Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins was an American child actor, who had a brief film career during the 1940s.
Born Jack Dudley Jenkins in Los Angeles, California
, the son of actress Doris Dudley, Jenkins made his film debut at the age of six in The Human Comedy
(1943) as Jack Jenkins after an MGM talent scout saw him playing on a Santa Monica
beach and admired his high spirits. His performance as Mickey Rooney
's younger brother (The Human Comedy) was well received and Jenkins was cast in a succession of films.
He was given star billing for the 1946 film, Boy's Ranch. Inspired by the real-life ranch in Texas
, which provided a home and education to underprivileged boys, MGM promoted the film as a successor to Boy's Town (1936). It co-starred James Craig
who also appeared in Jenkins' next film Little Mr. Jim. Jenkins' other films included National Velvet
(1944), Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
(1945), The Bride Goes Wild (1948) and his final film Big City (1948).
Jenkins was one of several popular child actors at MGM during the early 1940s, and was educated at the studio's school along with other youngsters under contract to the studio such as Elizabeth Taylor
, Margaret O'Brien
, Claude Jarman Jr.
and Darryl Hickman
. He was regarded as a "scene-stealer" and was notable among the studio's child stars for not being conventionally "cute". He was described by film writers Sol Chaneles and Albert Wolsky as "an audience favourite as an all-American boy [with a] space between his teeth, freckles and a tousled mop of hair – a marked contrast to the pretty children who usually appeared on screen." Pauline Kael
wrote approvingly of his effectiveness as a performer, saying that his appearance as a five year old who enjoys waving at trains in The Human Comedy helped elevate the film, while his performance in National Velvet made him "the little brother of everyone's dreams".
He retired from acting at the age of eleven, after he developed a stutter, and as an adult recalled his film career fondly but without regret; he said that he had not particularly enjoyed acting and had never expected to make a career of it.
He established a successful career away from showbusiness and lived for many years in Texas
. He died in Asheville, North Carolina
.
Born Jack Dudley Jenkins in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, the son of actress Doris Dudley, Jenkins made his film debut at the age of six in The Human Comedy
The Human Comedy (film)
The Human Comedy is a 1943 drama film directed by Clarence Brown and adapted by Howard Estabrook. It is often thought to be based on the William Saroyan novel of the same name, but actually Saroyan wrote the screenplay first, was fired from the movie project, and quickly wrote the novel and...
(1943) as Jack Jenkins after an MGM talent scout saw him playing on a Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
beach and admired his high spirits. His performance as Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
's younger brother (The Human Comedy) was well received and Jenkins was cast in a succession of films.
He was given star billing for the 1946 film, Boy's Ranch. Inspired by the real-life ranch in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, which provided a home and education to underprivileged boys, MGM promoted the film as a successor to Boy's Town (1936). It co-starred James Craig
James Craig (actor)
James Craig was an American actor.After graduating from the Rice Institute, Craig began appearing in films in 1937, most often in B-movies and serials...
who also appeared in Jenkins' next film Little Mr. Jim. Jenkins' other films included National Velvet
National Velvet (film)
National Velvet is a 1944 drama film, in Technicolor, based on the novel by Enid Bagnold, published in 1935. It stars Mickey Rooney, Donald Crisp and a young Elizabeth Taylor....
(1944), Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes is an American drama film released in 1945, directed by Roy Rowland and starring Edward G. Robinson and Margaret O'Brien.-Background:...
(1945), The Bride Goes Wild (1948) and his final film Big City (1948).
Jenkins was one of several popular child actors at MGM during the early 1940s, and was educated at the studio's school along with other youngsters under contract to the studio such as Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
, Margaret O'Brien
Margaret O'Brien
Margaret O'Brien is an American film and stage actress. Although her film career as a leading character was brief, she was one of the most popular child actors in cinema history...
, Claude Jarman Jr.
Claude Jarman Jr.
Claude Jarman, Jr. is an American former child actor.Jarman was discovered in a nationwide talent search by MGM Studios, and was cast as the lead actor in the film The Yearling . His performance received glowing reviews and he was awarded with an Academy Juvenile Award as a result...
and Darryl Hickman
Darryl Hickman
Darryl Gerard Hickman is an American film and television actor, former television executive, and child star of the 1930s and 1940s.-Early life:...
. He was regarded as a "scene-stealer" and was notable among the studio's child stars for not being conventionally "cute". He was described by film writers Sol Chaneles and Albert Wolsky as "an audience favourite as an all-American boy [with a] space between his teeth, freckles and a tousled mop of hair – a marked contrast to the pretty children who usually appeared on screen." Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael was an American film critic who wrote for The New Yorker magazine from 1968 to 1991. Earlier in her career, her work appeared in City Lights, McCall's and The New Republic....
wrote approvingly of his effectiveness as a performer, saying that his appearance as a five year old who enjoys waving at trains in The Human Comedy helped elevate the film, while his performance in National Velvet made him "the little brother of everyone's dreams".
He retired from acting at the age of eleven, after he developed a stutter, and as an adult recalled his film career fondly but without regret; he said that he had not particularly enjoyed acting and had never expected to make a career of it.
He established a successful career away from showbusiness and lived for many years in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He died in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
.