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Ken Jenkins
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Ken Jenkins

A versatile veteran of film, television and theater, Ken Jenkins began his acting career performing in high school stage productions in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. 'I was never particularly athletic in high school, so I distinguished myself through acting,' says Jenkins. 'As a teenager, I discovered a love for acting that defined me for the rest of my life.'

Jenkins went on to study acting at Antioch College, and performed on Broadway and in regional theater throughout his college years. In 1967, he co-founded and served for three years as associate artistic director for the prestigious Actor's Theatre of Louisville, which became a breeding ground for some of America's best new playwrights, including Beth Henley and Marsha Norman. Jenkins continued to work with the theater as an actor, director and writer through 1983.

Over more than 30 years as an actor, Jenkins has been associated with an average of 10 plays a year as an actor, director or playwright. He has portrayed both Hamlet and Cyrano, and performed in other classics by Shakespeare, as well as those by Shaw and Ibsen. One of his favorite moments as an actor, however, was performing opposite his son, actor Danny Jenkins, in the 1985 Broadway musical Big River.

In 1987, Jenkins appeared in John Sayles' critically acclaimed feature film Matewan, which opened the actor to the joy of working in film. His other big-screen credits include The Abyss, Air America, Last Man Standing and Courage Under Fire. He will also appear in the upcoming feature film I Am Sam, which stars Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Jenkins' television credits include a co-starring role for two seasons in the 1992 drama Homefront, in addition to guest-starring roles on The X-Files, Family Law, and Chicago Hope. He also starred in the television movies Thirst (on NBC), And the Band Played On and Hiroshima.

Jenkins is an avid woodworker and a skilled dog trainer. He has three sons, Matthew, Daniel and Joshua, and currently resides in Los Angeles. Jenkins' birthday is August 28.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2003.

Ken Jenkins Facts

OccupationActor
BirthdayAugust 28, 1940 (83)
SignVirgo
BirthplaceDayton, Ohio, USA

Selected Filmography

Not available.