Benjamin McKenzie
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Ben McKenzie (born Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan on September 12, 1978) is a American actor. He is the star of the television series The O.C., playing Ryan Atwood, a troubled teen who is thrust into a new life in Newport Beach from his old home Chino, California, with the help of his public defender, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher). Ryan experiences the rags to riches scenario.
Biography
McKenzie grew up in Austin, Texas and attended the University of Virginia, where he majored in Foreign Affairs and Economics. He was too nervous to try out for plays during high school so he did 'the typical Americana' like thing and played football. He got into acting during his first few years at the University of Virginia. He moved to L.A. soon after 9/11 due to the standstill in acting opportunities. He was in L.A. a year landing bit roles in TV shows until The O.C. came along. His uncle is the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan. His parents are Pieter Meade Schenkkan and Mary Frances Victory, a prize-winning poet. He started being credited as Ben McKenzie with the second season of The O.C.As of 2005, he became the third star of The O.C. to get Punk'd. Also he became the sixth star and the fifth victim to appear on the show more than twice. He set up his co-star Adam Brody back in 2004, where Brody created a mêlée for trying to steal someone else's future wife. He appeared again on Punk'd in mid-2005, this time getting punk'd by Kutcher's crew members. (Rachel Bilson was tricked by Ashton Kutcher in early 2005, Mischa Barton was tricked in late 2005, and Barton's O.C. girlfriend, Olivia Wilde, was the latest to get punk'd.)
Credits
- 88 Minutes
- Snakes on a Plane
- Junebug (Renaissance Films/Sony Pictures Classics)
- The O.C. (FOX)
- Zoo Story (University of Virginia)
- Measure for Measure (University of Virginia)
- The Blue Bird (Williamstown Theatre Festival)
- Street Scene (Williamstown Theatre Festival)
- Life is a Dream (Off-Broadway play)
References
[Fox.com/oc cast bios: Ben McKenzie]External link
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