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Ben McKenzie

Acting Born Sep 12, 1978 Austin, Texas, USA 24 credits

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.

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Known for

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

as Self - Guest

The Daily Show

as Self - Guest

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

as Self - Guest

Late Night with Seth Meyers

as Self - Guest

Real Time with Bill Maher

as Self

Late Show with David Letterman

as Self - Guest

JAG

as Petty Officer Spencer

Conan

as Self - Guest

Gotham

as James 'Jim' Gordon

Full filmography

  • Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
  • The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
  • Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
  • Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
  • JAG (1995) as Petty Officer Spencer
  • Conan (2010) as Self - Guest
  • Gotham (2014) as James 'Jim' Gordon
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self - Guest
  • The O.C. (2003) as Ryan Atwood
  • The View (1997) as Self
  • The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self - Guest
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
  • Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010) as Odnarb (voice)
  • LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
  • The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
  • Southland (2009) as Ben Sherman
  • Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (2018) as Self - Guest
  • The District (2000) as Tim Ruskin
  • Good Day Live (2001) as Self
  • Punk'd (2003) as Self
  • The Reichen Show (2005) as Self