Born in Bellaire, Ohio in May 1957, he was among the last graduating class of The Windsor Mountain School in Lennox, Massachusetts. Attended Marlboro College in Vermont. Performed in summer stock and regional theatres in Vermont, Michigan and West Virginia before settling in Chicago and joining The Remains Ensemble. Levine worked on stage at Remains, Wisdom Bridge, The Goodman and Steppenwolf Theatres throughout the 1980s before he began working in television and film.
Like Sex and the City star Chris Noth ("Mr. Big"), he attended Marlboro College in Vermont for a time in the 1970s. After his terrifying turn as "Buffalo Bill" in The Silence of the Lambs, he's had some trouble getting parts other than sadistic psychopaths. He generally tries to choose parts more along the lines of ordinary family men and unfriendly co-workers to get away from the creepy shadow of "Buffalo Bill". After appearing in The Silence of the Lambs, he appeared in Heat, which was directed by Manhunter director Michael Mann and featured Manhunter villain Tom Noonan. Has worked with both Clarice Starlings. He appeared in The Silence of the Lambs with Jodie Foster and, ten years later, he appeared in Evolution with Julianne Moore, who played Clarice Starling earlier that year in Hannibal. Has worked with two Jack Crawfords. Prior to appearing in The Silence of the Lambs with Scott Glenn, he appeared in the television series Crime Story, produced by Michael Mann and starring Dennis Farina, who played Jack Crawford in Manhunter. Also featured in this series was Stephen Lang, who played Freddy Lounds in Manhunter. Ran for mayor in Omaha, Nebraska. On the ballot, his name read "Acting Sensation Mayor Ted Levine." The voice of Chris Griffin in Family Guy is based on him. Has an adult daughter named Melissa and a teenage son named Mac.