Benjamin McKenzie
| Ben McKenzie | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan September 12, 1978 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Other names | Ben McKenzie |
| Education | Stephen F. Austin High School (Austin, Texas) |
| Alma mater | University of Virginia (B.A.) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Partner(s) | Morena Baccarin |
| Children | 1 |
Ben McKenzie (born Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan; September 12, 1978) is an American actor. He is known as Ryan Atwood in the television series The O.C. and as Ben Sherman in Southland. He appeared in the films Junebug and 88 Minutes. His first starring role in a feature film was in the 2008 indie release Johnny Got His Gun. Since 2014, McKenzie has been starring as James Gordon in the television series Gotham.
McKenzie was born in Austin, Texas, as Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan, one of three boys born to Frances Victory Schenkkan, a poet, and Pieter Meade "Pete" Schenkkan, an attorney. His middle name, McKenzie, is his paternal grandmother's maiden name. His grandfather, Robert F. Schenkkan, was a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and worked with President Lyndon B. Johnson on passing the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. He is a nephew of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, Jr.
For middle school, he attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School, where he was friends and flag football teammates with future Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees. He attended Austin High School, playing wide receiver and defensive back for the school's football team. From 1997–2001, he attended the University of Virginia, his father and paternal grandfather's alma mater, where he majored in foreign affairs and economics. He uses his middle name as his stage name to avoid confusion with actor Ben Shenkman.
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