Ted Danson, other notable Carnegie Mellon alumni offer congrats to new grads

More than 5,400 Carnegie Mellon University graduates received words of encouragement and kudos from notable alumni during an online degree conferral program Sunday.

Among them was actor Ted Danson, an alum of the CMU School of Drama.

“I’m sorry that we’re not all together in one spot. That would have been way more fun … ” Danson told the grads. “The good news is we don’t have to wear pants.”

The university plans to hold an in-person commencement on the Pittsburgh campus at a later date, but officials wanted to do something to honor the students who earned their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in the age of covid-19.

Officials said the online program was the first time CMU conferred degrees for the entire cohort of graduates at the same time around the world.

“None of you expected your last semester at CMU to play out like this, and I know it hasn’t been easy,” President Farnam Jahanian told the grads. “But you’ve approached these challenges with a sense of optimism and a spirit of perseverance that has inspired the entire CMU community.”

Danson, who graduated from the university in 1972, kicked off the conferral ceremony with a surprise cameo.

He told the grads about a recent visit to Pittsburgh during which he had the opportunity to talk to drama students. It was one of the most meaningful days he’s had in a long time, he said, because he didn’t feel like he was talking to students. He was talking to fellow artists.

“It was so clear to me, and that was invigorating,” said Danson, who is known for his role as Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom “Cheers.” “Evolution does work. You guys are so far ahead of where we were.”

“I hope we all get to work together someday,” Danson told his fellow actors. “To all the rest of you who may be biologists, engineers, scientists … please save our lives.”

The other CMU graduates who spoke were Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico; actress Ming-Na Wen, who voiced the main character in Disney’s “Mulan”; Tony- and Emmy-award winning performer Billy Porter; and actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr., who played the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical “Hamilton.”

Wen, wearing a T-shirt that said 2020, told the grads everything they have learned will help them be successful in their own careers.

“As the voice of Mulan, I would say to you, ‘Be true to your heart.’ Because if you do that, all your dreams will become reality,” Wen said.

Porter ended the ceremony by blowing all the grads a kiss.

“It’s time for you all to take over the world. It’s your turn now. We need you,” Porter said. “Go out and change the world.”