W.L. Jenkins's Page

W.L. Jenkins "The voice you want to hang out with."

Video Games: I’m a versatile, efficient video game actor with a wide range of dialects and characters to suit most genres. My work in the theater, along with my classical and Method acting training, makes me a creative presence in the booth. Couple my experience as a commercial voice over talent with my years of directing, and you have a reliable actor to work with.

Commercials: People are drawn to my voice because of its underlying wit, sense of trust and occasional flash of sarcasm. It's the confident voice of someone who knows what they're talking about. Guys like to have a beer with my voice. Women feel comfortable letting my voice order for them. I can be your accessible, down home storyteller. Your cool, jazzy, laid-back announcer. Or the hip edgy buddy next to you in a foxhole. I’m great with dialogue.

My growing cast of dialects includes British RP, Estuary, London street, Liverpool, Dublin, Scottish, Russian, Australian, Transatlantic, NY Italian, Southern Rhotic and Non-Rhotic. And strange people who live in my head.

I’m a former award-winning advertising creative director/copywriter with over 23 years working in Los Angeles.

Prior to my ad career I was a company member of the prestigious Berkeley Repertory Theatre and trained at ACT. Like most Bay Area actors of that era I appeared on the Streets of San Francisco and in movies like Foul Play, Heroes and others that filmed there. I also performed in many theatrical productions in San Francisco and summer stock at PCPA/Solvang.

My current voice acting coach is Jeff Howell. Video games with Zach Hanks.

My L.A. voiceover instructors have included Marice Tobias, Becky Bonar and Lisa Orkin. Character dialects with Eliza Jane Schneider. Previously I’ve studied method with Jean Shelton, and improv with Stephen Book, among others.

I’m also the author of How to Audition for TV Commercials: From the Ad Agency Point of View (available at amazon.com) and have held seminars at the SAG Foundation LifeRaft, and for actors throughout L.A.