Dan Jinks: Oscar-winning producer has Bay Area roots

Dan Jinks (Photo: Dan Jinks)

Dan Jinks, Oscar-winning producer, was in only one CMT show but he still remembers us and we definitely remember him. How could we not?

Dan and his production partner Bruce Cohen won an Oscar and a Golden Globe nomination for American Beauty and an Oscar nomination for Milk in 2008. Their television show “Pushing Daisies” won eight Emmys.

Dan, 46, was Tommy in The Music Man (1980) directed by CMT founder John P. Healy. As a Los Gatos High School student, he also appeared with other local theaters including San Jose Civic Light Opera, Saratoga Drama Group and Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Players.

Dan says “one of the great things about going to high school in the San Jose area was the terrific variety of performing opportunities. It was a great experience to perform at places like CMT, where I was able to meet kids my age from so many different schools. We were all brought together by a mutual love of performing.”