Everything you ever wanted to know about Benjamin McKenzie

Name: Benjamin McKenzie
Birth Name: Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan
Height: 5' 8½
Sex: M
Nationality: American
Birth Date: September 12, 1978
Birth Place: Austin, Texas, USA
Profession: actor
Education: Austin High School in Austin, Texas (graduated in 1997)
University of Virginia (graduated in 2001 with B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Economics)
Father: Pieter Meade Schenkkan (Austin Attorney)
Mother: Mary Frances Victory (a prize-winning poet)
Brother: Nate (older), Zack (younger)
Uncle: Robert Schenkkan (Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright; born March 19, 1953)
Cousin: Sarah Drew (actress; born in 1980)
Claim to fame: as Ryan Atwood on Fox's teen drama The O.C.

Was voted one of InStyle's 10 Hottest Bachelors Of Summer in July 2005, placing at number 10.

As of 2005, he became the third star of The O.C. to get Punk'd. (His co-star Adam Brody was Punk'd in 2004, Rachel Bilson was tricked by Ashton Kutcher in early 2005, and Mischa Barton is the latest to get punk'd.)

Was a speaker at the Democratic National Convention on July 27, 2004.

Moved to New York City three weeks before 9/11.

Sometimes credited as: Ben McKenzie / Benjamin Schenkkan

His uncle is Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan.

Second cousin of Sarah Drew

Changed his name for screen-credit purposes because there's an actor named Ben Schenkman registered with the Screen Actors Guild.

Has a manager, publicist and lawyer on the payroll (he's shopping for a new agent now that his career is taking off).

While in New York he waited tables to help support himself and shared a bunk bed in a cramped apartment in the city.

Graduated from the same high school in Austin that the Bush twins (Jenna and Barbara) graduated from. He was a senior the year they were freshmen.

Was paid between $15,000 and $25,000 per-episode of The O.C. (2003)