Jason Bateman biography

After The Hogan Family ended in 1991, Bateman continued to find work on television. None of these roles lasted for long, however. The family comedy Simon only lasted one season, from the fall of 1995 to spring 1996. The show focused on the lives of two very different brothers sharing an apartment in New York City. Next up for Bateman was Chicago Sons,

a comedy about three brothers and their romantic misadventures. The show was a midseason replacement and was canceled after six months on the air.

Taking a professional risk, Bateman stepped away from his usual sitcom roles for the 2001 series Some of My Best Friends. The show was based the 1997 independent comedy Kiss Me, Guido, which explored the relationship between a gay man (Bateman) and a straight Italian American man (Danny Nucci) who become roommates. "What makes me laugh about my character is that he's not really as smart or cool or good-looking as he thinks he is. I think this show is the best thing I've ever done," Bateman told The Advocate. Critics and television audiences did not share Bateman's opinion of the show, and it was canceled after only a few episodes.

Breakout Role

Bateman entered an uncertain time in his career after the failure of the series. "After 26 years of doing something, most people either switch course or retire...I was wearing out my welcome on TV; you get certain vibes that they'd rather see someone they hadn't seen before," Bateman explained to Vogue. In 2003, Bateman experienced a professional renaissance with the television comedy Arrested Development. He played Michael Bluth, a widower with a teenaged son (Michael Cera) who can't seem to break away from his dysfunctional family. Jessica Walter played his domineering mother and Jeffrey Tambor played his quirky father who was facing fraud charges. Each of his adult siblings (played by Will Arnett, Tony Hale, and Portia de Rossi) were uniquely twisted in his or her own special way.

While it never achieved huge ratings, Arrested Development was a critical success. The show was nominated for several Emmy Awards during its three-season run, including a nod for Bateman in 2005 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. That same year, he won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series.

Big Screen Success

His work on Arrested Development helped revitalize Bateman's film career. He landed a string of small and supporting roles in such comedies as 2004's Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and 2006's The Break-Up with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. He continued to be in demand for film work after Arrested Development was canceled in 2006. Tackling more dramatic fare, Bateman appeared in the military thriller The Kingdom with Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner.

Bateman reteamed with Garner for the 2007 independent comedy Juno about a pregnant teenager (Ellen Page). In the film, he and Garner played a married couple who want to adopt Page's baby. Bateman gave a nuanced performance as a commercial jingle writer who, at mid-life, still harbors dreams of rock stardom and doesn't seem to want to grow up.