Jason Bateman Biography

Summary

"Jason Kent Bateman" (born January 14, 1969) is an American actor. After starring in several 1980s sitcoms, Bateman became known for his role as Michael Bluth on the television sitcom "Arrested Development". Since the show's end, he has also appeared in several Hollywood films, such as "The Kingdom", "Juno", and "Hancock".

Early life

Bateman was born in Rye, New York, the son of Victoria, a flight attendant of Maltese heritage, and Kent Bateman, a film and television writer/director and founder of a repertory stage in Hollywood. His older sister is Justine Bateman of "Family Ties" fame.

Career

Bateman began acting in 1981, playing James Cooper Ingalls in the television drama, "Little House on the Prairie". He appeared in the "Knight Rider" third-season episode 'Lost Knight' in 1984. He earned the status of teen idol in the mid-1980s in shows such as "Silver Spoons", "It's Your Move", and most notably "Valerie" (later renamed "Valerie's Family" and then "The Hogan Family" after Valerie Harper left the series), and became the Directors Guild of America's youngest-ever director when he helmed three episodes of "The Hogan Family" at the age of 18. After the series ended its run, his career slowed down for nearly a decade. During this period, he had major roles on four series — "Simon", "Chicago Sons", "George & Leo", and "Some of My Best Friends" — none of which lasted for longer than one season. In 2002, he landed the role as the frisky sibling of Thomas Jane's character in the feature film "The Sweetest Thing".

"Arrested Development"

In 2002, Bateman was cast as Michael Bluth in the comedy series "Arrested Development". Although critically acclaimed, the series never achieved high ratings. It ended in a two-hour series finale (four episodes in a row) on February 10, 2006, broadcast opposite the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Bateman won several awards for his work on the series, including a Golden Globe for "Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy". He was also nominated in 2005 for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.

Recent work

More recently, he has appeared in "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" as ESPN 8 ('The Ocho') commentator Pepper Brooks, and in "Starsky & Hutch" as Kevin, Vince Vaughn's business partner. Bateman reunited with Vaughn in 2006's "The Break-Up", and also did commentary on the 2004 Democratic National Convention for "The Majority Report" with "Arrested Development" co-star David Cross. In 2006, he appeared as a guest star on the sitcom "Scrubs" as Mr. Sutton, a garbage man with a flock of vicious ostriches as pets, and as former lawyer Rupert 'Rip' Reed in "Smokin' Aces". In 2007, he starred in "The Kingdom", "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" and "Juno", where he again worked with his "Kingdom" co-star Jennifer Garner, and his "Arrested Development" co-star Michael Cera. In 2008, he starred with Will Smith and Charlize Theron in the superhero film "Hancock".

Bateman has signed on to film a new comedy due out in 2009, co-starring with Ben Affleck called "Extract". The movie will be written and directed by Mike Judge. On October 15, 2008, "TV Guide" reported that Bateman had signed on to co-star in "Couples Retreat", a comedy chronicling four couples who partake in therapy sessions at a tropical island resort. Kristen Bell will play his wife.

He hosted NBC's "Saturday Night Live" on February 12, 2005.

He ranked at #60 on VH1's "100 Greatest Kid Stars".

In 2009, Bateman became a regular voice actor for the Fox comedy series, "Sit Down, Shut Up". He voices Larry Littlejunk, the gym teacher and only staff member that can teach. The series premiered on April 19, 2009. Kenan Thompson, Kristin Chenoweth, Will Forte, Tom Kenny, Nick Kroll, Cheri Oteri, Will Arnett, and Henry Winkler are the other main cast members.

Bateman will repreise his role as Michael Bluth on 2010 in the Arrested Development movie. All the main cast will reprise their roles. The film will be directed by Ron Howard, the executive producer and uncredited narrator of the show, and will be written by the show's creator Mitchell Hurwitz.

Awards

Bateman has won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor (Musical or Comedy) and two Satellite Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Michael Bluth. He has also been nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Performance by a Cast in a Comedy Series and Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He has also been nominated for Peoples' Choice Award for Best Male Star of the Year. He, along with the cast and crew of Arrested Development won the TV Land Award for Future Classic.

Personal life

Bateman has one older sister, actress Justine Bateman. Bateman told "Best Life" magazine that he and Justine supported their parents with the paychecks they earned on their television shows, and that his father was his manager until Jason fired him at the age of 20.

Since 2001, Bateman has been married to actress Amanda Anka, daughter of singer and actor Paul Anka. Their first child, Francesca Nora Bateman, was born October 28, 2006.

In late 2005, he had surgery to remove a benign polyp from his throat. The surgery and required recovery time halted production on "Arrested Development", though enough episodes had been completed to get the show through November sweeps.

Bateman is a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and wore Dodgers clothing in the 2008 film "Hancock". Keith Olbermann stated on his May 14, 2009 MSNBC show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, that he and Jason Bateman are friends and they occasionally attend baseball games and drink lemonade in New York with fellow friend, David Cross.