Benjamin McKenzie, born September 2, 1978 in Austin, Texas, grew up in Texas and moved to New York after graduation to persue his passion in acting. He appeared in minor television roles before being cast as Ryan Atwood, a troubled teen thrust into a new life in Newport Beach, on The O.C., which has become a ratings success. Ryan Atwood is a troubled teenager from Chino who plunges headlong into the wealthy privileged community of Newport Beach, California, having being taken in by Sandy Cohen following his mother (Dawn Atwood) throwing him out of their family home. He had an on/off relationship with Marissa Cooper before she was killed.