Michael Jenkins’ management has confirmed the writer and director’s death, after a long career on the silver and small screens.
The writer-director passed away with his family by his side as tributes have started to pour in for the television ‘legend’. The 77-year-old had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, and Michael Jenkins’ death was confirmed through his partner, Amanda Robson. Friend Ian Barry told fans he passed away on March 4, with the celebrity‘s partner and family with him.
Michael Jenkins’ legacy will ‘live on’ after his death
Michael Jenkins’ management team said in a tribute that his “contributions to the entertainment industry and his legacy as a film-maker and storyteller will be well remembered.”
The Australian native, who also worked with NBC and collaborated with Netflix is known for the high school teen drama Heartbreak High. It followed a group of teens in the suburbs of Sydney, and when it was cut in 1996, UK channel BBC2 funded another 26 episodes because it was so popular. ABC then commissioned further seasons due to it’s loyal audience, and they released between 1997 and 1999.
He was behind some of Australia’s popular series, with Heartbreak High being rebooted for the streaming giant in 2022. The high school drama initially gripped viewers in the 1990s. Jenkins was also behind Blue Murder, hailed as one of the country’s best-ever crime dramas. He also directed the two-part miniseries for ABC in 1995, coming out of retirement to produce the 2017 reprisal, Blue Murder: Killer Cop.
Starting off as a reporter, he moved to behind the scenes at ABC in Australia. After working as a director for a decade he worked on Scales of Justice in 1983, before Rebel.
He has worked on a number of drama television shows, and his 1993 flick The Heartbreak Kid spurred the spin-off series.
Netflix bought the rights to Heartbreak High in 2000, and took on remaking the the show for a modern audience. It went on to win an International Emmy and the second season will launch in April. Jenkins was a consultant on the reboot.
‘He was behind one of the best TV series ever’
Tributes have poured in for Michael Jenkins after his death. He will be remembered along the celebrity deaths we mourn each year.
Australian actor Adam Zwar paid tribute on social media after his death, he wrote: “RIP Michael Jenkins – writer/director of arguably the greatest Oz TV series ever – Blue Murder… He often talked of making a Ned Kelly film, told through the eyes of Joe Byrne. Would’ve loved to have seen that.”
Screen Producers Australia said: “Michael’s legacy will live on through audiences enjoying productions he worked on for generations to come.”
They added his “contributions to the Australian screen industry were extensive”.
A fan wrote on Twitter: “Vale Australian scriptwriter Michael Jenkins. Penned some great stuff, incl the controversial local show about NSW police corruption, SCALES OF JUSTICE (1983), and of course the best piece of true crime television ever made in Australia, BLUE MURDER (1995).”
And another penned: “Very sad news. Michael Jenkins was one of the greats. I was privileged to work with him when I was just starting out. My thoughts are with his family. Vale [Goodbye].”
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