In 1966 Woods graduated from Lakewood High School in Lakewood, California, where he served as senior class president, and a cheerleader. Woods ultimately graduated from California State University, Long Beach where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He later joined the United States. Armed Forces and fought in the Vietnam War. He left the series in 1986 and returned 1988, and continued the role until the series cancellation in 2012. Woods also earned Daytime Emmy nominations in 1986, 1993, 1994, 1999, and 2000, multiple Soap Opera Digest Award nominations, and four Most Valuable Player trophies from Soap Opera Update.
Woods has also appeared on television series such as Roseanne, and the National Broadcasting Company soap opera, Days of Our Lives.
He appeared in eight episodes of The Waltons, four credited as "Robert Merritt Woods" and four as "Christopher Woods."
Woods is also the voiceover in the animated television spot for JPMorgan Chase & Company that debuted in October 2010.
