Ben McKenzie
Acting

Ben McKenzie

September 12, 1978 (48 years old) Austin, Texas, USA

Also known as: Benjamin McKenzie, Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan

Biography

Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan (born September 12, 1978) is an American actor and commentator. He is best known for his starring television roles as Ryan Atwood on the teen drama The O.C. (2003–2007), Ben Sherman on the crime drama Southland (2009–2013), and James Gordon on the crime drama Gotham (2014–2019).

After graduating in Economics and International Relations at the University of Virginia, he moved to New York in order to devote his attention to acting. There he received first in off-Broadway productions different roles, before moving to Los Angeles and was hired there for a starring role in the television series The OC, with the fourth season came to an end on 22 February 2007. For his portrayal of Ryan Atwood in the series he won several awards between 2003 and 2007.

He made his film debut in the Academy Award-nominated film Junebug (2005), before appearing in films including 88 Minutes (2007), Goodbye World (2013), Some Kind of Beautiful (2014), and Line of Duty (2019).

He has been married to actress Morena Baccarin since 2017; they have 2 children. His uncle is actor and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan; his second cousin is actress Sarah Drew.

Known For

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015 • TV

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009 • TV

The Late Late Show with James Corden

The Late Late Show with James Corden

2015 • TV

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014 • TV

Motor City

Motor City

2026 • Movie

The Report

The Report

2019 • Movie

Movie Credits (23)

Acting

2026

Motor City

as Detective Kent

2019

The Report

as Scrubbed CIA Officer

2007

88 Minutes

as Mike Stempt

2011

Batman: Year One

as Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)

2019

Line of Duty

as Dean Keller

2022

I Want You Back

as Leighton's Dad

2014

Some Kind of Beautiful

as Brian

2005

Junebug

as Johnny

2026

Everyone Is Lying to You for Money

as Self

2017

Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs

as Self

2014

Decoding Annie Parker

as Tom

2005

Desperate Souls

2013

Goodbye World

as Nick

2025

Bloat

as Jack Reynolds

2012

Adventures in the Sin Bin

as Michael

2008

Johnny Got His Gun

as Joe Bonham

2013

The Advocates

as Henry Bird

2014

Gotham: The Legend Reborn

as Self

—

The O.C.

as Ryan Atwood

Crew

2025

Bloat

Producer

2026

Everyone Is Lying to You for Money

Director

2026

Everyone Is Lying to You for Money

Producer

2026

Everyone Is Lying to You for Money

Writer

TV Credits (33)

Acting

2015

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

as Self - Guest

1 episodes

2009

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

as Self - Guest

1 episodes

2015

The Late Late Show with James Corden

as Self - Guest

2 episodes

2014

Late Night with Seth Meyers

as Self - Guest

3 episodes

1996

The Daily Show

as Self - Guest

1 episodes

2005

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

as Self - Guest

2 episodes

1993

Late Show with David Letterman

as Self - Guest

1 episodes

1997

The View

as Self

2 episodes

2010

Conan

as Self - Guest

1 episodes

1995

JAG

as Petty Officer Spencer

1 episodes

1988

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

as Self

1 episodes

2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

as Self - Guest

3 episodes

2003

Real Time with Bill Maher

as Self

2 episodes

1993

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

as Self - Guest

2 episodes

2014

Gotham

as James 'Jim' Gordon

100 episodes

2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

as Self

4 episodes

2001

Good Day Live

as Self

1 episodes

2003

The O.C.

as Ryan Atwood

92 episodes

2005

The Reichen Show

as Self

1 episodes

2010

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

as Odnarb (voice)

1 episodes

Crew

2014

Gotham

Director

2014

Gotham

Writer

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
September 12, 1978 (48 years old)
Place of Birth
Austin, Texas, USA
Popularity
2.7

Career Stats

23
Movies
33
TV Shows