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 Australian film industry at the time.[1][2] He was the first black actor to play a lead role in an Australian TV drama.[3]
Jenkins came to Australia with the Katherine Dunham Dance Company and decided to stay.[4] He made his acting debut in The Square Ring.[5]
Select filmography
edit- 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)[6]
- 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
edit- ^ Vagg, Stephen (25 May 2020). "The A to Z of Non-White Aussie Movies and TV in White Australia". Filmink.
- ^ "Negro in "Live" Drama". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 June 1961. p. 30.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (15 November 2020). "The Flawed Landmark: Burst of Summer". Filmink.
- ^ "Survival Drama". The Age. 16 March 1961. p. 12.
- ^ "Drama of the Ring". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 1960. p. 19.
- ^ "Emperor Jones on Television". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 June 1960. p. 7.
External links
edit- Joe Jenkins at Ausstage
- Joe Jenkins at IMDb
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