Coogan was born Keith Eric Mitchell, and began acting in 1975. He appeared in 1970s television shows like The Waltons, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Laverne and Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Eight is Enough, Knight Rider, Growing Pains, Silver Spoons, Fame, and CHiPs. Coogan played the voice of a young fox named "Todd" in a Disney animated classic, "The Fox and the Hound." He changed his name to "Keith Coogan" in 1986, two years after the death of his grandfather. Coogan starred in films such as Adventures in Babysitting, Cousins, Hiding Out, Cheetah, Toy Soldiers, Book of Love, and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.
His theater credits include, John Olive's The Voice of the Prairie, James McClure's Pvt. Wars, and an unfinished Louisville work by Marsha Norman, The Holdup. All were performed at Timothy and Buck Busfield's "B" St. Theater in Sacramento, CA. during their '93 and '94 seasons. He is also a founding member of the Troubadour Theater Company, otherwise known as the Troubies, formerly known as the Latchkey Players. Coogan also directed Pvt. Wars at the Complex Theater in Hollywood, CA. Slated runs were August 7th through September 12th, 2001.
Coogan also appeared in straight to video releases such as Python and Soulkeeper. He did guest starring work on Joan of Arcadia and Married to the Kellys.
