Trailblazing Solar Architect Cassandra “Casey” Coates

Basic Information

Family & Personal Relationships

Cassandra Coates married actor Ted Danson on December 24, 1977.
They met in 1976 when Mary Steenburgen introduced them during a film project.
They had two daughters: Kate, born in December 1979, and Alexis, adopted in 1985.
When Kate was born in December 1979, Coates had a serious stroke that caused paralysis on her left side.
Danson took a six-month break from his career to care for Coates and their newborn daughter.
They stayed married until 1993 and their divorce settlement was $30 million.

Kate combined acting with work as a doula.
She married director Jesse Bochco and now lives in Ojai.
Alexis has a low-key music career under the names Kat Danson and Lux Lovelle.
One of her songs was featured on the TV show Dance Moms.

Career Journey & Achievements

Coates got her BFA in Environmental Design from Parsons in 1975.
After graduation, she joined the Cambridge firm of Ben Thompson.
In 1976, she moved to Los Angeles to work on President Jimmy Carter’s solar energy projects.
She advised on early federal renewable energy programs.
Over her career, she built two solar-powered homes in Los Angeles.
She still lives in one of these homes more than forty years later.

In 1987, Coates and Danson started the American Oceans Campaign to protect the seas.
In 1996, she founded Global Possibilities to spread renewable energy.
Her film “Who’s Got the Power?” won festival awards for explaining the fossil-fuel crisis and green solutions.
By 2005, her nonprofit had helped build over 50 community solar projects in California.

Board and Leadership Roles

• Parsons School of Design: She served on the board to guide environmental design courses.
• SCI-ARC: She advised on sustainable architecture programs.
• Environmental Media Association (EMA): She led workshops for Hollywood writers to add environmental themes to scripts.

Between 2000 and 2010, she ran more than 20 workshops to help writers include eco-stories in film and TV.

Public Image & Influence

Coates keeps a low profile online but is well known in eco-design circles.
A Newsweek feature in September 2024 praised her recovery after the 1979 stroke and her solar-energy vision.
Fans share her 1980s design sketches and photos of her solar homes on Instagram.
Her films and nonprofit work are used in university courses.
She is often invited to speak at environmental design events.
Her board roles and documentary work make her a leader in renewable architecture.

Recent Developments

There have been no new public architecture projects or nonprofit positions in 2025.
In July 2024, Ted Danson told NPR about their early marriage struggles, highlighting Coates’s stroke and recovery.
The New School is digitizing her oral histories and design archives for students.

FAQ

Who is Cassandra “Casey” Coates?

She is an environmental designer and architect famous for her solar-powered home designs and environmental nonprofits.

When and where was she born?

She was born on March 13, 1938, on Long Island, New York.

What education did she receive?

She graduated from Great Neck High School, attended Lasell College, and earned a BFA in Environmental Design at Parsons School of Design in 1975.

Who were her children?

Her daughters are Kate Danson (born 1979) and Alexis Danson (adopted 1985).

What major health challenge did she face?

In December 1979, she had a near-fatal stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side; she recovered over six months with her husband’s help.

What are her key architectural achievements?

She built two solar-powered homes in Los Angeles and advised on President Carter’s solar projects.

What nonprofit work has she done?

She co-founded the American Oceans Campaign in 1987 and started Global Possibilities in 1996, leading to over 50 solar community projects by 2005.

What recent recognition has she received?

A Newsweek article in September 2024 praised her tenacity and vision, and The New School is preserving her oral histories and designs.

References