Jason Bateman Biography

Jason Bateman is an American actor, director and film producer. This biography profiles his childhood, early life, career, major works, awards, personal life, achievements and timeline.

Image Credit

Quick Facts

Birthday: January 14, 1969

Nationality: American

Famous: Quotes By Jason Bateman Actors

Age: 51 Years, 51 Year Old Males

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Also Known As: Jason Kent Bateman

Born in: Rye, New York

Famous as: Actor, Director & Producer

Height: 5'11" (180 cm), 5'11" Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Amanda Anka

father: Kent Bateman

mother: Victoria Elizabeth

siblings: Justine Bateman

children: Francesca Nora, Maple Sylvie

Personality: INTJ

U.S. State: New Yorkers

Continue Reading Below

Recommended For You

Identify Actors By Eyes

Jason Kent Bateman is an American actor who became famous as a teen actor in the 1980s. He first displayed his scene-stealing penchant in the role of Derek Taylor, best friend of star Ricky Schroder, on ‘Silver Spoons’. He moved to the long-running role of teen David Hogan on the series ‘Valerie’, which later changed names to emerge as ‘The Hogan Family’. Following the conclusion of The Hogan Family, he was plagued by ill-fated sitcoms such as, Simon, George and Leo, Chicago Sons, and Some of My Best Friends. Fortunately, things started to look bright for Bateman. After a supporting role in the Cameron Diaz comedy, The Sweetest Thing, he was offered the lead in the sitcom, Arrested Development. Acclaimed for its smart humor and fresh concept, the show became a hit with critics and viewers. He has acted in a spate of comedies such as Juno, Extract, Couples Retreat, The Switch, and Identity Thief. He has also given sterling performances in movies like Hancock, Kingdom and Disconnect and also directed a couple of movies. He has fought back his drug and alcohol problems successfully and valiantly, and is the perfect example that hard work and persistence will ultimately pay.

Recommended Lists:

Directors

T V & Movie Producers

Childhood & Early Life

Bateman was born on January 14, 1969, in Rye, New York, to Elizabeth, a former flight attendant and Kent Bateman, an actor, writer and director of film and television, and founder of a repertory stage in Hollywood.
He has an older sister, Justine, and three half-brothers. At four, his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and later to California. At 10, he began to act professionally and started to work in commercials.
Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Top

Career

Bateman started his television career in 1981 with a recurring role on Little House on the Prairie, as James Cooper, an orphaned boy who, along with his sister, is adopted by the Ingalls family.
From 1982 to 1984, as a supporting character on the sitcom Silver Spoons, he played Rick Schroder's scheming school friend. His good looks and sense of humor made him popular with teenage girls.
He appeared in the Knight Rider third-season episode "Lost Knight" in 1984, and three years later with Burt Reynolds on the men's team in the inaugural week of the game show ‘Win, Lose or Draw’.
Between 1995 and 2001, he had major roles on four series—Simon, Chicago Sons, George & Leo, and Some of My Best Friends—none of which lasted longer than one season.
In 2002, he played the frisky sibling of Thomas Jane's character in The Sweetest Thing, a romantic comedy film directed by Roger Kumble and starred Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate and Selma Blair.
His success in the television series Arrested Development helped him to land small roles in movies between 2004 and 2007, such as Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Starsky & Hutch, The Break-Up, Smokin' Aces.
In ‘The Kingdom’, a 2007 action film, he played Special Agent Adam Leavitt. The film also starred Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, and Ashraf Barhom.
He had a supporting role in the 2007 comedy drama, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, as Henry Weston, a straight-laced and rigid Accountant. Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman also starred in the movie.
In ‘Juno’, a 2007 comedy-drama film, Bateman was nominated for Critic's Choice Awards for his performance.
Continue Reading Below
In, Hancock, a 2008 superhero film starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and Eddie Marsan, he had a significant role as Ray Embrey, a corporate public relations consultant whose life Hancock saves.
He lent his voice for the short-lived 2009 Fox animated comedy series, Sit Down, Shut Up. He voiced Larry Littlejunk, the gym teacher and only staff member that can teach.
Extract, a 2009 comedy film directed by Mike Judge, starred him with Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Dustin Milligan, J. K. Simmons, and Ben Affleck. The film was moderately well received commercially and critically.
Couples Retreat, a 2009 romantic comedy film, saw him sharing screen-space with Vince Vaughn and Favreau. The film was filmed mostly in Bora Bora, an exotic resort in French Polynesia.
In 2010, he starred in The Switch, a romantic comedy, with Jennifer Aniston. Even though it gained mixed to lukewarm reviews from critics, The Switch proved to be a moderate financial success.
In 2011, he played the role of Special Agent Zoil in the comedy, Paul, and starred in Horrible Bosses and the body-switch comedy ‘The Change-Up’ which received criticism for its crude humor.
He starred in Disconnect, a 2012 thriller film directed by Henry Alex. The film explores how people experience the negative sides of modern communication technology by following three stories.
Identity Thief, a 2013 crime comedy film directed by Seth Gordon, starred him with Melissa McCarthy. The film tells a story about a man (Bateman) whose identity is stolen by a woman (McCarthy).
Bad Words, a black comedy film marked his directorial début. The film had its world premiere as part of the Special Presentation section of the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013.
Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Actors Who Are In Their 50s

American Directors

American TV & Movie Producers

American Film & Theater Personalities

Top

Major Works

The Hogan Family, an American television comedy that aired on NBC and CBS under various names for six seasons and 110 episodes from 1986 to 1991, gave Bateman the status of a teen idol.
Cast as Michael Bluth in the critically acclaimed comedy series Arrested Development that aired from 2003 to 2006, the series did not gain a sizable audience, but Bateman won several accolades for his performance.

Recommended Lists:

Capricorn Men

Top

Awards

Bateman won three Awards in 2005 for his performance in Arrested Development- a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and two Satellite Awards.

Top

Personal Life & Legacy

Bateman married Amanda Anka, daughter of singer Paul Anka, in 2003. They live in Los Angeles, California, and enjoy a happy family life with their two daughters: Francesca Nora and Maple Sylvie.
This actor grappled with his drugs and alcohol addictions while he was in his thirties. He had a minor health scare in 2005 and underwent a throat surgery to remove a benign polyp.

Top

Trivia

This actor’s film company is called - F+A Productions - after his daughter Francesca and wife Amanda who also started production company called DumbDumb, which creates short, comedic filmed advertising.
When asked about his New Year resolutions, this actor declared, “I don't have anything to fix! I don't smoke, I don't drink, and I don't eat carbs. My life is just great now…Vanilla.”

Top

Jason Bateman Movies