[1][2] His father was likely called Romanos, and he was possibly the grandson of John Kourkouas the Elder, who served as commander of the Hikanatoi regiment and conspired against Emperor Basil I (r. 867–886) in the 870s.
[5] Theophilos was the younger brother of the celebrated general John Kourkouas, who was appointed as Domestic of the Schools (i.e. supreme commander of the imperial armies) in circa 923 by Emperor Romanos Lekapenos (r. 920–944) and served in this post for 22 years.
[3][8] From 927 on, when John Kourkouas launched continuous campaigns against the neighbouring Muslim border emirates, Theophilos assisted him ably, especially in the direction of Armenia, and emerged as his brother's chief aide and lieutenant.
[3] According to the De administrando imperio, from Chaldia Theophilos launched raids into the region of Phasiane, i.e. the eastern portions of the emirate of Qaliqala or Theodosiopolis (modern Erzurum).
[3] His fate thereafter is not known in detail, except for a brief mention in Theophanes Continuatus that he held the rank of magistros and the post of Domestic of the Schools under Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969), possibly as an honorary appointment; according to Lisa Andriollo however this is a misinterpretation of the text, which actually refers to John Tzimiskes.