Begley, Jr. was born on September 16, 1949 in Los Angeles, California to Ed Begley, Sr. and to Allene Jeanne Sanders. He studied at Notre Dame High School and at Los Angeles Valley College. He was married to Ingrid Taylor from 1976 until they divorced in 1989. He has now been married to Rachelle Carson since 2000. He has three children. He lives in Los Angeles, California.