With only a handful of stage and TV credits on his résumé, this Texas-born hunk became an overnight sensation as a bad boy on the prime-time soap
The O.C. and quickly (if prematurely) found himself being compared to Russell Crowe and James Dean. Although gossipmongers linked him to a number of starlets, including
O.C. siren Mischa Barton and
Everwood's Emily VanCamp, the actor seemed more focused on his career than his personal life and soon branched out into features, with supporting roles in
Junebug and
88 Minutes.
Benjamin McKenzie Fast Facts:
- Moved to New York City three weeks before Sept. 11.
- Uncle Robert Schenkkan won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for his play The Kentucky Cycle.
- Was a speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
- Second cousin is Sarah Drew, who plays Hannah Rogers on Everwood.
- Benjamin McKenzie Relationships:
- Frances Schenkkan - Mother
- Nate Schenkkan - Brother
- Pete Schenkkan - Father
- Robert Schenkkan - Uncle
- Zack Schenkkan - Brother
- College:
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (BA in Foreign Affairs and Economics, 2001)
