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.

Known For

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Late Night with Seth Meyers

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Daily Show

Real Time with Bill Maher

Late Show with David Letterman

JAG

Conan

All Movies (17)

• Motor City2026 · as Kent
• Everyone Is Lying to You for Money2026 · as Self
• Bloat2025 · as Jack Reynolds
• I Want You Back2022 · as Leighton's Dad
• Line of Duty2019 · as Dean Keller
• The Report2019 · as Scrubbed CIA Officer
• Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs2017 · as Self
• Some Kind of Beautiful2014 · as Brian
• Decoding Annie Parker2014 · as Tom
• Goodbye World2013 · as Nick
• The Advocates2013 · as Henry Bird
• Adventures in the Sin Bin2012 · as Michael
• Batman: Year One2011 · as Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)
• Johnny Got His Gun2008 · as Joe Bonham
• 88 Minutes2007 · as Mike Stempt
• Desperate Souls2005
• Junebug2005 · as Johnny

All TV Shows (30)

• The Accidental Wolf2020 · as Cast
• Firing Line with Margaret Hoover2018 · as Self - Guest
• Gotham Stories2016 · as James Gordon
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Guest
• The Late Late Show with James Corden2015 · as Self - Guest
• Gotham2014 · as James 'Jim' Gordon
• Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self - Guest
• Men at Work2012 · as Bryan
• Conan2010 · as Self - Guest
• Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated2010 · as Odnarb (voice)
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• Southland2009 · as Ben Sherman
• The Reichen Show2005 · as Self
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson2005 · as Self - Guest
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• The O.C.2003 · as Ryan Atwood
• Punk'd2003 · as Self
• Real Time with Bill Maher2003 · as Self
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self - Guest
• Abby2003
• Good Day Live2001 · as Self
• The District2000 · as Tim Ruskin
• The View1997 · as Self
• The Daily Show1996 · as Self - Guest
• MADtv1995 · as Ryan Atwood
• JAG1995 · as Petty Officer Spencer
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• Late Show with David Letterman1993 · as Self - Guest
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self
• Entertainment Tonight1981 · as Self