Jenkins has the degree inside drama from either Illinois Wesleyan University, prior to relocating to Rhode Island. He worked when the artistic director of Trinity Repertory Theater inside Rhode Island prior to breaking into film by using a bit partially within Banqueting by owning Panthers (1974), a television motion picture.

The versatile character actor, Jenkins has steadily been working within film and television since the 1970s with other roles around Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Snow Falling On Cedars (1999), ''The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) and Intolerable Cruelty'' (2003) He's also an occasional collaborator with the director siblings the Farrelly brothers, who have worked with Jenkins in There's Something About Mary (1998), Me, Myself, & Irene (2000), Outside Providence (1999) and Say It Isn't So (2001).

Jenkins is probably better known for his recurring role in HBO's Six Feet Under. Jenkins plays Nathaniel Fisher, a gone patriarch of the Fisher personal world health organization regularly appears to his personal as a ghost, and around dreams. Jenkins played a role since a indicate began inside 2001, through to its final year inside 2005.

Selected Filmography
Girl From North Country (2005) Shall We Dance (2004) I Heart Huckabees (2004) (uncredited) Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) Intolerable Cruelty (2003) The Core (2003) The Mudge Boy (2003) Stealing Harvard (2002) Changing Lanes (2002) ''The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) Six Feet Under (2001) Me, Myself & Irene (2000) Random Hearts (1999) Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) The Mod Squad (1999) There's Something About Mary (1998) (uncredited) Absolute Power (1997) Flirting with Disaster (1996) The Boys Next Door (1996) (TV) How to Make an American Quilt (1995) The Indian in the Cupboard (1995) Wolf (1994) And the Band Played On (1993) (TV) When You Remember Me (1990) (TV) Blue Steel (1990) Stealing Home (1988) The Witches of Eastwick (1987) Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Silverado'' (1985)