Joe Jenkins (dancer)

{{Short description|American dancer and actor in Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}

'''Joe Jenkins''' was an American dancer who moved to Australia and appeared in a number of TV plays. He was a rare black actor who played lead roles in the Australian film industry at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/z-non-white-aussie-movies-tv-white-australia/?fbclid=IwAR2a3frfNd9RfNEqJta07m8mnH4x5RejXkRemRiAUmojmurXyhJAAMPuEUE|title=The A to Z of Non-White Aussie Movies and TV in White Australia|date=May 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Negro in "Live" Drama|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=24ZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VOYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3773%2C477942|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|page=30|date=June 13, 1961}}</ref> He was the first black actor to play a lead role in an Australian TV drama.<ref name="burst">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/the-flawed-landmark-burst-of-summer/|title=The Flawed Landmark: Burst of Summer|date=15 November 2020}}</ref>

Jenkins came to Australia with the Katherine Dunham Dance Company and decided to stay.<ref name="age">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19610316&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Survival Drama|date=16 March 1961|page=12}}</ref> He made his acting debut in ''The Square Ring''.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=Drama of the Ring|date=18 April 1960|page=19}}</ref>

==Select filmography== *''Rita'' (1959) - TV opera *''Make Outs Music'' (1959) - variety *''Cafe Continental'' *''The BP Super Show'' (1959) - variety show, guest star *''The Square Ring'' (1960) *''The Emperor Jones'' (1960)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eXxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OeYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5372%2C3957583|title=Emperor Jones on Television|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 June 1960|page=7}}</ref> *''The Two Headed Eagle'' (1960) *''The End Begins'' (1961) *''Call Me a Liar'' (1961) *''Just Barbara'' (1961) and ''Chez Barbara'' - variety show starring Barbara Virgil - Jenkins was a regular performer ==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/455084 Joe Jenkins] at Ausstage *[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1438525/ Joe Jenkins] at IMDb

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, Joe}} Category:Australian actors