Bio
Ken Jenkins is an American actor best known for his role as Dr. Bob Kelso, the curmudgeonly Chief of Medicine, on the television dramedy series Scrubs, from 2001-2010.
Jenkins began his acting career performing in high school stage productions in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. "As a teenager, I discovered a love for acting and theatre arts that defined me for the rest of my life," he said.
He went on to study drama at Antioch College, and performed on Broadway and in regional theater throughout his college years.
In 1969, Jenkins co-founded and served for three years as associate artistic director of the prestigious Actors 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.
During more than 30 years in the theatre, 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 de Bergerac, and performed in other classics by Shakespeare, as well as those by Shaw and Ibsen.
One of his favourite 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 his mind to the joy of working in film. More recent film credits include I Am Sam, The Sum of All Fears and Clockstoppers.
He has also appeared in such films as The Abyss, Air America, Last Man Standing and Courage Under Fire and is featured in the comedy feature For Your Consideration.
Jenkins' television credits include a co-starring role for two seasons on the 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, 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.