Ted McGinley
Encyclopedia
Theodore Martin "Ted" McGinley (born May 30, 1958) is an American
actor
. He is perhaps best known for his role as Jefferson D'Arcy on the television series Married... with Children
and as Charley Shanowski on the ABC sitcom Hope & Faith
. He was also a regular
on Happy Days
and The Love Boat
.
, McGinley attended University of Southern California
on a water polo
scholarship where he played for the U.S. Junior National team, and was a member of Sigma Chi
Fraternity.
, he was cast in comedy series Happy Days
as Roger Phillips (nephew of the Cunninghams), a role he played from 1980-1984. During the run of Happy Days, he landed a role in the 1982 comedy Young Doctors in Love
. After Happy Days ended in 1984, McGinley appeared in Revenge of the Nerds
where he played Stanley Gable, the head of the jock-run Alpha Beta fraternity and the primary antagonist of the Lambda Lambda Lambda nerd fraternity; he reprised the role in the third and fourth movies in the "Nerds" franchise, both produced for television. He went on to appear in regular roles in television series including The Love Boat
and Dynasty
. He then went into the role of Jefferson D'Arcy on Married... with Children
from 1991-1997. He had recurring roles on Aaron Sorkin
's TV shows Sports Night
, as Dana's boyfriend Gordon, and The West Wing as a TV news anchor. From 2003-2006, he played Charley Shanowski on Hope & Faith.
McGinley has been called "the patron saint
of shark-jumping
" by jumptheshark.com founder Jon Hein
. This is a reference to the popular and enduring shows which have featured him in their declining years often to replace a departing regular castmember. Such shows include Happy Days, The Love Boat and Dynasty. Hein writes that this is not a comment "on Ted's fine acting skills" and that "he has a great sense of humor about it, too". In one episode of Married... with Children (a show that stayed on the air for six seasons after McGinley's addition to the cast) McGinley himself spoofed this fact by asking Al "Another picture, captain? I mean, Fonzie? ....Al?". A 2003 issue of People
that focused on McGinley's casting on Hope and Faith was titled "Ted McGinley Is Not a Killer", referencing his reputation for causing shows to jump the shark, though his long involvement with Married... with Children
suggests otherwise; his contributions may have enabled the series to have a longer and more successful run with many fans preferring him to his predecessor.
In 2008, McGinley became a contestant on the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars, and was paired with pro dancer Inna Brayer
. Ted was the second to be eliminated in the competition.
with whom he has two children. One of his children is son Beau, born in 1994.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is perhaps best known for his role as Jefferson D'Arcy on the television series Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
and as Charley Shanowski on the ABC sitcom Hope & Faith
Hope & Faith
Hope & Faith is an American sitcom that aired for three seasons on ABC from September 26, 2003, to May 2, 2006. For its first two seasons the show was part of a revived TGIF comedy block....
. He was also a regular
on Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
and The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
.
Early life
Born in Newport Beach, CaliforniaNewport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, McGinley attended University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
on a water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
scholarship where he played for the U.S. Junior National team, and was a member of Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
Fraternity.
Career
McGinley began his career in modeling. After a casting director spotted a picture of him in GQGQ (magazine)
GQ is a monthly men's magazine focusing on fashion, style, and culture for men, through articles on food, movies, fitness, sex, music, travel, sports, technology, and books...
, he was cast in comedy series Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
as Roger Phillips (nephew of the Cunninghams), a role he played from 1980-1984. During the run of Happy Days, he landed a role in the 1982 comedy Young Doctors in Love
Young Doctors in Love
Young Doctors in Love is a 1982 comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. Similar in tone to the Airplane! movies, it spoofs a variety of medical shows ....
. After Happy Days ended in 1984, McGinley appeared in Revenge of the Nerds
Revenge of the Nerds
Revenge of the Nerds is a 1984 comedy film satirizing social life on a college campus. The film stars Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards, with Curtis Armstrong, Ted McGinley, Julia Montgomery, Brian Tochi, Larry B. Scott, John Goodman, and Donald Gibb...
where he played Stanley Gable, the head of the jock-run Alpha Beta fraternity and the primary antagonist of the Lambda Lambda Lambda nerd fraternity; he reprised the role in the third and fourth movies in the "Nerds" franchise, both produced for television. He went on to appear in regular roles in television series including The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
and Dynasty
Dynasty (TV series)
Dynasty is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989. It was created by Richard & Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, and revolved around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver, Colorado...
. He then went into the role of Jefferson D'Arcy on Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
from 1991-1997. He had recurring roles on Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Benjamin Sorkin is an Academy and Emmy award winning American screenwriter, producer, and playwright, whose works include A Few Good Men, The American President, The West Wing, Sports Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Social Network, and Moneyball.After graduating from Syracuse...
's TV shows Sports Night
Sports Night
Sports Night is an American television series about a fictional sports news show also called Sports Night. It focuses on the friendships, pitfalls, and ethical issues the creative talent of the program face while trying to produce a good show under constant network pressure...
, as Dana's boyfriend Gordon, and The West Wing as a TV news anchor. From 2003-2006, he played Charley Shanowski on Hope & Faith.
McGinley has been called "the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of shark-jumping
Jumping the shark
Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery....
" by jumptheshark.com founder Jon Hein
Jon Hein
Jon Hein is an American radio personality and former webmaster. He created the now-defunct website jumptheshark.com and currently works for The Howard Stern Show. Hein is an alumnus of the University of Michigan where he appeared in the sketch comedy troupe Comedy Company with Jon Glaser...
. This is a reference to the popular and enduring shows which have featured him in their declining years often to replace a departing regular castmember. Such shows include Happy Days, The Love Boat and Dynasty. Hein writes that this is not a comment "on Ted's fine acting skills" and that "he has a great sense of humor about it, too". In one episode of Married... with Children (a show that stayed on the air for six seasons after McGinley's addition to the cast) McGinley himself spoofed this fact by asking Al "Another picture, captain? I mean, Fonzie? ....Al?". A 2003 issue of People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
that focused on McGinley's casting on Hope and Faith was titled "Ted McGinley Is Not a Killer", referencing his reputation for causing shows to jump the shark, though his long involvement with Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
suggests otherwise; his contributions may have enabled the series to have a longer and more successful run with many fans preferring him to his predecessor.
In 2008, McGinley became a contestant on the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars, and was paired with pro dancer Inna Brayer
Inna Brayer
Inna Brayer is a Brooklyn-based amateur ballroom dancer competing in the International 10-Dance division. She is best known for being the 2007 Amateur USA Dance National 10-Dance Champions with her partner, Pasha Pashkov...
. Ted was the second to be eliminated in the competition.
Personal life
McGinley is married to actress Gigi RiceGigi Rice
Gigi Rice is an American actress in movies and television shows.-Early life:She graduated from the Ohio State University, and majored in Theatre. Gigi Rice has enjoyed a career on television, gaining national attention when she was added to the cast of the The John Larroquette Show in 1993...
with whom he has two children. One of his children is son Beau, born in 1994.
Film and television
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love Young Doctors in Love Young Doctors in Love is a 1982 comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. Similar in tone to the Airplane! movies, it spoofs a variety of medical shows .... |
Dr. Bucky DeVol | |
| 1984 | Revenge of the Nerds Revenge of the Nerds Revenge of the Nerds is a 1984 comedy film satirizing social life on a college campus. The film stars Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards, with Curtis Armstrong, Ted McGinley, Julia Montgomery, Brian Tochi, Larry B. Scott, John Goodman, and Donald Gibb... |
Stan Gable | |
| 1989 | Physical Evidence | Kyle | |
| 1991 | Blue Tornado Blue Tornado (film) Blue Tornado is a 1991 Italian action-thriller directed by Antonio Bido. It stars Dirk Benedict, Ted McGinley and Patsy Kensit.-Plot:In the course of experimenting a new flight maneuver, two pilots, Colonel Alex Long and Philip encounter a mysterious light beyond a mountain range. Phil becomes... |
Phillip | |
| 1992 | Space Case | Biff | Alternative title: Alien Invasion |
| 1993 | Wayne's World 2 Wayne's World 2 Wayne's World 2 is a 1993 comedy film starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as hosts of a Public-access television cable TV show from Aurora, Illinois. The film was adapted from a sketch on NBC's Saturday Night Live and is the sequel to Wayne's World.... |
Mr. Scream | |
| 1994 | Wild Justice | Aubrey Billings | Alternative titles: Covert Assassin & Dial |
| 1998 | Follow Your Heart | James Allen Bailey | |
| Major League: Back to the Minors Major League: Back to the Minors Major League: Back to the Minors is a 1998 film, distributed by Warner Bros., directed and written by John Warren, with David S. Ward taking the co-writer duties. It is the third film in the Major League series.-Cast:... |
Leonard Huff | Alternative title: Major League III | |
| 1999 | Dick Dick (film) Dick is a 1999 American comedy film directed by Andrew Fleming from a script he wrote with Sheryl Longin. It is a parody retelling the events of the Watergate scandal which ended the presidency of Richard Nixon and features several cast members from Saturday Night Live.Kirsten Dunst and Michelle... |
Roderick | |
| The Big Tease The Big Tease The Big Tease is a 1999 comedy film starring Craig Ferguson, directed by Kevin Allen, and written by Ferguson and Sacha Gervasi.- Plot :Ferguson plays Crawford Mackenzie, a Scottish hairdresser who, while being filmed as part of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, is invited to the World Hairdresser... |
Johnny Darjerling | ||
| 2000 | Face the Music | Marcus | |
| Daybreak | Dillon Johansen | Alternative title: Rapid Transit | |
| 2001 | Cahoots | Brad | |
| Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor (film) Pearl Harbor is a 2001 American action drama war film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Randall Wallace, who wrote the screenplay... |
Army major | ||
| 2007 | The Storm Awaits | Vale NewCastle | |
| 2008 | Eavesdrop Eavesdrop (film) -Plot:The film is centered on an old world Manhattan cafe during a busy brunch shift. A number of patrons populate the cafe, with patrons at each table representing a different genre of film, such as romantic comedy and tragedy... |
Grant | |
| Privileged | Mr. Webber | ||
| 2010 | Christmas with a Capital C Christmas with a Capital C Christmas with a Capital C is a 2010 Christian-themed film directed by Helmut Schleppi. The film's plot was based on a song of the same name by Christian band Go Fish, which in turn was inspired by one of actor Brad Stine's stand-up comedy routines... |
Dan Reed | |
| Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster is a live action/CGI television film by Warner Premiere for Cartoon Network based on the Saturday morning cartoon series Scooby-Doo by Hanna-Barbera. It is the fourth live-action Scooby-Doo film... |
Thornton "Thorny" Blake V | ||
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980–1984 | Happy Days Happy Days Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America.... |
Roger Phillips | 61 episodes |
| 1982 | Fantasy Island Fantasy Island Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:... |
Errol Brookfield III | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Herndon | Shack Shackleford | Unknown episodes |
| Making of a Male Model Making of a Male Model Making of a Male Model is a 1983 American TV movie starring Joan Collins and Jon-Erik Hexum. It was produced by ABC and released on October 9, 1983.-Plot:... |
Gary Angelo | Television movie Television movie A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to... |
|
| 1984–1986 | The Love Boat | Photographer Ashley "Ace" Covington Evans | Unknown episodes, Seasons 8-9 |
| 1985–1987 | Hotel Hotel (TV series) Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty.... |
Kyle Stanton | 3 episodes |
| 1986–1987 | Dynasty Dynasty (TV series) Dynasty is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989. It was created by Richard & Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, and revolved around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver, Colorado... |
Clay Fallmont | 34 episodes |
| 1988 | Perfect Strangers Perfect Strangers (TV series) Perfect Strangers is an American sitcom that ran for eight seasons from March 25, 1986, to August 6, 1993, on the ABC television network. Created by Dale McRaven, the series chronicles the rocky coexistence of midwestern American Larry Appleton and his distant cousin from eastern Mediterranean... |
Billy Appleton | 1 episode |
| 1989 | B.L. Stryker | Mitch Slade | 2 episodes |
| 1989–1997 | Married... with Children Married... with Children Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created... |
Jefferson D'Arcy | 164 episodes |
| 1990 | Evening Shade Evening Shade Evening Shade was an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from 1990 to 1994. The series starred Burt Reynolds as Wood Newton, an ex-professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who returns to rural Evening Shade, Arkansas to coach a high school football team with a long... |
Kyle Hampton | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Baby Talk | Craig Palmer | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation is a 1992 sequel to the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds.-Plot:In the beginning of the movie a new generation of nerds rule the Adams College campus, upholding the traditions of nerds from the first film. The Alpha Betas are now respectful of the nerds'... |
Dean Stanley Gable | Television movie |
| 1993 | Wild Justice | Aubrey Billings | Television movie |
| Linda | Brandon "Jeff" Jeffries | Television movie | |
| 1994 | Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love is a 1994 sequel to the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds and the follow-up films in 1987 and 1992.-Plot:... |
Stan Gable | Television movie |
| 1995 | Dream On Dream On (TV series) Dream On is an American adult-themed situation comedy about single New Yorker, Martin Tupper. The show used a gimmick where old black and white clips were used to punctuate the main character's feelings or thoughts... |
1 episode | |
| Tails You Live, Heads You're Dead | Jeffrey Quint | Television movie | |
| 1995–1996 | The John Larroquette Show The John Larroquette Show The John Larroquette Show is a situation comedy that ran on the NBC network from 1993 to 1996. The show, created by Don Reo, was a vehicle for John Larroquette following his run as Dan Fielding on Night Court. The series took place in a seedy bus terminal in St. Louis, Missouri and focused on the... |
Karl Reese | 4 episodes |
| 1996 | Deadly Web | Peter Lawrence | Television movie |
| 1998 | Every Mother's Worst Fear | Scanman | Television movie |
| 1998–1999 | Sports Night Sports Night Sports Night is an American television series about a fictional sports news show also called Sports Night. It focuses on the friendships, pitfalls, and ethical issues the creative talent of the program face while trying to produce a good show under constant network pressure... |
Gordon | 8 episodes |
| 1999 | Work with Me Work with Me Work with Me is an American situation comedy television series starring Kevin Pollack and Nancy Travis as two attorneys who are married and work together. The series premiered September 29, 1999, on CBS... |
Murray Epstein | 1 episode |
| Hard Time: Hostage Hotel | FBI Agent Hopkins | Television movie | |
| 2000–2001 | The West Wing | Mark Gottfried | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | The Practice The Practice The Practice is an American legal drama created by David E. Kelley centering on the partners and associates at a Boston law firm. Running for eight seasons from 1997 to 2004, the show won the Emmy in 1998 and 1999 for Best Drama Series, and spawned the successful and lighter spin-off series Boston... |
Michael Hale | 1 episode |
| 2002 | Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) Wednesday 9:30 is an American sitcom which aired on ABC in 2002. The series was created by Peter Tolan.-Premise:... |
Ted Wayne Giblen | 1 episode |
| 2002–2003 | Justice League Justice League (TV series) Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics... |
Various (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Family Curse | Television movie | |
| Frozen Impact | Dan Blanchard | Television movie | |
| The Proud Family The Proud Family The Proud Family is an American animated television series that premiered on Disney Channel from September 15, 2001 to August 19, 2005.-Production:... |
Lance McDougal (voice) | 1 episode | |
| 2003–2006 | Hope & Faith Hope & Faith Hope & Faith is an American sitcom that aired for three seasons on ABC from September 26, 2003, to May 2, 2006. For its first two seasons the show was part of a revived TGIF comedy block.... |
Charley Shanowski | 55 episodes |
| 2004 | NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323 | Reese Faulkner | Television movie |
| 2007 | Family Guy Family Guy Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian... |
Voice | 1 episode |
| 'Til Death 'Til Death ’Til Death is an American sitcom which aired on the Fox network from September 7, 2006, to June 20, 2010. The series was created by husband-and-wife team Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, who were also the writers and executive-producers... |
Webby | 1 episode | |
| The Note The Note (film) The Note is a television movie directed by Douglas Barr and starring Genie Francis and Ted McGinley. The movie aired on Hallmark Channel in December 2007. It is based on the novel by Angela Hunt. It was filmed on location in Hamilton, Ontario.... |
King | Television movie | |
| 2008 | Dancing with the Stars Dancing with the Stars Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries... |
Self | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Psych Psych Psych is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks and broadcast on USA Network. It stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observational skills" and impressive detective instincts... |
Randy Labayta | 1 episode |
| Taking a Chance on Love Taking a Chance on Love (film) Taking a Chance on Love is the sequel to the hit Hallmark Channel television movie The Note that aired on January 31, 2009. The film was written by Douglas Barr... |
King | Television Movie | |
| 2010 | Wizards of Waverly Place Wizards of Waverly Place Wizards of Waverly Place is a Disney Channel Original Series that premiered on October 12, 2007. It won "Outstanding Children's Program" at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009... |
Superintendent Clanton | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey is an ABC Family original television series starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence. It first aired on ABC Family on August 17, 2010... |
Mayor | Episode 10: "In Lennox We Trust" |
| 2011 | Breaking In (TV series) Breaking In (TV series) Breaking In is an American television series which premiered on Fox on April 6, 2011. The series aired at 9:30 pm as a midseason replacement following American Idol. The half-hour workplace comedy stars Christian Slater, Michael Rosenbaum, Odette Annable, Trevor Moore, Alphonso McAuley and Bret... |
Larry | Episode 104: "White on White on White" |
| 2011 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold Batman: The Brave and the Bold Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain... |
Himself as Aquaman Aquaman Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title... |
Mitefall (series finale) |