Ben McKenzie

Birth Name:

Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan

Birth Place:

Austin, Texas, United States

Profession

Actor, Director, Writer, Producer

Earned a degree in foreign relations and economics from the University of Virginia
Began acting in college, making his theater debut as Friar Laurence in a controversial school production of "Romeo Juliet" that provided a commentary on race by casting black actors as the Montagues and white actors as the Capulets
Made his TV debut in a 2002 episode of "The District․"
Lived in New York and appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions before finding film and TV work
Quote: "What's great about voice acting is that it's very similar on one level to live acting but there's a whole technique that I'm new to, that I'm learning as I go along․"
Experienced a quick rise to stardom after being cast as bad boy Ryan Atwood on the hit TV series "The O․C․"
Made his feature film debut in the 2005 comedy-drama "Junebug․"
Went to middle school at St․ Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, where he played on the same football team as future NFL quarterback Drew Brees

2004Teen Choice Award - Choice TV Actor - Drama/Action Adventure:Nominated
2004Teen Choice Award - Choice Breakout TV Star - Male:Nominated
2005Teen Choice Award - Choice TV Actor: Drama:Nominated
2005Teen Choice Award - Choice TV Chemistry:Nominated
2012Prism Award - Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline:Nominated
2016Blimp Award - Favorite Family TV Actor:Nominated
2016Teen Choice Award - Choice TV Actor: Drama:Nominated
2019Teen Choice Award - Choice TV Actor: Action:Nominated

Fast Facts