Ben McKenzie
Acting
1978-09-12 · Austin, Texas, USA
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.
Filmography
TheatersMotor City
2026 · Movie
Everyone Is Lying to You for Money
2026 · Movie
Sheriff Country
2025 · Series
Bloat
2025 · Movie
I Want You Back
2022 · Movie
The Accidental Wolf
2020 · Series
Line of Duty
2019 · Movie
The Report
2019 · Movie
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
2018 · Series
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
2017 · Movie
Gotham Stories
2016 · Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · Series
The Late Late Show with James Corden
2015 · Series
Some Kind of Beautiful
2014 · Movie
Gotham
2014 · Series
Gotham: The Legend Reborn
2014 · Movie
Decoding Annie Parker
2014 · Movie
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014 · Series
Goodbye World
2013 · Movie
The Advocates
2013 · Movie
Adventures in the Sin Bin
2012 · Movie
Men at Work
2012 · Series
Batman: Year One
2011 · Movie
Conan
2010 · Series
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated
2010 · Series
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Series
Southland
2009 · Series
Johnny Got His Gun
2008 · Movie
88 Minutes
2007 · Movie
The Reichen Show
2005 · Series
Desperate Souls
2005 · Movie
Junebug
2005 · Movie
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2005 · Series
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003 · Series
The O.C.
2003 · Series
Punk'd
2003 · Series
Real Time with Bill Maher
2003 · Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Series
Abby
2003 · Series
Good Day Live
2001 · Series
The District
2000 · Series
The View
1997 · Series
The Daily Show
1996 · Series
MADtv
1995 · Series
JAG
1995 · Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993 · Series
Late Show with David Letterman
1993 · Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988 · Series
Entertainment Tonight
1981 · Series