Jenkins retired from acting at the age of eleven, after he developed a stutter, and as an adult recalled his film career fondly and without regret. He did state, however, that he had not particularly enjoyed acting and had never expected to make a career of it. Later described as a "businessman-outdoorsman", Jenkins established a successful career away from Hollywood and lived for many years in Dallas, Texas, before moving to western North Carolina in the late 1970s. There he built a home "on the side of a steep mountain", where he resided with his third wife, Gloria. On August 14, 2001, he died at age 63 in Asheville, North Carolina.