Scans from the ‘LA Times’ and ‘Reading Eagle’ articles were added to the gallery:
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‘O.C.’ heartthrob Ben McKenzie talks war, Dalton Trumbo and his role as a man trapped in his body in ‘Johnny Got His Gun.’
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The casting of “The O.C.’s” Ben McKenzie as a horrifically wounded World War I soldier in “Johnny Got His Gun” might be a nightmarish notion for fans of the TV show, but the presence of this all-American-looking teen idol in a skeletal, heartfelt antiwar drama lends a jarring, current resonance.
“It’s a very small, little passion project for a few people; I just hope it adds to the conversation a little bit,” said McKenzie on a Friday evening in a cafe on noisy Sunset Boulevard. “Some of the proceeds will go to the Fallen Patriot Fund, which helps out [Operation Iraqi Freedom] veterans. But I don’t have any grand illusions that this will spark some kind of national conversation over the Iraq war; we’ve been having that conversation for some time and this is not going to tip the balance. It’s just another little bit for people to think about.”
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Rowan Joseph said not much about his life has changed since he left Reading after graduating from Holy Name High School in the 1970s.
He’s still acting, writing and directing. Only now he’s directing actors such as Ben McKenzie (recently of “The OC” and “Junebug”) and producing movies that play to a national audience.
One other thing that has remained constant is that Joseph sees the relationships he has formed to be as valuable as the talent he has.
“I’m doing the same things I was doing in high school,” Joseph said. “My life hasn’t really changed that much.”
Except, of course, for his name.
Growing up and performing in Reading, Joseph was known as Joe Rowan and he was a regular performer with the former Reading Civic Opera where he credits actors Larry Longlott, Bruce McLean and the late Betty Lou McLean with both friendship and mentoring.
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Lynchburg, VA – Two big name actors were in Lynchburg Saturday campaigning for democrat Barack Obama. John Cho and Ben McKenzie have been touring the state and dropped by Obama’s downtown headquarters. McKenzie is known for his role in The OC. Cho starred in Harold and Kumar. Both spoke to supporters about the importance of getting out the vote. McKenzie knows the Virginia well because he went to college at UVA. Ben McKenzie, Actor – “I think the state is changing very quickly and it’s really nice to see people embrace a new kind of figure. And embrace a new way of getting government to work for them.” John Cho, Actor – “I am really here to mostly thank people because Virginians are going to make a real difference in this election.” wset.com