Kurt McKinney

• Name — Kurt McKinney • Birthplace — Louisville, Kentucky U. S. • Years Active — 1985–present • Spouse — Maronda McKinney (?-Present) • Children — 2

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, McKinney graduated from Ninth and O Christian School in 1980 and attended the University of Louisville for one year. After that, he gained acting experience in local commercials and films while supporting himself by selling cars for Neil Huffman Dodge. Encouraged by people's comments, he left Louisville to go to Hollywood. He began martial arts at age 12 with Taekwondo, but later trained in Kickboxing.

McKinney's film debut came playing Jason Stillwell in 1985 martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender, (McKinney was 22 years old while filming took place) which also starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, J.W. Fails and Tai Chung Kim. The movie grossed $5 million at the US box office (and spawned two sequels). Although this success was moderate compared to similar movies of the time, such as the Rocky series, The Karate Kid series, or even The Last Dragon, it remains a cult classic film to many people around the world. 1987's No Retreat, No Surrender 2 was originally intended to be a direct sequel to this film, but safety concerns over filming in Cambodian jungles persuaded Van Damme to back out of the project, and he convinced McKinney to do the same.

Early in his career, McKinney had guest starring roles on series such as Gimme a Break! (1985–86), Highway to Heaven (1987) and ALF (1986). He accepted his first contract role in a TV series. He appeared as the first Ned Ashton on the ABC soap opera General Hospital.

McKinney is married to Maronda McKinney, the former Maronda Buchta, whom he met when both were 18. They have a son, Cole Madsen, and a daughter, Madison Taylor.

• No Retreat, No Surrender (1985) • Sworn to Justice (1996) • Pop (1999) • Bending All the Rules (2002) • Savage Faith (2004) • The Last Kumite (2024)

• Supertalk (2001)

• Sworn to Vengeance (1993) • Cupid & Cate (2000)

• ALF – 1 episode (1986) • General Hospital Ned Ashton episodes (1988 – 1991) • Gimme a Break! – 2 episodes (1985 – 1986) • Guiding Light – Matt Reardon episodes (1994 – 2009) • Highway to Heaven – 1 episode (1987) • As the World Turns – 14 episodes (2010) • One Life to Live – 2 episodes (2011) • Blue Bloods – 1 episode (2011)

Kurt McKinney is recorded as actor, karateka, taekwondo athlete and kickboxer.