Joe Jenkins (dancer)

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 the 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

• 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