Before graduating to play attractive, conniving adults, actor Jason Bateman first established himself by playing attractive, but conniving juveniles. Often cast as a comic counterpoint to bland or naive leads, Bateman provided a welcome shot of vinegar to the sugary sweet “Silver Spoons” (NBC, 1982-87) as Derek Taylor, the best friend of rich kid, Ricky Stratton (Ricky Schroeder). Channeling the unctuous charm of Eddie Haskell from "Leave It to Beaver" (ABC, 1957-1963), Bateman played Derek for three seasons before he was spun-off into a series of his own. Over the next two decades, the actor – brother of “Family Ties” (NBC, 1982-89) star Justine Bateman – literally grew up before the cameras, staying consistently employed in a number of short-lived sitcoms. Among his most notable roles was that of eldest son, David Hogan on the long-running smash hit comedy “Valerie” – ultimately re-named “The Hogan Family” – from 1986 to 1991. Making a seamless transition from teen actor to adult, Bateman continued his career on the small screen as a likeable straight man on a number of other 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 10 as the star of an educational film, which led to several TV commercials and ultimately, 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 the long-running "Little House on the Prairie" (NBC, 1974-1983). Bateman’s big break, however, came when he was cast as Derek Taylor on “Silver Spoons.” Portraying a cute, smooth talking ne’er do-well, Bateman’s Derek became wildly popular with audiences, effortlessly stealing scenes from the series’ star, Ricky Schroeder. Despite his popularity – or perhaps because of it – Bateman’s character was written out of the show after the second season, allegedly at the insistence of Ricky Schroeder’s management.
Not remaining idle for long, Bateman promptly resurfaced in 1984 as the star of his own show, “It’s Your Move” (NBC, 1984-85). In it, Bateman starred as Matt Burton, an outwardly angelic 14-year-old – actually a slick confidence trickster – who meets his match in his mother's new boyfriend, Norman Lamb (David Garrison). Their escalating one-upmanship provided the foundation for the short-lived comedy. Made by the same producers who would later bring us “Married. . .with Children” (Fox, 1987-1997), “It’s Your Move” distinguished itself with its surprisingly subversive tone and lack of sentimentality. Though not everyone’s cup of tea, the show was unusually well written, with young Bateman's killer smile perfectly complementing his sly line deliveries. After the cancellation of "It's Your Move," Bateman kept busy in a string of guest shots and TV movies.
In 1986, Bateman landed the role of Valerie Harper’s eldest son, David Hogan, on the resilient family sitcom "Valerie” – a.k.a. “Valerie's Family,” a.k.a. “The Hogan Family" (NBC, 1986-1990; CBS, 1990-91). More naturalistic and less distinctive than his previous sitcom roles, the series provided Bateman with a comfortable, if unremarkable, berth during the bulk of his adolescence. Nevertheless, he distinguished himself during the series run by directing three episodes, becoming the DGA’s youngest-ever inducted member at age 18. Less memorable TV-movies and guest shots followed the demise of "The Hogan Family." Bateman made an inauspicious feature debut replacing Michael J. Fox in the sequel, “Teen Wolf Too" (1987). Produced by his father, Kent Bateman, the film was panned mercilessly by critics – revealing at the end of the day, that Bateman’s low-key charm was best served on television. In one of his rare, serious roles, he played the brother of real-life older sister, Justine Bateman (best known as Mallory Keaton on “Family Ties”) in the well-received telefilm, "Can You Feel Me Dancing?” (NBC, 1986). Also produced by their father, the film told the affecting story of a resourceful blind teen smothered by the attentions of her well-meaning family.
Coming into adulthood, the adult Bateman popped up next in the short-lived sitcom "Simon" (WB, 1995-96), playing an unemployed MBA and recently divorced older brother of a blessed innocent. The young TV veteran next landed a lead on "Chicago Sons" (NBC, 1996-97), another sitcom about brotherly love. It, too, had a short shelf life. Displaying his trademark hearty resilience, Bateman quickly rebounded, playing the son of Bob Newhart's character on the CBS sitcom, "George and Leo" (1997-98). While that show effectively demonstrated that Bateman’s comedic skills had carried into adulthood, it, too, was cancelled after just one season. The actor had even worse luck with his next show, "Some of My Best Friends" (CBS, 2001), in which he played a gay writer in Greenwich Village who takes in an unsuspecting roommate. Not surprisingly, that show was cancelled after just eight airings.
In 2003, Bateman landed his best role to date and the part that brought him back to the forefront of comic TV actors. As Michael Bluth, the good son born into a vain and supremely dysfunctional family on the much beloved Ron Howard creation, "Arrested Development," Bateman provided the only voice of reason in the eccentric household, populated with such scene-stealers as Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi and Jeffrey Tambor. Low-rated, but critically adored, the edgy offering struggled in the Nielsen ratings throughout its first season, but was ultimately renewed, thanks to the support of Fox executives and the outpouring of anger from fans upset that the smart comedy might meet a premature end . Although the ratings failed to significantly improve, the cast was showered with well-deserved praise, particularly Bateman, who, in 2005, ended up winning his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy. Despite all its accolades, however, “Arrested Development” simply could not survive its low ratings. After much back-and-forth between the show’s producers and the network, the fast-paced sitcom was finally canceled in 2006. Rumors about the series being picked up by Showtime were dashed when creator Mitch Hurwitz officially called it quits.
Meanwhile, Bateman continued to thrive as a favored supporting player in big-screen comedies, including deft turns as a sleazy mob lawyer in "Starsky & Hutch" (2004) and as a sports commentator in "Dodgeball" (2004). Due to his onscreen pairing with Vince Vaughn in the latter, he subsequently gave a fine comic performance in Vaughn’s feature film creation, “The Break-Up” (2006), playing a real estate agent refusing to waive his commission on a condo sold to a couple (Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston) going through a bitter break-up. Bateman followed this up with a supporting role in another romantic comedy, “The Ex” (2007) directed by Jesse Peretz. Originally promoted under the working title “Fast Track,” “The Ex” co-starred 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. |
