
Ken Jenkins
ActingAbout Ken Jenkins
Ken Jenkins (born August 28, 1940) is an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Bob Kelso, the curmudgeonly Chief of Medicine on the American comedy Scrubs. In 1969, he co-founded the Actors Theatre of Louisville and served as the Associate Artistic Director for three years. This institution has produced playwrights such as Beth Henley and Marsha Norman. Jenkins previously appeared on the series Adult Math, as well as episodes of Homefront, The X-Files (episode "Medusa", season 8), Babylon 5 and "Evolution", the Season three premiere episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation "Sliders" (2 episodes, 1999–2000) Dust (2000) TV episode .... Professor Jack Bigelow - Revelations (1999) TV episode .... Robert Clark. He has appeared in the movies Executive Decision, The Abyss, Air America, Last Man Standing, Fled, Gone in 60 Seconds, I Am Sam, The Sum of All Fears, Matewan, Courage Under Fire and the 1998 remake of Psycho. He appeared as the father of Fran Goldsmith in Stephen King's TV miniseries, The Stand. Jenkins also had a role in Clockstoppers. Jenkins can sing and play the acoustic guitar, and is seen doing so on the Scrubs episodes "My Tuscaloosa Heart" and "My Musical". Jenkins also has a recurring role on Cougar Town since October 27, 2010 as Jules' (played by Courteney Cox) father. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ken Jenkins, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Ken Jenkins reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 39 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Ken Jenkins's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 31% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Ken Jenkins remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Outside Woman, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Ken Jenkins Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Ken Jenkins's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Ken Jenkins.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Girls Weekend | Tom | Flop | Similar → |
| 2016 | All the Way | Howard W. Smith | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Welcome to Paradise | Reverend McNamara | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | The Sum of All Fears | Admiral Pollack | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Home Room | Police Captain | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Clockstoppers | NSA Agent Moore | Flop | Similar → |
| 2001 | I Am Sam | Judge Philip McNeily | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | The Tailor of Panama | Morecombe | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Lucky Numbers | Dan Schuff | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Thirst | Lou Wolford | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Last Man Standing | Captain Tom Pickett | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Fled | Warden Nichols | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Courage Under Fire | Joel Walden | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Executive Decision | General Wood | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Past the Bleachers | Hilton Burberry | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | White Mile | Jerry Taggart | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | A Time to Heal | Don | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness | Bob Newsom | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | And the Band Played On | Dr. Dennis Donohue | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | A House of Secrets and Lies | Ed Norwood | Flop | Similar → |
| 1992 | Crossing the Bridge | Lou Morgan | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | In Broad Daylight | Bob Webb | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Edge of Honor | Bo Dubs | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Descending Angel | Sam Murray | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Dark Avenger | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Air America | Major Donald Lemond | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | By Dawn's Early Light | Sam | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Shattered Dreams | Hal Witt | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | In Country | Jim Holly | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Breaking Point | Col. Lowe | Flop | Similar → |
| 1989 | The Abyss | Gerard Kirkhill | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Roe vs. Wade | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | The Outside Woman | Junior Miller | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Unconquered | Dr. Smith | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Disaster at Silo 7 | Clarence | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Matewan | Sephus Purcell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | What Comes Around | Larry | Flop | Similar → |
| 1983 | Heart of Steel | Priest | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | In Fashion | Aubin | Flop | Similar → |
Ken Jenkins - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Ken Jenkins?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ken Jenkins is "The Outside Woman" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Ken Jenkins acted in?
Ken Jenkins has been featured in at least 39 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Ken Jenkins?
Other notable films include "Unconquered", "A Time to Heal", and "I Am Sam".




