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Ben McKenzie

Actor; Known for his role on "The OC," "Southland" and "Gotham"

Actor; Known for his role on "The OC," "Southland" and "Gotham"

Travels From Travels From:
Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Ben McKenzie Biography

Benjamin McKenzie studied foreign affairs and economics at the University of Virginia, where his interest in acting began. Appearing in several theatrical productions, including "Zoo Story" and Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure," McKenzie's passion gelled, and after graduation he moved to New York City to pursue the stage. He appeared off-Broadway in "Life is a Dream" at the SoHo Rep and in multiple productions at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, including "Street Scene" and "The Blue Bird." Soon Los Angeles beckoned, and McKenzie headed West to try his luck on the TV audition circuit.

The handsome young actor quickly found success, cutting his onscreen teeth with small appearances on the Craig T. Nelson police drama "The District" and as a petty officer on the military legal drama "JAG." Ironically, an unsuccessful audition for a UPN sitcom put McKenzie on the radar of the casting agents who would change his life. "The O.C." was already a highly buzzed-about project, a glossy teen drama with the distinction of being the brainchild of the youngest creator of a TV show in history, the wunderkind Josh Schwartz. Execs were struggling to cast the main character, Ryan Atwood, a troubled Chino teen from the wrong side of the tracks who gets taken in by the wealthy Orange County-based Cohens (Peter Gallagher and Kelly Rowan). McKenzie's electrifying audition convinced producers to take the enormous gamble of resting a brand-new television show on the shoulders of an unknown, and the hype machine kicked into overdrive with the actor's brooding mug soon becoming inescapable.

Happily, the show delivered on all fronts, becoming water-cooler television that minted each of its lead actors as instant celebrities. At the center of it all was McKenzie, whose tough-but-secretly-tender Ryan had to adjust to his adoption into a wealthy new world, navigate a crush on the lovely but damaged Marissa (Mischa Barton), and find himself simultaneously the protector, hero and best friend/brother of the Cohens' dorkily adorable son, Seth (Adam Brody), who pined for the seemingly-shallow Summer (Rachel Bilson). Crackling with youthful energy and a cutting-edge soundtrack, "The O.C." was truly the "It" show of its brief moment in time, and McKenzie earned a slew of magazine covers, media attention and award nominations. A serious-minded individual and actor in his real life, however, McKenzie chose not to traverse the typical teen star trajectory; instead taking a supporting role in the indie drama "Junebug." The story of a dysfunctional Southern family seen through the eyes of a newlywed art dealer (Embeth Davidtz), the film gave McKenzie a strong showcase as Johnny, Davidtz's new brother-in-law, a frustrated young man who still lives at home despite being married to a sweet-natured woman (Amy Adams). Although his part was small, McKenzie shared several ensemble honors with the cast and earned good reviews opposite Adams, who nabbed an Oscar nomination.

After "The O.C.'s" conclusion, McKenzie moved on to a supporting role alongside his acting idol, Al Pacino, in the real-time thriller "88 Minutes." The actor played one of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm's (Pacino) students, who may or may not be involved in a series of diabolically twisted murders. McKenzie next filmed any young actor's dream role: the grievously wounded soldier Joe Bonham in the "live on stage, on film" solo performance of "Johnny Got His Gun" (2008). As the only actor on screen, charged with channeling an American World War I soldier whose body is too broken to communicate with the outside world and only able to move or speak internally, McKenzie impressed critics in a role previously played by Jimmy Cagney, Jeff Daniels and Timothy Bottoms. Although this was not the type of production which launched actors atop the mainstream Hollywood pecking order, McKenzie always focused on his craft more than the stardom game, and he next appeared opposite Ashley Williams in a charming, award-winning short, "The Eight Percent."

For the second phase of his career, McKenzie chose a serious-minded role on a serious-minded show, "Southland" (NBC, 2009; TNT, 2010-2013), a gritty look at LAPD officers and the city they patrol. McKenzie played rookie cop Ben Sherman alongside a talented cast which included Regina King and Michael Cudlitz. More of a dark, character-driven drama than a police procedural, "Southland" was a challenging, intense program, and NBC never seemed quite sure what to make of it. Cancelled after its first season despite excellent critical reviews for its adult storytelling, the show rose from the grave when TNT picked it up, demonstrating the new fluidity of the altered basic cable landscape. Although TNT imposed budget cuts and corresponding cast reductions, it proved willing to invest in McKenzie and "Southland" for the long haul.

The actor returned to theater in 2010 with a well-received turn as gentleman caller Jim O'Connor in the Judith Ivey-starring revival of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" in Los Angeles.

In 2013 McKenzie will return to the network that first gave him his start. His lead role as Detective James Gordon in the Batman origin story on FOX's "Gotham" was the first series order of the Fall 2014 season.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/13/2024.

Ben McKenzie Videos

  • ‘Gotham’ Star Ben McKenzie: I’m Going To Be A Father ‘Any Minute’ | TODAY
  • Gotham SDCC 2016 Interview 7 - Ben McKenzie
  • Ben McKenzie from Gotham

FAQs on booking Ben McKenzie

  • How do I book Ben McKenzie to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ben McKenzie for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ben McKenzie, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ben McKenzie or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Ben McKenzie

    Speaking fees for Ben McKenzie, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ben McKenzie are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ben McKenzie, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Ben McKenzie speak about?

    Ben McKenzie is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Acting, Business, Celebrity, Cryptocurrency, Culture, Entertainment, Finance, Journalism, News & Media, Technology, Television & Film.
  • Where does Ben McKenzie travel from?

    Ben McKenzie generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Ben McKenzie’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Ben McKenzie for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ben McKenzie for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ben McKenzie or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Ben McKenzie is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Ben McKenzie for your event is $200,000 and above. Ben McKenzie generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jada Pinkett Smith, Ben Schwartz, Janelle Monáe, Jameela Jamil and Antoni Porowski. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ben McKenzie for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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