Actor Tom Jenkins Discusses Projects And Giving Back

Actor Tom Jenkins began his career as an actor in Orlando, Florida, booking his very first role as an actor for commercial work during his first audition for Disney, ever since he has been a very busy theatrical and commercial actor. Jenkins is an actor who has lived in Los Angeles since the mid-nineties. Jenkin’s early work as an actor includes portraying a waiter in one of Jim Henson’s last projects before Henson’s passing, and then working on an ABC Monday Night Football promo with Wolfman Jack. Tom Jenkins booked his first television job on Nickelodeon’s “Clarissa Explains It All,” with Melissa Joan Hart, as a telegram delivery guy. He has appeared in nearly 100 commercials to date to include, commercials for Allstate, Ford, Rite Aid, Toyota, Kay Jewelers, Hallmark. He has made television appearances on “Criminal Minds,” a recurring role on “How to Get Away With Murder,” and “Days of Our Lives.” Born in Kentucky and raised in Charleston West Virginia, he hopes to one day work with Jennifer Garner in television or film, as they both hail from the city of Charleston.
Jenkins is involved as talent with multiple television and film projects currently to include a web series entitled, “Disconnected,” a feature film, "Street Survivors,” which is a musical survival drama documenting the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash, based on the account of Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle as told to Rock n’ Roll biographer Dean Goodman. Jenkins is also an actor in the thriller,“Worthy,” in which he portrays a judge with questionable behavior. Jenkins portrays pilot Walter McCreary in “Street Survivors,” a full length feature film, “slated for a theatrical release possibly this summer,” according to Jenkins. “Disconnected” is on the pre-nomination ballot for the Emmy Awards in the category of "Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama."
“Worthy” is a short film, categorized as a drama. “Worthy” premiered on June 8 at the Film Invasion Festival in Los Angeles. This is the fourth year of the festival. It is organized and held by FilmFreeway. The Film Invasion Festival is held in Sherman Oaks, CA each year.
In addition to Tom Jenkin’s work as both a commercial and theatrical actor, Jenkins loves to give back and encourages others through his time volunteering to support worthy causes, which positively inspire both human and animal.
Jenkins is a mentor for Young Storytellers. Young Storytellers is an organization funded and aided by several entertainment companies to include Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and Netflix, Fox 21, and various charitable organizations. “Through one on one mentorship, as mentors, we encourage children to find their voice through storytelling, coaching them as they develop a story in a screenplay format,” Jenkins stated in a recent interview. Continuing, “This is one of the most wonderful and encouraging things that I have ever done, and to see the smiles and joy of the children knowing that they wrote an original story, this is very rewarding." Jenkins continued to state, "The children look at this screenplay, as it's performed by professional actors enthusiastically, knowing this screenplay is theirs, utilizing their own ideas, words and voice, to tell a story all their own.” Young Storytellers is a program which is held at several schools in the Los Angeles Area School District (LAUSD). Jenkins volunteers twice a year, for both the winter session and the spring session of the mentoring program. Throughout approximately ten weeks, each mentor is assigned a child both a mentor and coach, as the child develops their story by writing their own screenplay. “We teach them how to write an original non-violent story in this format, through the use of a protagonist, an antagonist and of course a significant obstacle or obstacles which are overcome,” states Jenkins.
Young Storytellers holds what is referred to as “The Big Show” at which the students have their screenplay performed by professional actors at the school, with the school as the audience. Another show, entitled “The Biggest Show,” is held in addition to “The Big Show” as some of the screenplays written by the children are selected and then performed in a nearby theater by various celebrities. “All the way around, this program is so inspiring,” states Jenkins.
Tom Jenkins also volunteers his time to help animals to find loving homes. He works with Kitt Crusaders, a 501c3 organization that rescues and places previously abandoned cats into great, loving homes. The rescue’s website is www.kittcrusaders.org.”It is run by three wonderful, dedicated women to include Mary Shaughnessy, Tracie Peddy, and Nelia Southwick,” states Jenkins. Concluding, “Every rescue organization’s resources are often strained, and they survive, rather help animals to survive and thrive through the support of the community by way of donations, volunteers, and foster homes. I encourage all to get involved by supporting the organizations who help care for and place previously abandoned animals into loving and responsible forever homes.”