One of the first things Ben bought when he got some money was a pair of $800 black leather boots. (edit) Ben has volunteered with the Young Storytellers Program. (edit) Ben will appear in the 2007 Al Pacino thriller, 88 Minutes, with former The OC co-star Melinda Clarke. Ben will play Mike Stemp in the movie. (edit) Ben was one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive, 2006. He is found in the "Sexy at every age, Age 28." (edit) Ben crashed on a friend's floor for a year before he got his role on The O.C. (edit) Both Ben's father and grandfather also graduated from the University of Virginia. (edit) Ben was a speaker at the Democratic National Convention on July 27, 2004. (edit) Ben changed his name for screen-credit purposes because there's an actor named Ben Schenkman registered with the Screen Actors Guild. (edit) Ben is best known for his pouty, smoldering look... and of course, his The O.C. character Ryan Atwood's wifebeater and jeans gear. (edit) Ben has performed in several stage productions. (edit) Ben was a waiter while in New York City. (edit) Ben moved to New York City three weeks before September 11, 2001, and he was there for the terrorist attacks. (edit) In early 2006, Ben bought an Infiniti G35. (edit) Ben graduated from Austin High School in 1997. While at the high school, Ben was on the football team. This is the same high school as the Bush twins, daughters of President George W. Bush, attended. Ben was a senior when they were freshman. (edit) Ben helped to "punk" his The O.C. co-star Adam Brody for Ashton Kutcher's show Punk'd. The next season, Ben himself was Punk'd! (edit) Ben recently purchased a $1.5 million house in the Hollywood Hills (September 2005). (edit) Ben' s height is 5' 8.5" (1.74 m). (edit) Ben studied foreign affairs and economics while in college. (edit) Ben is the son of Austin attorney Pete Schenkkan and poet-writer Frances Schenkkan. Ben is the oldest of three children. His brothers are Nate, 22 and Zack, 19. His uncle is Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan and Sarah Drew, who is a recurring star on Everwood, is his second cousin. (edit)

Benjamin: You don't ever want a woman to look that different from what you're going to wake up to in the morning, should that situation arise. (edit) Ben: (When discussing differences between Ryan Atwood and himself.) 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. (edit) Ben: (On his O.C. audition) 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. (edit) Ben: (on graduating from the University of Virginia) 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. (edit) Ben: If you don't want female attention, a moustache is the way to go... they're not a fan. (edit) Ben: (On playing a thug) 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. (edit) Ben: 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. (edit) Ben: 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. (edit) Ben: 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. (edit) Ben: (on being a part of "The O.C") 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. (edit) Ben: 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. (edit) Ben: I found out right off the bat that those guys are f**king crazy and they will kill you. I was practicing with them and this monster dropped his pants in the middle of the field and started pissing. I realized then; I can't do this. I might die. (edit) Ben: 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. (edit)