Maxwell Jenkins

Maxwell Jenkins (born May 3, 2005) is an American actor and musician, who is known for his roles in Lost in Space, A Family Man, Sense8, Dear Edward, and Arcadian. In 2020, he played the role of Joseph Bell in the true story of Joe Bell. In 2021, he was cast as the young Jack Reacher in the Amazon Prime television series Reacher.

Early life and education Jenkins is the son of Jeff Jenkins, a former Ringling clown, and Julie Greenberg, a film and theatre actress. They are the co-founders and directors of the Chicago-based Midnight Circus, whose proceeds help fund general improvements for the Chicago parks the circus is hosted in. Jenkins began performing with the circus at age three, and has performed acts including rola-bola, acrobatics, tightwire walking, juggling, and playing mandolin.

Jenkins was educated at Lane Tech College Prep High School, a selective magnet high school, in the Roscoe Village area of Northeast side Chicago, Illinois.

Jenkins now attends the University of California, Los Angeles. He plans to major in Global Studies, with a minor in Film and Media Studies.

Career Jenkins started his acting career in ABC's Betrayal at age eight in 2013. He would then go on to have recurring roles in several series including Sense8, directed by the Wachowski sisters, and Chicago Fire, where he portrayed the character of J.J. Holloway. In 2016, Jenkins was cast as Will Robinson in Lost in Space, a Netflix remake of the 1965 television series. In 2021, Jenkins was cast as a young Jack Reacher in the Amazon series Reacher based on the novel series by Lee Child. In it, he portrayed a young boy whose new illness forces his father to reevaluate his priorities and search for a way to reconnect with his family. with one critic noting his scenes to be among the film's most powerful.

Jenkins is also an avid musician, playing mandolin, guitar, bass guitar, violin, and drums. His band, Cowboy Jesus and the Sugar Bums, received a Chicago Music Award.

Personal life Alongside his professional successes, Jenkins has continued to perform in his family's non-profit circus show, Midnight Circus in the Parks. Through this, performers have raised over $1 million for Chicago park renovations, community projects, and overseas disaster relief. Jenkins has also been a spokesman for the ASPCA, where he often advocates for better education, legislation, and protection for canine breeds. He has also helped raise awareness and funds for the conservation group Oceana. Jenkins led a petition to change the stereotypical Indian symbol used by his own high school. Speaking at his Local School Council, he argued that the symbol did not show respect to native peoples and that there was a historical precedent for the school to change its policies to align with modern progress, just as it had when it changed its enrolment policy to accept female students. It was soon announced that the school would remove its Indian symbol as a mascot.

In 2020, Jenkins was honored for his various charity and community contributions when he was presented with a Community Leadership Award by the Young Artist Academy.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2013–2014 Betrayal Oliver Recurring role 2015 Sense8 Young Will GorskiRecurring role NCIS: New Orleans Ryan Griggs Episode: "I Do" Chicago Fire J.J. 2 episodes 2018–2021 Lost in Space Will Robinson Main role 2021 Chicago Med EJ Daniels Episode: "A Square Peg in a Round Hole" 2022 Reacher Young Jack Reacher Recurring role 2023 Dear Edward Jordan Main role 2025 The Bondsman Cade Halloran Main role 2027 Scooby-Doo: Origins Fred Jones Main role

Awards and nominations