Benjamin McKenzie (born
Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan;
September 12,
1978) is an
American actor and producer known for playing
Ryan Atwood on the hit television series
The O.C., which earned him many
Teen Choice Award nominations. He has starred in films such as
88 Minutes and
Junebug,
[Junebug's Benjamin McKenzie Retrieved 2007-1-14. People Magazine.] which earned him
Sarasota Film Festival nominations and he was also voted one of
Teen People's Hottest 25 Stars.
Early life
McKenzie was born in
Austin, Texas, the son of Mary Frances (
née Victory), a prize-winning poet, and Pieter Meade Schenkkan. His uncle is the
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
Robert Schenkkan. McKenzie is the second cousin of actress
Sarah Drew.
McKenzie changed his name for screen-credit purposes because there is an actor named Ben Schenkken registered with the
Screen Actors Guild. His paternal grandparents both were theatre actors. His younger brother Nate is a
Yale graduate working in avant-grade theater in
New York. His youngest brother Zack is a
Pomona College alumni.
