Richard Dale Jenkins (born May 4, 1947) is an American actor. Jenkins
began his acting career in theater at the Trinity Repertory Company
and later made his film debut in 1974. He has worked steadily in film
and television since the 1980s, mostly in supporting roles. His first
major role did not come until the early 2000s, when he portrayed the
deceased patriarch Nathaniel Fisher on the HBO funeral drama series
Six Feet Under (2001â€"2005). He is also known for his roles in the
films Burn After Reading (2008), Step Brothers (2008), Let Me In
(2010), Jack Reacher (2012), and The Cabin in the Woods (2012).Jenkins
was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for the drama film
The Visitor (2007). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding
Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for the limited drama series
Olive Kitteridge (2014). For his performance in the fantasy drama film
The Shape of Water (2017), Jenkins received Academy Award, Golden
Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Supporting
Actor.Jenkins was born and raised in DeKalb, Illinois. His mother,
Mary Elizabeth (née Wheeler), was a housewife, and his father, Dale
Stevens Jenkins, was a dentist. He attended DeKalb High School. Before
he was an actor, Jenkins drove a linen truck (his boss was actor John
C. Reilly's father). Jenkins earned a degree in Drama from Illinois
Wesleyan University before relocating to Rhode Island.Jenkins worked
with the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, while
breaking into film with a bit part in Feasting with Panthers (1974), a
television film about Oscar Wilde. Jenkins was given the option of
joining the Screen Actors Guild. Knowing that it was not that easy to
join, Jenkins immediately accepted the offer. He continued as a member
of Trinity's resident acting company and served as its artistic
director from 1990 to 1994.
began his acting career in theater at the Trinity Repertory Company
and later made his film debut in 1974. He has worked steadily in film
and television since the 1980s, mostly in supporting roles. His first
major role did not come until the early 2000s, when he portrayed the
deceased patriarch Nathaniel Fisher on the HBO funeral drama series
Six Feet Under (2001â€"2005). He is also known for his roles in the
films Burn After Reading (2008), Step Brothers (2008), Let Me In
(2010), Jack Reacher (2012), and The Cabin in the Woods (2012).Jenkins
was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for the drama film
The Visitor (2007). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding
Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for the limited drama series
Olive Kitteridge (2014). For his performance in the fantasy drama film
The Shape of Water (2017), Jenkins received Academy Award, Golden
Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Supporting
Actor.Jenkins was born and raised in DeKalb, Illinois. His mother,
Mary Elizabeth (née Wheeler), was a housewife, and his father, Dale
Stevens Jenkins, was a dentist. He attended DeKalb High School. Before
he was an actor, Jenkins drove a linen truck (his boss was actor John
C. Reilly's father). Jenkins earned a degree in Drama from Illinois
Wesleyan University before relocating to Rhode Island.Jenkins worked
with the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, while
breaking into film with a bit part in Feasting with Panthers (1974), a
television film about Oscar Wilde. Jenkins was given the option of
joining the Screen Actors Guild. Knowing that it was not that easy to
join, Jenkins immediately accepted the offer. He continued as a member
of Trinity's resident acting company and served as its artistic
director from 1990 to 1994.
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