 1992 and 1995, while still starring in the show[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) |
| Directing volume | 45 episodes of *Spin City*, 45 of *Rules of Engagement*, 17 of *Caroline in the City*, 16 of *Mom*, and episodes of *The Big Bang Theory*, *Two and a Half Men*, and *Scrubs*, among others[5](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass) |
| Marriages | Janet Margolin (an actress), married 1979, died December 17, 1993; Nina (a producer), married 1996; children Julian and Matilda from the first marriage[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wass-ted-1952) |
## Early life and training
Wass grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, and later moved to Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago. He is the son of John Wass, a retired pharmaceutical salesman, and Gail Wass, and has an older brother, Bob, an independent producer in Hollywood. At Glenbard West High School he appeared in the school's production of *West Side Story*, his first experience of theater.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass)
He studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago (part of [DePaul University](https://www.edgepedia.org/depaul-university)), graduating with honors, and was reported by a contemporary profile as the first male recipient of the Sarah Siddons Award there. At the Goodman Theatre he performed in plays including *Summer Brave*, *Romeo and Juliet*, and *Summer of the 17th Doll*. He also trained as a singer and dancer, and for eight years performed as lead singer and bass guitarist with a rock-and-roll band.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913637) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/)
## Acting career
**Stage.** Wass went to New York and was cast as understudy for the leading role of Danny Zuko in *Grease*, then took the role himself; sources differ on whether his 1976 Broadway debut was in the original production or as a replacement, with IMDb describing the original production and the entertainment writer Trav S.D. describing him as a replacement.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913637) • [5](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/) He followed it with the lead in *They're Playing Our Song* (1979–81), co-starring with [Diana Canova](https://www.edgepedia.org/diana-canova).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913637) • [5](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/)
**Television.** He broke into television in 1977 with a guest spot on *Family*, and that same year joined [Susan Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/susan-harris)'s satirical sitcom *Soap* as Danny Dallas, the mob-connected protective older brother of Jodie, the groundbreaking gay character played by [Billy Crystal](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-crystal); he remained with the series through its 1977–81 run.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) His next recurring role was Dr. Steven Ratajkowski on the short-lived ensemble drama *Men* (ABC, 1989), which was canceled after five episodes.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) • [5](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/) In 1990 he took the role of Nick Russo, father of the title character played by [Mayim Bialik](https://www.edgepedia.org/mayim-bialik), on the hit teen sitcom *Blossom*, appearing on 113 episodes by TV Insider's count (TVmaze lists 112) through the series' end in 1995.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass)
**Film and television movies.** His first theatrical film role was Sergeant Clifton Sleigh in [Blake Edwards](https://www.edgepedia.org/blake-edwards)'s *Curse of the Pink Panther* (1983), a character hired to track down [Inspector Clouseau](https://www.edgepedia.org/inspector-clouseau), played by [Roger Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/roger-moore) in a brief cameo after Peter Sellers's death. He then played sports journalist Vic Casey opposite Tanya Roberts in *Sheena* (1984) and appeared opposite George Burns in *Oh, God! You Devil* (1984), followed by *The Longshot* (1986), a Tim Conway comedy directed by Paul Bartel.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) • [5](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/) Between and after these he worked steadily in made-for-television movies, including *The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal* (1979), *I Was a Mail Order Bride* (1982), *Baby Sister* (1983), *Sins of the Father* (1985), *The Canterville Ghost* (1986), *Pancho Barnes* (1988), *Sparks: The Price of Passion* (1990), and *Triumph Over Disaster: The Hurricane Andrew Story* (1993), in which he played meteorologist Bryan Norcross.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wass-ted-1952) • [5](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/) His most recent acting credit listed by TVmaze is a two-episode guest role as Harley on *Call Me Kat* in 2021 and 2022.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass)
## Transition to directing
While still starring on *Blossom*, Wass began directing, helming 18 episodes of the show between 1992 and 1995, and he has worked as a television director continuously since making the shift.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) His early directing credits included six episodes of *Local Heroes* (Fox, 1996), a series canceled after five episodes aired, and ten episodes of *[Smart Guy](https://www.edgepedia.org/smart-guy)* (The WB, 1997–99).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/)
## Directing career
Wass became a prolific multicamera sitcom director. His largest documented runs include 45 episodes of the Emmy-winning Michael J. Fox sitcom *Spin City*, 45 episodes of *[Rules of Engagement](https://www.edgepedia.org/rules-of-engagement-tv-series)*, 17 episodes of *Caroline in the City*, and 13 of *The Jeff Foxworthy Show*.[5](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/) TVmaze credits him with 16 episodes of *Mom*, 9 of *2 Broke Girls*, 7 of *Two and a Half Men*, and 5 each of *I'm with Her*, *Two Guys and a Girl*, *Cristela*, and *Last Man Standing*.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass)
He also directed single episodes of prominent series, including *The Big Bang Theory* (episode 1x08, "The Grasshopper Experiment," November 12, 2007), *[Scrubs](https://www.edgepedia.org/scrubs-tv-series)* (episode 8x10, "My Comedy Show," February 10, 2009), and the pilot of *Gary Unmarried* (September 24, 2008).[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass) In 2007 alone he directed episodes of *The Big Bang Theory*, *Two and a Half Men*, *Everybody Hates Chris*, and *Rules of Engagement*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/) Beyond episodic work, Encyclopedia.com lists pilots he directed, including *My Guys* (CBS, 1996), *Less Than Perfect* (ABC, 2002), *I'm with Her* (ABC, 2003), and *Married to the Kellys* (ABC, 2003), and a single producing credit, the *Less Than Perfect* episode "Get Away" (2005).[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wass-ted-1952) His later credits include episodes of *The Odd Couple* (2015) and *Truth Be Told* (2015).[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass)
## Personal life
Wass married the actress [Janet Margolin](https://www.edgepedia.org/janet-margolin) in 1979; she died on December 17, 1993, during the run of *Blossom*. They had two children, Julian and Matilda; Julian Wass became a television writer, director, and film composer. In 1996 Wass married Nina, a producer.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wass-ted-1952)
## References
1. [Ted Wass – Director, Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ted-wass/)
2. [Ted Wass, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913637)
3. [Wass, Ted 1952–, Encyclopedia.com (Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wass-ted-1952)
4. [Ted Wass, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6517/ted-wass)
5. [Wassup? The Ted Wass Story, Travalanche (Trav S.D.)](https://travsd.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/whassup-ted-wass/)
6. [Ted Wass: Movies, TV Shows & Biography, archytele](https://www.archytele.com/person/ted-wass)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Film and television directors › Directors of the United States and Canada › Television directors › Live-action scripted television directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license