Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan, born on September 12, 1978, is a prominent American actor and commentator celebrated for his compelling performances on television. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Ryan Atwood in the hit teen drama *The O.C.*, which aired from 2003 to 2007. Following this success, he starred as Ben Sherman in the gritty crime series *Southland* from 2009 to 2013, and later took on the iconic character of James Gordon in the acclaimed series *Gotham* from 2014 to 2019.
McKenzie pursued a degree in Economics and International Relations at the University of Virginia before relocating to New York City to focus on his acting career. He initially honed his craft in various off-Broadway productions, which led to his breakthrough role in *The O.C.*, earning him multiple awards during the show's run.
His film career began with a notable appearance in the Academy Award-nominated movie *Junebug* (2005), followed by roles in *88 Minutes* (2007), *Goodbye World* (2013), *Some Kind of Beautiful* (2014), and *Line of Duty* (2019).
In his personal life, McKenzie has been married to actress Morena Baccarin since 2017, and together they have two children. He comes from a family of talent, with his uncle being Pulitzer Prize-winning actor Robert Schenkkan and his second cousin actress Sarah Drew.
