Joe Jenkins (dancer)

{{Short description|American dancer and actor in Australia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}

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.{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/z-non-white-aussie-movies-tv-white-australia/?fbclid=IwAR2a3frfNd9RfNEqJta07m8mnH4x5RejXkRemRiAUmojmurXyhJAAMPuEUE|title=The A to Z of Non-White Aussie Movies and TV in White Australia|date=May 25, 2020}}{{cite news|title=Negro in "Live" Drama|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=24ZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VOYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3773%2C477942|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|page=30|date=June 13, 1961}} He was the first black actor to play a lead role in an Australian TV drama.{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/the-flawed-landmark-burst-of-summer/|title=The Flawed Landmark: Burst of Summer|date=15 November 2020}}

Jenkins came to Australia with the Katherine Dunham Dance Company and decided to stay.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19610316&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Survival Drama|date=16 March 1961|page=12}} He made his acting debut in The Square Ring.{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=Drama of the Ring|date=18 April 1960|page=19}}