Jason Bateman

About Jason Bateman

Jason Kent Bateman (born January 14, 1969) is a Golden Globe-winning and Emmy Award-nominated 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 and Juno.

Bateman was born in Rye, New York, United States, 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 Family Ties star Justine Bateman. He is an alumnus of Pacific Hills School.

Bateman began acting in 1981, playing James Cooper Ingalls in the television drama, Little House on the Prairie. He appeared on an episode of Knight Rider in 1984. He earned the status of teen idol in the mid-1980s in shows such as Silver Spoons, It's Your Move, and The Hogan Family, and became the Directors Guild of America's youngest-ever director when he directed 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 engaged character in the feature film The Sweetest Thing. He also appeared in the Scrubs season five episode "My Big Bird", and in 2003 his career made a major comeback with the role of Michael Bluth on the FOX television comedy Arrested Development.