Jason Bateman Biography And Filmography:

Before growing up to play eye-catching, manipulative adults, actor Jason Bateman first established himself by playing attractive, but conniving young boys. Regularly cast as a comic counterpoint to plain or naive leads, Jason Bateman brought a welcome shot excitement to the television series “Silver Spoons” (1982-87) as Derek Taylor, the best friend of wealthy kid, Ricky Stratton (Rick Schroeder). Focusing the oily charisma of Eddie Haskell from "Leave It to Beaver", Bateman played Derek for three seasons before he was spun-off into a television series of his own. 

Over the next twenty years, Jason Bateman – brother of “Family Ties” star Justine Bateman –  grew up before our eyes and the cameras, staying constantly employed in a number of  sitcoms. Among his most outstanding roles was that of oldest son, David Hogan on the long-running smash hit comedy “Valerie”, then re-named “The Hogan Family”, – from 1986 to 1991. Making an effortless change-over from young teen actor to adult leading man, Jason Bateman continued his career on television sitcoms – most notably with his comeback in the dysfunctional family comedy “Arrested Development” (Fox, 2003-06).

Born in Rye, NY on Jan. 14, 1969, Jason Kent Bateman was the son of Hollywood producer Kent Bateman and the younger brother of actress Justine Bateman. Bateman began acting at the age of ten as the star of an educational film, which led to several TV commercials and eventually, series work. In 1981, the 12-year-old Bateman scored a recurring role as James Cooper Ingalls, an orphan adopted by Michael Landon’s character, on "Little House on the Prairie" (1974-1983). Jason Bateman’s big break came when he was cast as Derek Taylor on “Silver Spoons.” Playing a cute, smooth talking young boy, Bateman’s Derek became madly popular with audiences, always stealing scenes from the series’ star, Ricky Schroeder. Regardless of his popularity – or perhaps because of it – Bateman’s character was written out of the show after the second season, purportedly at the request of Ricky Schroeder’s management.

Not staying down for long, Bateman swiftly resurfaced in 1984 as the star of his own show, “It’s Your Move” (1984-85). In this show, Bateman starred as Matt Burton, a superficially angelic 14-year-old – actually a smooth con man – who meets his match in his mother's new boyfriend, Norman Lamb (David Garrison). After the cancellation of "It's Your Move," Bateman stayed busy in numerous guest roles and television movies. In 1986, Jason Bateman was cast in the role of Valerie Harper’s oldest son, David Hogan, on the family sitcom "Valerie” – then renamed “Valerie's Family,” then renamed again to “The Hogan Family" (1986-1990). More down to earth than his previous sitcom roles, the series gave Bateman a comfortable place to work during a large portion of his teen years. 

Less memorable television movies and guest appearances followed the end of "The Hogan Family." Bateman made his movie debut replacing Michael J. Fox in the sequel, “Teen Wolf Too" (1987). In one of his unusual, solemn roles, Bateman played the brother of real-life older sister, Justine Bateman (best known as Mallory Keaton on “Family Ties”) in the television movie, "Can You Feel Me Dancing?” (1986). Also produced by their father, the movie told the touching story of an inventive blind teenager smothered by the attentions of her family.

Growing into young adulthood, the older Jason Bateman showed up next in the sitcom "Simon" (1995-96), portraying an unemployed MBA and recently divorced older brother of a can-d-no-wrong sibling. The young TV veteran next accepted a lead on "Chicago Sons" (1996-97), another sitcom about family love. Showing his trademark energetic flexibility, Bateman swiftly rebounded, playing the son of Bob Newhart's character on the sitcom, "George and Leo" (1997-98). While that show showed that Bateman’s comedic talents had carried into adulthood, the series was cancelled after just one season. The actor had even worse luck with his next show, "Some of My Best Friends" (2001), where he played a gay writer in Greenwich Village who takes in a gullible roommate. Not surprisingly, that show was cancelled after just ten episodes.

In 2003, Jason Bateman landed the role that would bring him into the American viewers heart, and the role that brought him back to the forefront of comic TV actors. As Michael Bluth, the good son born into a hopeless and completely dysfunctional family on the much loved Ron Howard creation, "Arrested Development," Jason Bateman sounded the only voice of reason in the peculiar household, occupied with such celebrities as Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi and Jeffrey Tambor and Michael Cera . Low-rated, but loved by all, the show struggled in the Nielsen ratings during its first season, but was finally renewed, thanks to the support of Fox management and the millions of angry fans upset that the intelligent comedy might be cancelled . 

Although the ratings failed to improve, the cast was gifted with well-deserved applause, above all Bateman, who won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy. Even with all its awards, “Arrested Development” could not survive its low ratings. The sitcom was finally canceled in 2006. 

Jason Bateman continued to do well as a supporting player in big-screen comedies, including clever roles as a slimy mob lawyer in "Starsky & Hutch" (2004) with Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson Carmen Electra and Vince Vaughn about two streetwise cops (Stiller and Wilson) who bust criminals in their red-and-white Ford Torino with the help of police snitch called Huggy Bear (Snoop Dogg). Bateman then appeared as a sports commentator in "Dodgeball" (2004) with Vince Vaughn, about a group of misfits who enter a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament in order to save their cherished local gym from the onslaught of a corporate health fitness chain. 

Next was the romantic comedy “The Break-Up” (2006) with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, playing a real estate agent refusing to give up his commission on a condo sold to a couple (Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston) going through a nasty break-up. Bateman followed with a supporting role in another romantic comedy, “Fast Track” starring Zack Braff and Amanda Peet as Tom and Sofia Reilly, a happily married couple living in small-town Ohio whose marital bliss is shattered, however, with the arrival of Sofia’s old flame, Chip Sanders (Bateman) – a passive-aggressive paraplegic who schemes to get Sofia back. Bate then appeared in the crime drama "Smokin' Aces" (2006) with Ryan Reynolds and Ben Affleck, a story about a Las Vegas performer-turned-snitch named Buddy Israel who decides to turn state's evidence and testify against the mob. 

The following year Bateman started strong with a starring role alongside Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner in the action thriller "The Kingdom" (2007), where a team of U.S. government agents is sent to investigate the bombing of an American facility in the Middle East. He followed with the family comedy "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" (2007) starring Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman before hitting it big with another breakout role in the Academy Award winning dramatic comedy "Juno" (2007) starring Michael Cera , Jennifer Garner and Ellen Page. "Juno" was a summer blockbuster with the tale told over four seasons, starting in autumn when Juno, a 16-year-old high-school junior in Minnesota, discovers she's pregnant after one event in a chair with her best friend, Bleeker. In the waiting room of an abortion clinic, the quirky and whip-sharp Juno (Ellen Page) decides to give birth and to place the child with an adoptive couple. 

The following year Bateman appeared in the romantic comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) with Kristen Bell and Bill Hader, where a devastated man takes a Hawaii vacation in order to deal with recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know Sarah's traveling to the same resort as her ex ... and she's bringing along her new boyfriend. Next for Bateman was the comedy action adventure "Hancock" (2008) with Charlize Theron and Will Smith about a hard-living superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public and enters into a questionable relationship with the wife of the public relations professional who's trying to repair his image. Bateman then had the starring role alongside Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck in the thriller "State of Play" (2009) - based on the BBC mini-series of the same title, where a team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman's mistress.

Jason then worked with Jonah Hill, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe and Jeffrey Tambor in the comedy "This Side of the Truth" (2009), a comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. Another comedy followed with "Extract" (2009) a comedy from director Mike Judge that follows the personal and professional problems endured by the owner of a flower-extract plant. Bateman wrapped his year with the long anticipated feature movie "Arrested Development", reuniting with Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera and Jeffrey Tambor, based on the cult television series and catching up with the brother and sister relationship, odd cousins, crooked businessman and Dumb Blondes. 

• Also Credited As:
  Jason Kent Bateman
• Born:
  on 01/14/1969 in Rye, New York
• Job Titles:
  Actor, Director

Family

• Daughter: Francesca Nora Bateman. Born Oct. 28, 2006; mother, Amanda Anka
• Father: Kent Bateman. Directed episodes of "Valerie's Family" and "The Hogan Family"; produced "Teen Wolf Too" (1987) and "Breaking the Rules/Sketches" (1992), both starring Jason; served as supervising producer on the film "Can You Feel Me Dancing?" (NBC, 1986) starring Justine with Jason; founded a repertory stage company in Hollywood with Jason and Justine
• Father-in-law: Paul Anka.
• Mother: Victoria Bateman.
• Sister: Justine Bateman. Played Mallory on the popular sitcom, "Family Ties" (NBC) from 1982-1989; worked together on "Can You Feel Me Dancing?" and the comedy special "Candid Camera Eat! Eat! Eat!" (CBS, 1989)

Significant Others

• Companion: Alexondra Lee.

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