Ted Danson, the actor immortalized by his role as a bartender in the sitcom, Cheers, will write a book for Rodale Books that takes a “celebratory and cautionary look at the world’s oceans.”

David Kuhn of Kuhn Projects negotiated the deal, and Rodale publishing director, Colin Dickerman, acquired world rights. It is scheduled for winter 2011. Danson helped create the American Oceans Campaign in the 1980s, and has a history of activism in the field. In a meta-fictional twist, Danson now co-stars in “Bored to Death,” a television show written by a novelist about the imaginary life of a writer.

Here’s more from the release: “[In] 1987, while walking along the California coastline with his daughter and seeing a ‘Beach Closed’ sign, that the issue really hit home. Danson was saddened to find himself having to explain that pollution was responsible for the closing of the beach. Since then, he’s made it his mission to ensure that those conversations don’t continue to happen. Written with award-winning journalist Mike D’Orso, Danson’s book represents a culmination of more than two decades of study, activism, and teaching and will provide a decisive, inspiring, and hopeful look at one of the most important environmental concerns of our time.”