Todd McKee, a native Californian, was born into a family of advertising professionals. His early fascination with drama led him to enroll in acting school, where he spent countless hours gazing at the packaging of his beloved "G.I. Joe" action figures as a child.
As he entered his third year at the University of Southern California, McKee secured an agent and began auditioning for various roles. Although he landed a McDonald's commercial, acting opportunities were scarce, with casting directors often remarking that he was "too tall" for the parts he was vying for.
In 1984, McKee's fortunes changed when he was cast as Ted Capwell, a member of the original cast of the daytime drama Santa Barbara. Despite struggling ratings in the United States, the show and its stars, including 21-year-old McKee, gained a cult following worldwide. He played the role for five years, during which time he also worked as a real estate agent in his spare moments.
After leaving Santa Barbara, McKee embarked on a world tour with fellow cast member Lane Davies. Upon his return, he was quickly snapped up by another soap opera. From 1990 to 1992, McKee appeared as Jake Maclaine on The Bold and the Beautiful, starring alongside movie legend Tippi Hedren, who played his on-screen mother. The show's heavily publicized male rape storyline garnered significant attention.
Throughout the 1990s, McKee secured guest-starring roles on various TV shows and minor movie parts. In 1999, at the age of 35, the former soap star shifted his focus to a completely different career path, joining Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor in one of their California wealth management offices.
Although he occasionally took on acting roles in the early 2000s, McKee was largely retired from the industry. However, in 2007, executive producer and head writer Bradley Bell convinced him to return to The Bold and the Beautiful as a recurring character.
