Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan (born September 12, 1978) is an American actor and commentator. He is best known for his starring television roles as Ryan Atwood on the teen drama The O.C. (2003–2007), Ben Sherman on the crime drama Southland (2009–2013), and James Gordon on the crime drama Gotham (2014–2019). After graduating in Economics and International Relations at the University of Virginia, he moved to New York in order to devote his attention to acting. There he received first in off-Broadway productions different roles, before moving to Los Angeles and was hired there for a starring role in the television series The OC, with the fourth season came to an end on 22 February 2007. For his portrayal of Ryan Atwood in the series he won several awards between 2003 and 2007. He made his film debut in the Academy Award-nominated film Junebug (2005), before appearing in films including 88 Minutes (2007), Goodbye World (2013), Some Kind of Beautiful (2014), and Line of Duty (2019). He has been married to actress Morena Baccarin since 2017; they have 2 children. His uncle is actor and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan; his second cousin is actress Sarah Drew.

Filmography

• 2026Everyone Is Lying to You for Money — Self, Director, Producer, Writer
• 2026Motor City — Detective Kent
• 2025Bloat — Jack Reynolds, Producer
• Sheriff Country — Sheriff Wade
• 2022I Want You Back — Leighton's Dad
• The Accidental Wolf — Cast
• 2019Line of Duty — Dean Keller
• 2019The Report — Scrubbed CIA Officer
• Gotham Stories — James Gordon
• 2014Decoding Annie Parker — Tom
• Gotham — James 'Jim' Gordon, Director, Writer
• 2014Some Kind of Beautiful — Brian
• 2013Goodbye World — Nick
• 2013The Advocates — Henry Bird
• 2012Adventures in the Sin Bin — Michael
• Men at Work — Bryan
• 2011Batman: Year One — Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)
• Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated — Odnarb (voice)
• Southland — Ben Sherman
• 2008Johnny Got His Gun — Joe Bonham
• 200788 Minutes — Mike Stempt
• 2005Desperate Souls
• 2005Junebug — Johnny
• Abby
• The O.C. — Ryan Atwood
• The District — Tim Ruskin
• JAG — Petty Officer Spencer
• MADtv — Ryan Atwood

Appearances as themselves (21)

• Firing Line with Margaret Hoover — Self - Guest
• 2017Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs — Self
• The Late Late Show with James Corden — Self - Guest
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — Self - Guest
• 2014Gotham: The Legend Reborn — Self
• Late Night with Seth Meyers — Self - Guest
• Conan — Self - Guest
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen — Self - Guest
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson — Self - Guest
• The Reichen Show — Self
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Self - Guest
• Punk'd — Self
• Real Time with Bill Maher — Self
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show — Self
• Good Day Live — Self
• The View — Self
• The Daily Show — Self - Guest
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien — Self - Guest
• Late Show with David Letterman — Self - Guest
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark — Self
• Entertainment Tonight — Self