Ted McGinley

Overview

Theodore Martin 'Ted' McGinley was born on May 30, 1958 in Newport Beach, California. He is perhaps best known for his long-running roles in the television series Happy Days (1974), The Love Boat (1977), Dynasty (1981), Married... with Children (1987) and The West Wing (1999). Formerly a model, McGinley was spotted by a casting director after appearing in the magazine 'GQ', and was subsequently offered the role of Roger Phillips in Happy Days (1974). However, the veteran television star is no stranger to film either, having appeared in a string of features including Young Doctors in Love (1982), Revenge of the Nerds (1984), Wayne's World 2 (1993), Major League: Back to the Minors (1998) and Pearl Harbor (2001).
- IMDb mini biography by: Matt Lee-Williams

"Patron saint" of the website "Jump the Shark" (a phrase describing an event in a television show that viewers feel has caused it to irreparably stray from its original premise and marks the start of the show's decline) because of his frequent roles as a fresh or a replacement character shortly before the termination of many shows. However, Married... with Children (1987) was an exception as it ran for five and a half more seasons after he joined the cast.
Took a 16-year-old Brooke Shields to her Dwight Englewood senior prom in 1982.
Was the captain of the USC water polo team.
Before taking the role of Jefferson D'Arcy on Married... with Children (1987), he played Peggy's husband in a Christmas fantasy episode in which Al wonders what life would have been like if he had never been born. The episodes were It's a Bundyful Life Part 1 (1989) and It's a Bundyful Life Part 2 (1989).
Has two sons with his wife Gigi Rice: Beau Martin McGinley (B. May 25, 1994) and Quinn Thomas McGinley.

I don't know why, but I'm an easy target. And I don't do anything to dispel it.
I remember in high school trying to get home from water-polo practice in time so I could see Happy Days on television when it first came on, because I was so blown away by it. It was just such a cool thing.
I guess I just wasn't meant to dance.
Hollywood's all about, 'Let's make this easy: This is what you do, so you go over here in this group, and we're not gonna call you.'
I love my wife, I love my kids.

Suggest an edit or add missing content