
Ben McKenzie
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.
Gallery




Known For
Acting History
2025
Motor City as Kent
2025Everyone Is Lying to You for Money as Self
2025Bloat as Jack Reynolds
2022I Want You Back as Leighton's Dad
2020The Accidental Wolf as Cast
2019Line of Duty as Dean Keller
2019The Report as Scrubbed CIA Officer
2017Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs as Self
2016Gotham Stories as James Gordon
2015Some Kind of Beautiful as Brian
2015The Late Late Show with James Corden as Self
2015The Late Late Show with James Corden as Self - Guest
2014Gotham as James 'Jim' Gordon
2014Decoding Annie Parker as Tom
2014Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
2013Goodbye World as Nick
2013The Advocates as Henry Bird
2012Adventures in the Sin Bin as Michael
2012Men at Work as Bryan
2011Batman: Year One as Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)
2010Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated as Odnarb (voice)
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
2009Southland as Ben Sherman
2008Johnny Got His Gun as Joe Bonham
200788 Minutes as Mike Stempt
2005The Reichen Show as Self
2005Desperate Souls
2005Junebug as Johnny
2005The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
2003The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
2003The O.C. as Ryan Atwood
2003Punk'd as Self
2003Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
2003Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
2003Abby
2001Good Day Live as Self
2000The District as Tim Ruskin
1997The View as Self
1995MADtv as Ryan Atwood
1995JAG as Petty Officer Spencer
1993Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
1988LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self
1981Entertainment Tonight as Self








