Ben McKenzie
Biography
Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan, also known as Benjamin McKenzie, is an American actor and commentator born on September 12, 1978, in Austin, Texas. After graduating in Economics and International Relations at the University of Virginia, he moved to New York to focus on acting and appeared in various off-Broadway productions before relocating to Los Angeles. He is best known for starring television roles including Ryan Atwood on the teen drama The O.C. from 2003 to 2007, Ben Sherman on the crime drama Southland from 2009 to 2013, and James Gordon on the crime drama Gotham from 2014 to 2019. His role in The O.C. concluded with the end of the fourth season on February 22, 2007.
Career overview
Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan was born on September 12, 1978, in Austin, Texas. After graduating in Economics and International Relations at the University of Virginia, he moved to New York to focus on his acting career. In New York, he took on different roles in off-Broadway productions before relocating to Los Angeles, where he secured a starring role in television.
He is best known for his starring television roles, including Ryan Atwood on the teen drama The O.C., which ran from 2003 to 2007 and concluded its fourth season on February 22, 2007. His subsequent television work includes starring as Ben Sherman on the crime drama Southland from 2009 to 2013, and as James Gordon on the crime drama Gotham from 2014 to 2019. In addition to his acting career, he is also known as a commentator.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Motor City (2026) as Kent
- Everyone Is Lying to You for Money (2026) as Self
- Everyone Is Lying to You for Money (2026) Director
- Everyone Is Lying to You for Money (2026) Producer
- Everyone Is Lying to You for Money (2026) Writer
- Bloat (2025) as Jack Reynolds
- Bloat (2025) Producer
- I Want You Back (2022) as Leighton's Dad
- The Accidental Wolf (2020) as Cast
- The Report (2019) as Scrubbed CIA Officer
- Line of Duty (2019) as Dean Keller
- Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (2018) as Self - Guest
- Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs (2017) as Self
- Gotham Stories (2016) as James Gordon
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Gotham (2014) as James 'Jim' Gordon
- Gotham (2014) Director
- Gotham (2014) Writer
- Some Kind of Beautiful (2014) as Brian
- Decoding Annie Parker (2014) as Tom
- Gotham: The Legend Reborn (2014) as Self
- Goodbye World (2013) as Nick
- The Advocates (2013) as Henry Bird
- Men at Work (2012) as Bryan
- Adventures in the Sin Bin (2012) as Michael
- Batman: Year One (2011) as Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)
- Conan (2010) as Self - Guest
- Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010) as Odnarb (voice)
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Southland (2009) as Ben Sherman
- Johnny Got His Gun (2008) as Joe Bonham
- 88 Minutes (2007) as Mike Stempt
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self - Guest
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- Junebug (2005) as Johnny
- Desperate Souls (2005)
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- The O.C. (2003) as Ryan Atwood
- Punk'd (2003) as Self
- Abby (2003)
- Good Day Live (2001) as Self
- The District (2000) as Tim Ruskin
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- JAG (1995) as Petty Officer Spencer
- MADtv (1995) as Ryan Atwood
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self