Profile: Jason Bateman

19 June 2008 12:37pm

Real Name: Jason Kent Bateman

Birth Date: January 14, 1969

Image: Solid US actor usually cast as "the straight man"

Best Known For: Playing Michael Bluth in US sitcom Arrested Development

Early Life: Jason was born in New York to a filmmaker father and flight attendant mother. His sister is Family Ties actress Justine Bateman.

He attended Pacific Hills School.

Jason caught the acting bug at a young age and landed his first role, in an educational video, when he was 10 after following his friend to an audition.

At age 12 he was cast as James Cooper Ingalls in Little House On The Prairie, which he stayed in for 21 episodes.

He became an established child television actor and appeared in other series such as Silver Spoons before becoming a director at 18 by shooting episodes of a series called Valerie, in which he also starred.

He then had numerous one-off TV and film roles before landing the part of Michael in Arrested Development.

Career High: Winning an Emmy for Arrested Development in 2005.

Jason also won critical acclaim for his performance in last year's massive hit film Juno.

Love Life: He married actress Amanda Anka in 2001. They have one child together called Francesca, who is nearly two, and live in Los Angeles, California.

Don't Mention: William Shatner - Jason thinks he looks like him.

Words Of Wisdom: "Obviously, I did a couple of things right on the old casting couch."

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