Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 7, 2026

Keith Coogan

Keith Coogan is an American actor. He is the grandson of actor Jackie Coogan. In 1982, he won a Young Artist Award as a guest performer on Knight Rider.

Last revised
Jul 7, 2026
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Keith Coogan
Coogan in 2025
Born
Keith Eric Mitchell

(1970-01-13) January 13, 1970
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Other nameKeith Mitchell1
OccupationActor
Years active1978–present
Spouse
Kristen Shean
​
(m. 2013)​
2
Relatives
Awards

Keith Coogan (born Keith Eric Mitchell; January 13, 1970) is an American actor. He is the grandson of actor Jackie Coogan.3 In 1982, he won a Young Artist Award as a guest performer on Knight Rider.4

Early life

Keith Eric Mitchell was born on January 13, 1970,5 in Palm Springs, California, the son of Leslie Diane Coogan Mitchell, a realtor. He changed his name to "Keith Coogan" in 1986, two years after the death of his grandfather, Jackie Coogan.6 His grandfather's death notice stated that 14-year-old-grandson Keith Mitchell would be giving a eulogy at the funeral.7

Career

As a child, while working as Keith Mitchell, he appeared on episodes of The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Mork & Mindy, Eight Is Enough, Knight Rider, Fame, 21 Jump Street, CHiPs.8 and Silver Spoons.9 From 1979-1980 he had the recurring role of Jeffrey Burton on The Waltons.10 He later appeared on an episode of Starman11

His film work includes doing the voice of Young Tod, the fox, on The Fox and the Hound.12 He played Brad Anderson in Adventures in Babysitting,13 Crush Kane in Book of Love,14 and Willie Jones in Downhill Willie.15 Coogan also appeared in Cousins,16 Toy Soldiers,17 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead,12 and In the Army Now.18

His theater credits include two James McLure plays – Pvt. Wars and The Agent. He was also in a work by Marsha Norman, The Holdup. All were performed at Timothy and Buck Busfield's "B" St. Theater in Sacramento, California, during the 1992 and 1993 seasons.19

In 2008, he worked in Dallas, Texas, on a short film, The Keith Coogan Experience. On January 1, 2010, Coogan started the "Monologue a Day Project", where he learns a monologue or other short piece every day, "as inspired by Julie & Julia", and posts the resulting video performance on blogspot.com.20

Coogan was featured in the minidocumentary, Simply Coogan – An Interview with Keith Coogan, released by Coogan on December 13, 2010, which coincided with his birthday celebrations.21

Coogan hosted "The Call Sheet" on the SkidRowStudios.com radio podcast network, an entertainment industry-based show that also covered tech news and politics.22

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1981 The Fox and the Hound Young Tod (voice)
1982 All Summer in a Day William
1982 Million Dollar Infield Vance Levitas
1987 Adventures in Babysitting Brad Anderson
1987 Hiding Out Patrick Morenski
1989 Cousins Mitch
1989 Cheetah Ted Johnson
1989 Under the Boardwalk Andy
1989 Spooner DB Reynolds
1990 Book of Love Crutch Kane
1991 Toy Soldiers Jonathan "Snuffy" Bradberry
1991 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Kenny Crandell
1992 Forever Ted Dickson
1994 In the Army Now Stoner # 1
1995 Downhill Willie Willie Jones
1995 A Reason to Believe Potto
1995 The Power Within Eric Graves
1998 Just a Little Harmless Sex Loudmouth Guy
1998 The Godson Clumsy Student
1998 Ivory Tower Russ Dyerson
1998 Evasive Action Anthony Tait
1999 Dreamers Rob
2001 Soulkeeper Tour Guide
2011 Cats Dancing on Jupiter Fred
2012 Waking Edward
2017 Limelight Jim
2018 A Tale of Two Coreys Marty Weiss
2019 Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Himself23
2024 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Asher24

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1979-80 The Waltons Jeffrey Burton 18 Episodes - as Keith Mitchell
1979 Eight Is Enough Bobby (S3:E22) - as Keith Mitchell
1980 Eight Is Enough Vincent (S4:E26) - as Keith Mitchell
1981 It's a Living Joey Adams (S1:E12) - as Keith Mitchell
1981 Little House on the Prairie Timothy (S7:E15) - as Keith Mitchell
1982 Mork & Mindy Scottie (S4:E21) - as Keith Mitchell
1986 Growing Pains Scottie (S1:E16)
1989 21 Jump Street Kyle DeGray (S4:E12)
References

References

  1. "Jackie Coogan's grandson joined The Waltons to kick off his career". MeTV.com. May 27, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  2. "Malibu 'Pretty in Pink' Wedding". The Malibu Times. January 17, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  3. Nolasco, Stephanie (July 7, 2020). "Keith Coogan talks growing up with Jackie Coogan, escaping Hollywood's child star curse". Fox News. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  4. 1982 Young Artist Award winners
  5. Rose, Mike (January 13, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 13, 2023 includes celebrities Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Trace Adkins". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 13, 2023. Actor Keith Coogan ("Adventures in Babysitting") is 53
  6. Nolasco, Stephanie (July 7, 2020). "Keith Coogan talks growing up with Jackie Coogan, escaping Hollywood's child star curse". Fox News. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  7. Coggan Funeral Will Be In Culver, The Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA),March 3, 1984, page 4
  8. International Television & Video Almanac Volume 45, page 115, Quigley Publishing, 2000
  9. Names in the News, Ventura County Star, November 8, 1986, page 5
  10. Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earl, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (Twentieth Anniversary Edition), page 1094, Ballantine Publishing Company, 1999
  11. Phillip Garcia, Frank, Science Fiction Television Series: Episode Guides, 1959 Through 1989, McFarland, Inc., 2014
  12. Feldman, Corey, Choreography: A Memoir, page 28, St. Martin's Press, 2013
  13. Dwyer, Michael D., Tinsel and Rust: How Hollywood Manufactured the Rust Belt, page 889, Oxford University Press, 2025
  14. Wills, John, Screen World 1992, page 14, Crown Publishers, 1993
  15. Send, Bryan, Ski Films: A Comprehensive Guide, page 68, McFarland, Inc., 2002
  16. Martin, Leonard, Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide: The Modern Era, page 293, Plume, 2017
  17. Julius, Marshall, Action!: The Action Movie A-Z, page 219, Indiana University Press, 1996
  18. Maltin, Leonard, Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide, page 680, Plume, 2008
  19. The “B” St. Theatre Ad, The Sacramento Bee, December 18, 1992, page 114
  20. Keith Coogan. "Monologue A Day Project". Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  21. "Simply Coogan – An Interview with Keith Coogan". Vimeo (Podcast). Archived from the original on December 11, 2024.
  22. "Flick From A Christmas Story Live On Keith Coogan's The Call Sheet". www.pressrelease.com. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  23. Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019) - IMDb, retrieved October 17, 2019
  24. Andersson, Eric (April 13, 2024). "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Remake: All the Surprise Cameos and Easter Eggs (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
External links