Ken Jenkins

Ken Jenkins (born August 28, 1940) is an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Bob Kelso, the chief of medicine on the American comedy series Scrubs (2001–2009).[2][3] He has also had notable appearances in many popular TV shows.

Ken Jenkins
Born (1940-08-28) August 28, 1940
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1974present
Spouse(s)
Joan Patchen
(m. 1958; div. 1969)
[1]
(m. 1970)
Children3; including Daniel Jenkins
RelativesKatharine Hepburn (aunt-in-law)

Early life

Jenkins was born in Dayton, Ohio and graduated from Wilbur Wright High School, Ohio in 1958.[4]

Career

In 1969, Jenkins joined Actors Theatre of Louisville under the leadership of Jon Jory, where he served as a company member for three years.

Jenkins appeared on episodes of Homefront, The X-Files, Babylon 5, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Wiseguy, Early Edition, and Beverly Hills, 90210, and starred in Scrubs in the first eight seasons as a main cast member and guest-starred in the ninth and final season. His character, Dr. Bob Kelso, is his most recognizable role to date.[5]

Jenkins has appeared in many films throughout his career, including The Wizard of Loneliness,[5] Executive Decision, The Abyss, Air America, Last Man Standing, Fled, Gone in 60 Seconds, I Am Sam, The Sum of All Fears, Matewan, Courage Under Fire, and the 1998 remake of Psycho. He appeared as Fran Goldsmith's father in Stephen King's TV miniseries, The Stand. Jenkins also had a role in Clockstoppers.[5]

Jenkins also had a recurring role on Cougar Town, as Jules- (played by Courteney Cox) father.[5] Jenkins appears in The Blanks' music video for "Guy Love" as the owner of an L.A. bar, as he appeared with The Blanks in Scrubs, most prominently band member Sam Lloyd, who starred as regular Ted Buckland.

Jenkins portrayed Representative Howard W. Smith in the 2016 HBO TV movie All the Way, in which Smith's segregationist views posed as a central and divisive opposition to President Lyndon B. Johnson's proposal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Jenkins was the voice of Blister on Harvey Beaks.

Jenkins can also sing and play the acoustic guitar, and is seen doing so on the Scrubs episodes "My Tuscaloosa Heart" and "My Musical", and in the Cougar Town episode "You Don't Know How It Feels".

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985What Comes AroundLarry
1987MatewanSephus Purcell
1988The Wizard of LonelinessJoel Spender
1989The AbyssGerard Kirkhill
1989In CountryJim Holly
1990Air AmericaMajor Donald Lemond
1990By Dawn's Early LightLooking Glass Colonel 'Sam'
1991Edge of HonorBo Dubs
1992Crossing the BridgeLou Morgan
1995Past the BleachersMilton
1996Executive DecisionGeneral Wood
1996Last DanceWarden Laverty
1996Courage Under FireJoel Walden
1996FledWarden Nichols
1996Last Man StandingCapt. Tom Pickett
1998Where's Marlowe?Linguist
1998PsychoDistrict Attorney
1999The Last MarshalJudge Wooley
2000Gone in 60 SecondsTelevangelistUncredited
2000Lucky NumbersDan Schuff
2001The Tailor of PanamaMorecombe
2001I Am SamJudge McNeily
2002ClockstoppersNSA Agent Moore
2002Home RoomPolice Captain
2002The Sum of All FearsAdmiral Pollack
2007Welcome to ParadiseReverend McNamara

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988-1990WiseguyPaul Beckstead
1989Star Trek: The Next GenerationDr. Paul Stubbs
1993Mad About YouJack Farrer
1994The StandPeter Goldsmith
1997Babylon 5Captain Trevor Hall
1998ThirstLou WolfordTV Film
1998Early EditionWinston Thorpe
1999Beverly Hills, 90210Pastor Neal
1999-2000SlidersProfessor Jack Bigelow
2001The X-FilesDeputy Chief Karras
2001-2010ScrubsDoctor Robert Kelso
2010–2015Cougar TownChick
2012–2015Gravity FallsOld Man Ghost (voice) / Pa Duskerton (voice)2 episodes
2018A Series of Unfortunate EventsElder Sam2 episodes

References

  1. "Father, son appear together on stage". The News and Courier. April 6, 1986. pp. 8–E. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  2. Hopkins, Tom. "Ken Jenkins 'Scrubs' TV bias". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  3. "Is Ken Jenkins really gone ..." TVGuide.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  4. Hopkins, Tom (November 16, 1992). "For Father And Son, Prime-Time Roles Are As Easy As ABC". Dayton Daily News. p. 3B.
  5. "Ken Jenkins - IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
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