Photo: (2009) John Shearer, © WireImage.com; biography: IMDb

Born in DeKalb, IL; studied theatre at Illinois Wesleyan University. A member of the Trinity Repertory Company in Rhode Island for fifteen years, he appeared in such 1970s and 1980s Trinity Rep productions as "Brother to Dragons," "Of Mice and Men," "True West," "American Buffalo" and "Waiting for Godot"; directed such later productions as "Tartuffe," "The Glass Menagerie", "The Miser" and Shekspeare's "Macbeth" and "Twelfth Night"; and was the company's artistic director for four years.

Jenkins first appeared on American television in 1974's "Feasting with Panthers". His first film role was in SILVERADO (1985). Subsequent credits include HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1986), THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987), LITTLE NIKITA and STEALING HOME (both 1988), SEA OF LOVE and BLAZE (both 1989), WOLF (1994), AN INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD (1995), THE MOD SQUAD (1999), WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? and ME, MYSELF & IRENE (both 2000), THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE (2001), STEALING HARVARD (2002), THE CORE, INTOLERABLE CRUELTY and CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (all 2003), SHALL WE DANCE (2004), FUN WITH DICK AND JANE (2005), THE KINGDOM and THE VISITOR (both 2007), THE BRØKEN, STEP BROTHERS, BURN AFTER READING and THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX (all 2008), and WAITING FOR FOREVER, DEAR JOHN and NORMAN (all 2009). Appearing frequently on television, Jenkins is perhaps best known for his work as Nathaniel Fisher in "Six Feet Under" (2001-05).

Jenkins has been married to Sharon R. Frederick since 1969; they have 2 children.

  Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2008: THE VISITOR