Scrubs

Background:

“I was fortunate to discover the world through the words of Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams, and to discover in myself a love for the theater that has shaped my life.” Ken Jenkins

A television staple since the mid-1980s, American versatile actor Ken Jenkins eventually landed a regular series of his own playing Chief of Medicine Dr. Bob Kelso on the popular NBC series “Scrubs” (2001-present). Prior to his best known role, the noted character actor played the regular role of Mike Sloan on the short-lived series “Homefront” (1991-1993) as well as had recurring roles in such series as “Wiseguy” (1988-1990), “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1999-2000) and “Family Law” (2000). He also acted in countless TV films, most notably HBO's “And the Band Played On” (1993), and guested in numerous TV shows, including “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Cybill,” “Chicago Hope,” “NYPD Blue” and “Murphy Brown.” Often cast as military men and cops, Jenkins is also known as a productive film actor. His big screen credits include John Sayles' critically acclaimed “Matewan” (1987), James Cameron's “The Abyss” (1989), Mike Binder's “Crossing the Bridge” (1992), Walter Hill's “Last Man Standing” (1996), “Courage Under Fire” (1996), “Executive Decision” (1996), Gus Van Sant's “Psycho” (1998), “Gone in 60 Seconds” (2000), the Sean Penn-starring vehicle “I Am Sam” (2001), “The Sum of All Fears” (2002) and “Welcome to Paradise” (2007).

A veteran of the American theater, Jenkins helped founded the prominent Actor's Theatre of Louisville in Louisville, KY in the 1960s. In addition to serving as Associate Artistic Director, he also collaborated with the theater as an actor, director and writer. Jenkins' Broadway credits include his debut, “The Moon Beseiged” (1962), the musical “Big River” (1985) and Tennesee Williams' “Summer and Smoke” (1996).

Outside the limelight, Jenkins is a passionate woodworker and an accomplished dog trainer. Currently, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife of 38 years, actress Katharine Houghton. He is the father of three sons, Joshua, Daniel and Matthew.

Dayton Boy

Childhood and Family:

Ken Jenkins was born on August 28, 1940, in Dayton, Ohio. After graduating from high school, he pursued his college career at the Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, in which he majored in the liberal arts. After completing his degree, Ken moved to Louisville, KY, and stayed there until the mid 1980s, when he headed to Los Angeles.

On January 1, 1970, Ken was married to actress Katharine Houghton (born on March 10, 1945), the niece of four-time Oscar winner Katharine Hepburn (born in 1907, died in 2003). The couple have three sons, Daniel (born on January 17, 1963), Joshua and Matthew.

Matewan

Career:

Hailed from Dayton, OH, Ken Jenkins started his acting career performing in high school theater productions in his local. Throughout his college years, he honed his craft by joining numerous regional companies and performing on Broadway plays. In this capacity, Jenkins was exposed to the works of such big names as Tennessee Williams, Shakespeare, Arthur Miller and George Bernard Shaw, whom he accounted for shaping his life.

After moving to Louisville, KY, in which he became part of an increasing community of young actors and playwrights, Jenkins established the elite Actor's Theatre of Louisville with John Jory in 1964. He served as their Associate Artistic Director for three years, and maintained his association with the theater as a director, writer and actor until 1983. Actor's Theatre of Louisville was noted as a tract for several of America's best new playwrights, including Marsha Norman and Beth Henley.

Jenkins headed to Los Angeles in the mid 1980s. Once living in L.A, he continued his stage career while also taking on small roles in television. His first major big screen debut arrived in 1987 when John Sayles cast Jenkins in a supporting role as Sephus Purcell in the critically acclaimed drama/history “Matewan,” which starred Chris Cooper and James Earl Jones. The film helped the actor make the switch from stage acting to on camera. His next appeared in such films as the period coming-of-age “The Wizard of Loneliness” (1998), James Cameron's “The Abyss” (1989, starred Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) and the Bruce Willis drama flick “In Country” (1989), directed by Norman Jewison.

The 5' 7½” performer started landing a series of TV guest spots in the late 1980s. He played the recurring role of Paul Beckstead in the CBS crime/drama series “Wiseguy” from 1988 to 1990, and from 1988 to 1989 he appeared in episodes of “Newhart,” “Knots Landing,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and others. In the meantime, he also acted in several TV movies, including ABC's “ Disaster at Silo 7” (1988), CBS's “The Outside Woman”(1989) and TNT's “Breaking Point” (1989).

Jenkins became even more prolific during the 1990s. He made no less than five TV films in 1990 only, including the CBS films “Dark Avenger” and “Shattered Dreams” and HBO's “Descending Angel.” The same year, he also supported Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. in the action/comedy film “Air America.” From 1991 to 1993, Jenkins played the regular role of Mike Sloan, a racist factory owner coping with the death of his soldier son, on the ABC critically praised, but short-lived series “Homefront.” While working on the show, he had supporting roles in the movies “Edge of Honor” (1991) and Mike Binder's “Crossing the Bridge” (1992), as well as acted in such TV movies as the NBC true crime films “In Broad Daylight” and “Love, Lies and Murder” (both 1991), the fact-based HBO presentation “A Private Matter” and the CBS drama “A House of Secrets and Lies” (both 1992).

The following years saw Jenkins appear in such TV films as the HBO acclaimed AIDS-themed drama “And the Band Played On” (1993, as Dr. Dennis Donohue), “In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride and Madness,” “The First Gentleman,” “A Time to Heal” (all 1994), the Showtime original TV-movie presentation “Hiroshima” (1995), “Thirst” (1998) and the fact-based “Mutiny” (1999), and in big screen movies like Walter Hill's “Last Man Standing” (1996, again with Bruce Willis), the 1996 popular action/dramas “Executive Decision,” opposite Kurt Russell, Steven Seagal and Halle Berry, and and “Courage Under Fire,” which starred Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan, the drama “Last Dance” (1996), the action/comedy “Fled” (1996), the remake of “Psycho” (1998, as the district attorney) and the action/thriller “The Last Marshal” (1999, played a judge). He also made guest appearances in numerous TV series, including “Cybill,” “Chicago Hope” (both 1995), “NYPD Blue,” “Murphy Brown” (both 1997) and “Pensacola: Wings of Gold” (1999).

After playing recurring roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1999-2000, as Pastor Neal) and “Family Law” (2000, as Judge William Jankowski), the veteran actor enjoyed television spotlight with his regular role as Dr. Bob Kelso, the apparently pleasing chief of medicine who has a worldly-minded dark side, on the NBC hit medical comedy “Scrubs” (2001-present), along side Zach Braff as Dr. John 'J.D.' Dorian, Sarah Chalke as Dr. Elliot Reid and Donald Faison as Dr. Christopher Turk.

Jenkins' recent film credits include “Gone in 60 Seconds” (2000, with Nicolas Cage, Giovanni Ribisi and Angelina Jolie), Nora Ephron's “Lucky Numbers” (2000, starred John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow), “The Tailor of Panama” (2001), “I Am Sam” (2001, starred Sean Penn), Jonathan Frakes' “Clockstoppers” (2002) and “The Sum of All Fears” (2002, opposite Morgan Freeman, Ben Affleck and James Cromwell). In 2007, he could be seen portraying Sheriff Bernie in the short film “I-Nasty” and Reverend McNamara in the drama/family feature “Welcome to Paradise,” directed by Brent Huff.

Awards:
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