Information

Contact Ben

If you wish to contact Ben, the best way to do so is to send a letter to his agency. Please keep your letters respectful, short and simple. Unfortunately I don’t know if he responds to all of his mail personally or if he sends back autographs, but it’s definitely worth a try.

Benjamin Mckenzie
c/o Endeavor Talent Agency
9601 Wilshire Blvd
3rd Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Trivia & Facts

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

He graduated from Austin High in 1997 and received his bachelor’s degree in economics and foreign relations from the University of Virginia in 2001.

Family: Father, Peter Schenkkan is an attorney in Austin, Texas; Mother, Frances Schenkkan is a poet/writer; Brothers, Nate and Zack.

His uncle is Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan.

He moved to New York City three weeks before 9/11.

Once waited tables to support himself while living in New York.

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

Was one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive, 2006. He is found in the “Sexy at every age, Age 28.”

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

Ben Quoted

“I’ve always been kind of a loner. Continue to be. So, in that sense, Ryan and I are the same. I played football in Texas, but I didn’t really hang out with the jocks. I did honors courses, but I didn’t hang out with those kids, either. I sort of had my own group I hung with occasionally, but I’ve always been kind of by myself.”

It’s a Fox thing, the bad-boy image. They’re trying to type me out. There are worse things in life, you know. I’m just really excited about the opportunity.”

“It’s against type in the sense of my background, but it’s with type in the sense that I am a loner who’s new to this business and skeptical about a lot of it.”

“I’m somewhat puzzled about that myself. I did theater in college, so I had already started down that path, but I didn’t want to major in theater at U. Va. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I thought I’d get a good education and do some acting at the same time”

“Sometimes those fears (about fame) creep into the back of your head, but then you slap yourself and think, ‘Oh, woe is me! People actually like me.’ What a silly thing to worry about. This is a huge opportunity, and I’m excited.”

“I had one year of struggle. My parents were always there, but I didn’t want to rely on them. Now it’s moving pretty fast. I’m not rich, but obviously this is fantastic. All I know to do with money is put it in a shoe box anyway.”

“This whole scene is very strange. It’s a very strange town and a very strange business, and it has a tendency to creep me out. Ryan’s relationship with Orange County is very similar to my relationship with L.A.: fabulous wealth, and odd people behaving oddly, and I’m definitely a bit overwhelmed. I hope I’m hiding it well.”

“It seemed so absurd to me at the time. Oh, yeah, I’m gonna get this pilot and be a star. C’mon! That doesn’t happen to some kid from Austin who doesn’t know what the heck he’s doing.”

“If you don’t want female attention, a mustache is the way to go… they’re not a fan.”

“I had sort of an F-you vibe… Everyone else had come to audition and kissed the asses of [producers] McG and Doug Liman–which they should in a sense, because they’re so accomplished. But I just didn’t. I went in and did my thing, and I don’t know, I guess they liked it.”

“I’ve heard a couple of comments about [Johnny], people saying, ‘We hate him; he’s so mean.’ And I just so disagree with that. That’s a silly way of looking at it. Johnny is a guy who does exist. I grew up with guys who weren’t all that dissimilar from him. He’s a Southern, working-class guy who’s trying really hard. You can root for him the entire way.”

“I’m a Texas guy. I love Mexican food, barbecue and sports.”

“I like old-school guys like Al Pacino, who has a no-nonsense attitude–he’s there to work. People my age are more fixated on the glamour and instant gratification [of show business]–the fame, money and tabloid stuff, which is kind of cheesy.”

“Let’s just say, it was great because I was totally incognito. There was no use in pretending to be pretty while sporting a big hairy mustache. So I figured I’d just indulge in my unattractiveness. I rented a truck and drove around North Carolina going to dive bars. It was awesome. Nobody noticed me. They didn’t even do a double take.”

“I like a simple, clean look. I don’t like hair too fussy–though dangly earrings can be sexy. Not a lot of makeup–that can do more harm than good, especially if she’s really attractive to begin with. You don’t ever want a woman to look so different from what you’re going to wake up to in the morning, should that situation arise.”