You’ve probably heard the name in hushed tones or seen it splashed across a tabloid headline next to a Kardashian. Honestly, most people only know one thing about Todd Waterman soccer player—the 1989 affair with Kris Jenner. It's the scandal that essentially blew up the Kardashian-Robert senior marriage. But if you actually look at the guy’s life, there’s a much weirder, more interesting story there that has nothing to do with Beverly Hills closets or golf-club-wielding husbands.
He wasn't just some "fling." He was a legitimate athlete in a time when professional soccer in America was a chaotic, Wild West environment.
The Professional Career of Todd Waterman Soccer Player
Todd wasn’t playing in the flashy, multi-billion dollar MLS we see today. That didn't even exist yet. Instead, he was grinding in the late 1980s, specifically with the Los Angeles Heat. This was a team in the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA), which later merged into the American Professional Soccer League.
The L.A. Heat played their home games at West Torrance High School and occasionally at the North Stadium at CSU Northridge. It wasn't exactly Old Trafford. But for a young kid from Oakland, California, it was the dream. Waterman was born on November 24, 1965, and by his early 20s, he was a lean, fast-paced player trying to make it in a sport that most Americans still didn't quite understand.
He played during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. Think about that timing. 1989 was the exact year he met Kris Jenner. While he was out on the pitch trying to secure a win against the San Diego Nomads or the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks, he was also living a double life that would eventually become the foundational lore of the world's most famous reality TV family.
Why the Los Angeles Heat Era Mattered
The Heat were actually pretty decent. In 1989, they finished second in the South Division. Waterman was part of a roster that featured guys like Justin Fashanu—the first professional footballer to come out as gay—who Waterman actually mentioned in later interviews as a friend he'd play tennis with.
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The soccer scene back then was gritty.
"We were playing pro soccer and I was training with the L.A. Heat... that's how we met," Waterman later told news outlets, referring to his introduction to the Kardashian circle.
The league eventually folded or morphed into other things, as most U.S. soccer leagues did before 1996. By 1991, the Heat were gone. Most players from that era just kind of faded into the background, becoming insurance agents or high school coaches. Todd Waterman didn't. He took a hard left turn into an industry that is arguably even more competitive than professional sports.
From the Pitch to the Animation Studio
This is the part that genuinely trips people up. If you look at his IMDb, it’s not empty. It’s actually kind of impressive.
Todd Waterman moved from the soccer field to the animation desk. We aren't talking about hobbyist stuff here; he became a professional animator and director. He worked on "Mulan" (1998) and "Stuart Little" (1999). He even did character animation for "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West." It's a bizarre transition. One year you're a professional defender or midfielder (his specific position varies in historical records, but he was consistently noted for his athleticism), and a few years later, you're helping Disney draw one of the most iconic films of the 90s. He eventually moved into directing, helming projects like the animated short "Green Nose" in 2003 and working on "The VeggieTales Show" and "Transformers Prime."
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The Affair That Overshadowed Everything
Despite the animation credits and the professional soccer stats, the world largely views Todd Waterman soccer player through the lens of a single year: 1989.
Kris Jenner was 34. Todd was 23.
In her memoir, Kris famously used the pseudonym "Ryan" to describe him, but Todd eventually came forward to confirm it was him. The details he shared were straight out of a soap opera. He described their first encounter in a friend’s closet at a party in Beverly Hills. He talked about the "magical, surreal" nature of the relationship.
But there was a dark side.
Robert Kardashian Sr. wasn't just a bystander. He reportedly hired private investigators to track them. There’s a famous story—corroborated by Waterman—where Robert caught them at an apartment and allegedly swung a golf club at Waterman’s car as they tried to drive away. It was the "whack heard 'round Calabasas."
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Clearing Up the Rumors
Because this is the internet, there are always rumors. The biggest one? That Todd is the "real" father of Khloé Kardashian.
Todd has been very blunt about this. He has denied it categorically, pointing out the timeline simply doesn't work. Khloé was born in 1984. Todd didn't meet Kris until 1989. Unless he discovered time travel during his time with the L.A. Heat, it’s biologically impossible.
What Todd Waterman Is Doing in 2026
Today, at 60 years old, Todd isn't exactly seeking the limelight. He’s lived several different lives: the pro athlete, the "other man" in a historic divorce, and the successful Hollywood creative.
He still pops up in the occasional episode of The Kardashians when Kris wants to confront her past—like that awkward meeting they had in 2012 that was filmed for the show. But mostly, he’s a reminder of a very specific era of Los Angeles history. An era of neon-colored soccer jerseys, burgeoning reality TV drama, and the slow birth of the celebrity culture we're all drowning in now.
If you’re looking to track his legacy, don’t just look at the gossip blogs. Look at the credits of the movies your kids watch. It’s a weird legacy, but it’s his.
Next Steps for Research:
- Check the 1989 Western Soccer Alliance archives for specific match reports featuring the L.A. Heat to see Waterman’s game-day contributions.
- Look into the production credits of Mulan (1998) to see his specific role in the character animation department.
- Watch the 2012 episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians (Season 7, Episode 7) to see the televised "reunion" between Kris and Todd.