Richard Jenkins

Richard Jenkins
Jenkins in 2015
Born
Richard Dale Jenkins

(1947-05-04) May 4, 1947 (age 76)
Alma materIllinois Wesleyan University
OccupationActor
Years active1974–present
Spouse
Sharon R. Friedrick
(m. 1969)
Children2

Richard Dale Jenkins (born May 4, 1947) is an American actor. He is well known for his portrayal of deceased patriarch Nathaniel Fisher on the HBO funeral drama series Six Feet Under (2001–2005). He began his career in theater at the Trinity Repertory Company and made his film debut in 1974. He has worked steadily in film and television since the 1980s, mostly in supporting roles. His eclectic body of work includes such films as The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Little Nikita (1988), Flirting with Disaster (1996), Snow Falling on Cedars (1999), The Mudge Boy (2003), Burn After Reading (2008), Step Brothers (2008), Let Me In (2010), Jack Reacher (2012), The Cabin in the Woods (2012), Bone Tomahawk (2015), The Last Shift (2020), The Humans (2021), and Nightmare Alley (2021).

Jenkins received nominations for the Academy Award, Spirit Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award (each 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), he was nominated for the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. The Netflix miniseries Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) garnered him both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor, plus an additional Emmy nod for producing the series.

Early life

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). He earned a degree in drama from Illinois Wesleyan University before relocating to Rhode Island.

Career

Theatre

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. When he was given the option of joining the Screen Actors Guild, he accepted immediately. He continued as a member of Trinity's resident acting company and served as its artistic director from 1990 to 1994.

Film

Since his debut in the television movie Feasting with Panthers (1974), Jenkins has worked steadily in film. His earlier film credits include Silverado (1985), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Sea of Love (1989), Blue Steel (1990), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Flirting with Disaster (1996), and Snow Falling On Cedars (1999).

He has worked with the director siblings the Farrelly brothers in There's Something About Mary (1998), Outside Providence (1999), Me, Myself & Irene (2000), Say It Isn't So (2001) and Hall Pass (2011). He has also appeared in three Coen Brothers movies: The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), and Burn After Reading (2008). He is in North Country (2005), has three memorable scenes as FBI Director James (Robert) Grace in The Kingdom (2007), and Dr. Robert Dobeck in Step Brothers (2008).

Jenkins in April 2011

Although primarily known for supporting parts, Jenkins had a lead role in The Visitor (2007) for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award and an Academy Award for Best Actor. Jenkins won the International Press Academy's Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture.

In 2010, Jenkins costarred in Dear John, as the father of John Tyree (Channing Tatum), and also co-starred with Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem in Eat Pray Love. In 2012, he appeared in the Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard horror film The Cabin in the Woods and the action film Jack Reacher. He then appeared in the action films White House Down (2013) and Kong: Skull Island (2017).

Jenkins co-starred in Guillermo del Toro's fantasy romance drama film The Shape of Water (2017), for which he received critical acclaim. For his performance, he garnered Academy Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor.

Television

Jenkins is perhaps best known on television for playing Nathaniel Fisher in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under. His character is the deceased patriarch of the Fisher family and regularly appears to his family as a ghost or in dreams. He played the role for the show's entire run. He and his castmates received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2002.

Jenkins portrayed a DEA agent in one episode of Miami Vice and a mob boss in a later episode.

In 2015, Jenkins won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his performance as Henry Kitteridge in the HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge.

In 2022, Jenkins portrayed Lionel Dahmer, father of notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, in Netflix's limited series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Starring alongside Evan Peters and Molly Ringwald, Jenkins appears in all ten episodes of the series created by Ryan Murphy. His performance was described in The New Yorker as "brilliant," and he was nominated for the 2023 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie.

Personal life

Jenkins is married to choreographer Sharon R. Friedrick, with whom he has two children.

Awards and honors

In 2014, Jenkins and his wife Sharon received the Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement from Trinity Repertory Company in Providence.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes
1985 Silverado Kelly Lawrence Kasdan
1986 Hannah and Her Sisters Dr. Wilkes Woody Allen
The Manhattan Project Radiation Controls Officer, Medatomics Lab Marshall Brickman
On Valentine's Day Bobby Pate Ken Harrison
1987 Rachel River Cordell Sandy Smolan
The Witches of Eastwick Clyde Alden George Miller
Courtship Bobby Pate Howard Cummings
1988 Little Nikita Richard Grant Richard Benjamin
Stealing Home Hank Chandler Steven Kampmann
William Porter
1989 Sea of Love Detective Gruber Harold Becker
Blaze Picayune Ron Shelton
How I Got into College Bill Browne Savage Steve Holland
1990 Blue Steel Attorney Mel Dawson Kathryn Bigelow
1993 Undercover Blues Frank Herbert Ross
1994 It Could Happen to You C. Vernon Hale Andrew Bergman
Trapped in Paradise Agent Shaddus Peyser George Gallo
Wolf Detective Bridger Mike Nichols
1995 How to Make an American Quilt Howell Saunders Jocelyn Moorhouse
The Indian in the Cupboard Victor Frank Oz
1996 Flirting with Disaster Paul Harmon David O. Russell Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
A Couch in New York Campton Chantal Akerman
Eddie Carl Zimmer Steve Rash
1997 Eye of God Willard Sprague Tim Blake Nelson
Absolute Power Michael McCarty Clint Eastwood
1998 There's Something About Mary Psychiatrist Peter Farrelly
Bobby Farrelly
Uncredited cameo
The Impostors Johnny Leguard Stanley Tucci
1999 Random Hearts Truman Trainor Sydney Pollack
Snow Falling on Cedars Sheriff Art Moran Scott Hicks
The Mod Squad Det. Bob Mothershed Scott Silver
Outside Providence Barney Michael Corrente
The Confession Cass O'Donnell David Hugh Jones
2000 What Planet Are You From? Don Fisk Mike Nichols
Me, Myself & Irene Agent Boshane Peter Farrelly
Bobby Farrelly
2001 Say It Isn't So Walter Wingfield J.B. Rogers
The Man Who Wasn't There Walter Abundas Joel Coen
Ethan Coen
One Night at McCool's Father Jimmy Harald Zwart
2002 Stealing Harvard Honorable Emmett Cook Bruce McCulloch
Changing Lanes Walter Arnell Roger Michell
2003 Cheaper by the Dozen Shake McGuire Shawn Levy
Intolerable Cruelty Freddy Bender Joel
Ethan Coen
The Core General Thomas Purcell Jon Amiel
The Mudge Boy Edgar Mudge Michael Burke
2004 Shall We Dance? Devine Peter Chelsom
I Heart Huckabees Mr. Hooten David O. Russell Uncredited cameo
2005 Fun with Dick and Jane Frank Bascombe Dean Parisot
Rumor Has It… Earl Huttinger Rob Reiner
North Country Hank Aimes Niki Caro
2007 The Kingdom FBI Director Robert Grace Peter Berg
2008 The Visitor Professor Walter Vale Tom McCarthy
The Broken John McVey Sean Ellis
Step Brothers Dr. Robert Doback Adam McKay San Diego Film Critics Society — Special Award
Burn After Reading Ted Treffon Joel Coen
Ethan Coen
San Diego Film Critics Society — Special Award
The Tale of Despereaux Principal Sam Fell
Robert Stevenhagen
Voice
San Diego Film Critics Society — Special Award
2009 Waiting for Forever Richard Twist James Keach
2010 happythankyoumoreplease Paul Gertmanian Josh Radnor
Dear John Bill Tyree Lasse Hallström
Eat Pray Love Richard Fenwick Ryan Murphy
Norman Doug Long Jonathan Segal Breckenridge Festival of Film for Best Ensemble Cast
Let Me In The Father Matt Reeves Fangoria Chainsaw Awards for Best Supporting Actor
2011 Friends with Benefits Mr. Harper Will Gluck
The Rum Diary Edward J. Lotterman Bruce Robinson
Hall Pass Coakley Peter Farrelly
Bobby Farrelly
2012 Liberal Arts Professor Peter Hoberg Josh Radnor
Darling Companion Russell Lawrence Kasdan
The Cabin in the Woods Gary Sitterson Drew Goddard
Killing Them Softly Ron Fenwick, The Driver Andrew Dominik
Jack Reacher District Attorney Alex Rodin Christopher McQuarrie
The Company You Keep Jed Lewis Robert Redford
2013 White House Down Speaker Eli Raphelson Roland Emmerich
Turbo Bobby David Soren Voice
A.C.O.D. Hugh Stu Zicherman
2014 God's Pocket Richard Shelburn John Slattery
4 Minute Mile Coach Coleman Charles-Olivier Michaud
Lullaby Robert Andrew Levitas
2015 Bone Tomahawk Deputy Chicory S. Craig Zahler Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
Spotlight Richard Sipe Tom McCarthy Uncredited voice cameo
2016 The Hollars Don Hollar John Krasinski
LBJ Senator Richard Russell Rob Reiner
2017 Kong: Skull Island Senator Al Willis Jordan Vogt-Roberts
The Shape of Water Giles Guillermo del Toro St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor (2nd place)
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor (3rd place)
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated—San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
2020 Kajillionaire Robert Shepard Miranda July
The Last Shift Stanley Andrew Cohn
2021 The Humans Erik Blake Stephen Karam
Nightmare Alley Ezra Grindle Guillermo del Toro Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
2024 IF TBA John Krasinski Voice; post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1974–1975 Great Performances Warder / The Sheriff 2 episodes
1984 American Playhouse Nicholas Vazzana Episode: "Concealed Enemies, Part I: Suspicion"
1985 Spenser: For Hire 'Tex' Episode: "Internal Affairs"
1985–1989 Miami Vice Goodman / DEA Agent Ed Waters 2 episodes
1986 The Little Sister Roger Davis Television film
1988 In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders Detective Hamill Television film
1989 Out on the Edge Paul Evetts Television film
1989 Kojak: Fatal Flaw Joel Litkin Television film
1990 Challenger Gregory Jarvis Television film
1990 When You Remember Me Vaughan Television film
1990 Against the Law Wexford 3 episodes
1990 Descending Angel Debaudt Television film
1991 Doublecrossed Jim Donaldson Television film
1992 Afterburn Acton Ryder Television film
1992 Crossroads Jim Mundy Episode: "Pilot"
1993 Alex Haley's Queen Mr. Benson 2 episodes
1993 And the Band Played On Dr. Marc Conant Television film
1996 The Boys Next Door Bob Klemper Television film
1997 Into Thin Air: Death on Everest Beck Weathers Television film
2001 Ally McBeal Mr. Bo Episode: "Mr. Bo"
2001–2005 Six Feet Under Nathaniel Fisher 21 episodes
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2002 Sins of the Father Bobby Frank Cherry Television film
2014 Olive Kitteridge Henry Kitteridge 4 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2016–2019 Berlin Station Steven Frost 24 episodes
2017 Comrade Detective Vlad Anghel (voice) Episode: "No Exit"
2022 Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Lionel Dahmer 10 episodes; also producer
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Pending—Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Pending—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

This page was last updated at 2023-12-11 12:17 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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