Michael Vartan

Last updated
Michael Vartan
Michael Vartan 2010 cropped.jpg
Vartan in September 2010
OccupationActor
Years active1988–2018
Spouse
Lauren Skaar
(m. 2011;div. 2014)

Michael Vartan is a French-American actor, known for his role as Michael Vaughn on the ABC television action drama Alias , his role on the TNT medical drama Hawthorne , and his role on the E! drama The Arrangement as Terence Anderson. His film roles include The Pallbearer , Never Been Kissed , The Next Best Thing , One Hour Photo , Monster-in-Law , Rogue , Colombiana , and Small Town Crime .

Contents

Early life

Vartan is the son of Edmond "Eddie" Vartan, a musician, and Doris (née Pucher), a painter and artist. [1] [2] His paternal aunt is singer Sylvie Vartan and his stepfather is writer Ian La Frenais. [3] Michael's paternal grandfather was of Armenian and Bulgarian descent, while Michael's paternal grandmother was of Hungarian Jewish background. [4] [5] [6] [7] Michael's mother is a Polish Jewish immigrant to the United States. [4] [8] [9] [10]

Vartan has said about his French background that "The funny thing is I'm actually a Polish Jew who happens to be born in France. My mom is Polish and my dad is Bulgarian. I don't have an ounce of French blood. But I work it". [8] [11] He has stated that he tends to be considered a Frenchman in the United States and an American in France. [12]

His parents divorced when he was five and he moved to the United States with his mother. [13] He moved back to France to be with his father until his high school years, and grew up a "farm kid" in a "simple environment" [10] in Fleury, Manche, a small town in Normandy. [13] [14] At age eighteen, Vartan moved back with his mother in Los Angeles, telling her that he wanted to be an artist, because he did not wish to fulfill the mandatory military service required in France. [15] [10] In Los Angeles, he attended an acting school after he was told he possessed acting talent. He had also attended the prestigious Lycée Français de Los Angeles. Vartan now considers himself to be American and stated on the talk show Rove that he would like Australia to be his second home. [16] He is bilingual, being fluent in French and English. [17]

Career

After starring roles in European films, including an acclaimed performance in the Taviani Brothers' Fiorile, and several smaller film roles, Vartan had noticeable supporting roles in major Hollywood movies, including Never Been Kissed (1999), One Hour Photo (2002) and Monster-in-Law (2005). [16] In 2007, he appeared in the Australian horror film Rogue , and starred in the film Jolene in 2008.

Vartan's most notable role to date has been as Michael Vaughn in the American television series Alias (2001–2006). He played the role of Lancelot in TNT's production of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon (2001). Vartan has also had guest appearances on Friends (as Dr. Tim Burke, Tom Selleck's character's son) and Ally McBeal (as Jonathan Basset). He also appeared on the show Kitchen Confidential , which starred his former Alias co-star Bradley Cooper, as a French chef who was Cooper's rival. In September 2007, Vartan played James Walker, a main role in the ABC drama Big Shots . However, the show was canceled after one season.

Vartan co-starred opposite Jada Pinkett Smith in TNT's series Hawthorne . Vartan replaced Jeffrey Nordling, who played the role in the pilot. [18] TNT canceled the series after its third season. [19]

He starred as Terence Anderson on the E! drama The Arrangement .

Vartan co-hosts a weekly live sports program called Advanced Shouting with friends Dan Petriw and Noel Fogelman. The first episode was uploaded to YouTube in June 2020. The broadcast is also available via Facebook.

Personal life

Vartan at the 23rd Genesis Awards, Beverly Hills, California, March 28, 2009 Michael Vartan.jpg
Vartan at the 23rd Genesis Awards, Beverly Hills, California, March 28, 2009

Vartan began dating his Alias co-star Jennifer Garner in mid-2003. After several months of rumors, their break-up was confirmed in August 2004. [20] [21] [22] [23]

In March 2010, Vartan announced his engagement to Lauren Skaar, whom he met in a Whole Foods Market parking lot in Los Angeles in 2009. [24] The couple married on April 2, 2011, at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, California. [25] Skaar filed for divorce in July 2014, citing irreconcilable differences. [26]

Vartan has a dog named Millie, with whom he appeared in a PETA video about good canine care and to whom he wrote a "love letter" for an anthology. [27] He is a keen supporter of Australian rules football, having watched the game on numerous visits to Australia, in particular Melbourne. He is good friends with Brendan Fevola and supports Carlton. [28] After the completion of the film Rogue , Vartan got a Southern Cross tattoo on his right arm to show his love for Australia. [29]

Vartan is also a fan of ice hockey, a trait incorporated into his character, Michael Vaughn, on Alias. [30]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991One Man and Two WomenFred
1992Summer WalksThomas
1992StringerChris
1993 Fiorile Jean / Massimo
1995 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Tommy
1996 The Pallbearer Scott
1997 Touch Me Adam
1997 The Myth of Fingerprints Jake
1998 The Curve Chris
1999 Never Been Kissed Sam CoulsonNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (with Drew Barrymore)
2000 It Had to Be You Charlie Hudson
2000 The Next Best Thing Kevin Lasater
2000 Sand Tyler Briggs
2002 One Hour Photo Will Yorkin
2005 Monster-in-Law Dr. Kevin Fields
2007 Rogue Pete McKell
2008 Jolene Brad
2010 High School Calculus TeacherUncredited
2011 Demoted Rodney McAdams
2011 Colombiana Danny Delanay
2016 Within (aka Crawlspace)John Alexander
2016 Nina Radio Interviewer
2017 Small Town Crime Detective Crawford

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 Black Leather Jacket Motorcycle BoyTelevision film
1993 Spender Paul DucheyneEpisode: "Puck"
1993 Fallen Angels Harry StoneEpisode: "Murder, Obliquely"
1997 Friends Dr. Tim BurkeEpisode: "The One with Chandler in a Box"
2000 Ally McBeal Jonathan Bassett2 episodes
2001 The Mists of Avalon Lancelot Television film
2001–2006 Alias Michael Vaughn 95 episodes
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor – Drama/Action Adventure
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Male Breakout Star
2005 Kitchen Confidential Michel ValentineEpisode: "French Fight"
2007 Big Shots James Walker11 episodes
2009–2011 Hawthorne Dr. Tom Wakefield30 episodes
2012 Go On HimselfEpisode: "Bench-Clearing Bawl"
2012Ring of FireDr. Matthew Cooper2 episodes
2014 Bates Motel George Heldens6 episodes
2014 Satisfaction Dylan3 episodes
2015 Rectify ForrestEpisode: "Sown with Salt"
2017–2018 The Arrangement Terence Anderson20 episodes
2018 God Friended Me Jeffrey BloomEpisode: "The Prodigal Son"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjelica Huston</span> American actress (born 1951)

Anjelica Huston is an American actress, director and model known for often portraying eccentric and distinctive characters. She has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for three British Academy Film Awards and six Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2010, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Paquin</span> New Zealand actress (born 1982)

Anna Paquin is a New Zealand actress. She made her acting debut in the romantic drama film The Piano (1993), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 11, becoming the second-youngest winner in Oscar history. As a child actress, she had roles in Fly Away Home (1996), Jane Eyre (1996), Amistad (1997), The Member of the Wedding (1997), and A Walk on the Moon (1999), as well as in Cameron Crowe's comedy drama film Almost Famous (2000).

<i>Alias</i> (TV series) American spy-action television series

Alias is an American action thriller and science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC for five seasons from September 30, 2001, to May 22, 2006. It stars Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, a double agent for the Central Intelligence Agency posing as an operative for SD-6, a worldwide criminal and espionage organization. Main co-stars throughout all five seasons included Michael Vartan as Michael Vaughn, Ron Rifkin as Arvin Sloane, and Victor Garber as Jack Bristow.

Merrin Melissa Dungey is an American film and television actress, known for her roles on the television series The King of Queens, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, Summerland, Conviction, The Resident and The Fix. She also appeared as Ursula on Once Upon a Time. From 2022 to 2023, Dungey played series regular Kam in Shining Vale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Cromwell</span> American actor and activist (born 1940)

James Oliver Cromwell is an American actor and activist. Known for his extensive work as a character actor, he has received a Primetime Emmy Award as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Babe (1995). Other notable roles include in Star Trek: First Contact (1996), L.A. Confidential (1997), Deep Impact (1998), The Green Mile (1999), Space Cowboys (2000), The Longest Yard (2005) The Queen (2006), W. (2008), Secretariat (2010), The Artist (2011), Still Mine (2013), Marshall (2017), and Emperor (2020). He has also voiced roles in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), and Big Hero 6 (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radha Mitchell</span> Australian actress

Radha Rani Amber Indigo Ananda Mitchell is an Australian actress. She began her career on television, playing Catherine O'Brien on the Australian soap opera Neighbours (1996–1997), before transitioning to working in Hollywood. Known for her work in the action and thriller genres, she is the recipient of an FCCA Award, as well as nominations for Fangoria Chainsaw, AFI, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Grunberg</span> American actor (born 1966)

Gregory Phillip Grunberg is an American film and television actor known for starring as Eric Weiss in the ABC series Alias, Matt Parkman in the NBC series Heroes, Temmin "Snap" Wexley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and Phil in A Star Is Born. He has often appeared in works produced and directed by his childhood friend J. J. Abrams, such as Felicity as Sean Blumberg. He was a recurring cast member in the first two seasons of the Showtime American television drama series Masters of Sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Whitaker</span> American actor (born 1961)

Forest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer and director. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Vaughn</span> American actor (born 1970)

Vincent Anthony Vaughn is an American actor. He began acting in the late 1980s, appearing in minor television roles before attaining wider recognition with the 1996 comedy Swingers. Vaughn then appeared in the sci-fi action movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), the dramas The Locusts (1997) and Return to Paradise (1998), the Western South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000), and the thriller Domestic Disturbance (2001). He starred as Frank Semyon in the second season of the HBO anthology crime drama television series True Detective (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Mendelsohn</span> Australian actor

Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn is an Australian actor. He first rose to prominence in Australia for his break-out role in The Year My Voice Broke (1987). He gained international attention for his starring role in the crime drama Animal Kingdom (2010). He has since had roles in films such as The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Starred Up (2013), Lost River (2014), Mississippi Grind (2015), Rogue One (2016), Darkest Hour (2017) and Ready Player One (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marton Csokas</span> New Zealand actor (born 1966)

Marton Paul Csokas is a New Zealand actor of film, stage, and television. A graduate of the Toi Whakaari drama school, he has worked extensively in Australia and Hollywood, along with his native country, and often portrays villainous roles.

Rae Dawn Chong is a Canadian-American actress. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1978 musical drama film Stony Island, and in 1981 starred in the fantasy film Quest for Fire, for which she received the Genie Award for Best Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Nichols (actress)</span> American actress and model

Rachel Nichols is an American actress and model. Nichols began modeling while attending Columbia University in New York City in the late 1990s, and transitioned into acting by the early 2000s; she had a part in the romantic drama Autumn in New York (2000) and a one-episode role in the fourth season of Sex and the City (2002). Her first major role was in the comedy Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003), and she went on to achieve wider recognition playing Rachel Gibson in the final season of the action television series Alias (2005–2006) and for her role in the horror film The Amityville Horror (2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cole Hauser</span> American actor (born 1975)

Cole Kenneth Hauser is an American actor. He is known for film roles in Higher Learning, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Good Will Hunting, Pitch Black, Tigerland, Hart's War, Tears of the Sun, The Family that Preys, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Cave, The Break-Up, A Good Day to Die Hard, Olympus Has Fallen, and Transcendence. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in Tigerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggie Q</span> American actress (born 1979)

Margaret Denise Quigley, professionally known as Maggie Q, is an American actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniella Alonso</span> American film and television actress

Daniella Alonso is an American actress and former fashion model. She has appeared in a number of horror films, including The Hills Have Eyes 2 and Wrong Turn 2: Dead End. Alonso was a regular cast member in the NBC post-apocalyptic series Revolution from 2012 to 2013, and the medical drama The Night Shift in 2014. Alonso also appeared in the first season of the TNT crime drama Animal Kingdom in 2016, and in 2019 began starring as Cristal Flores in the third season of the prime time soap opera Dynasty, which aired on The CW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Burk</span> American film and television producer

Bryan Burk is an American film and television producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sofia Boutella</span> Algerian and French actress, dancer and model (born 1982)

Sofia Boutella is an Algerian actress, dancer and model. She is known for her roles in the films Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Star Trek Beyond (2016), The Mummy (2017), Climax (2018), Rebel Moon (2023) and Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Garner</span> American actress (born 1972)

Jennifer Anne Garner is an American actress. Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, Garner studied theater at Denison University and began acting as an understudy for the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City. She made her screen debut in the television film adaptation of Danielle Steel's romance novel Zoya in 1995. She had a starring role on the Fox teen drama series Time of Your Life (1999–2000), and supporting roles in the war drama film Pearl Harbor (2001) and the comedy-drama film Catch Me If You Can (2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taron Egerton</span> Welsh actor (born 1989)

Taron Egerton is a Welsh actor. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he performed in stage plays. Egerton gained recognition for his starring role as Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, a spy, in the action comedy films Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017).

References

  1. Meyer-Stabley, Betrand (September 23, 2002). "Elle: Internet Watch: Michael Vartan". Elle France . Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  2. "Superstar Moms: Famous Kids". People. April 24, 2002. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  3. "Running Man". Arena . October 2002. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  4. 1 2 Miller, Gerri (March 6, 2014). "Hollywood Now: Kunis & Kutcher, Adrien Brody, Jake Gyllenhaal & Leslie Mann". InterfaithFamily. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  5. "From La Maritza to La Seine". Le Site Officiel. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  6. Vartanian, Hrag (April 2004). "Michael Vartan: A Face That's Hard to Forget". Armenian General Benevolent Union. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
  7. Bonini, Emmanuel (2004). Sylvie Vartan. Flammarion. ISBN   978-2080686121.
  8. 1 2 Peyser, Marc; Devin Gordon (May 23, 2005). "NEWSMAKERS". Newsweek. Retrieved November 3, 2007.[ dead link ]
  9. Bloom, Nate (June 3, 2005). "Celebrity Jews". J. The Jewish News of Northern California . Archived from the original on March 13, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  10. 1 2 3 Fischer, Paul (May 3, 2005). "Michael Vartan for "Monster-in-Law"". Dark Horizons . Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  11. j. – Celebrity Jews Archived 2006-03-13 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Interview Michael Vartan – Alias
  13. 1 2 Barker, Lynn (May 10, 2005). "Michael Vartan". Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  14. "Michael Vartan: The Golden Nephew". Gala . November 2002. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  15. Colon, Suzan (November–December 1997). "Q&A: Michael Vartan". Jane . Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  16. 1 2 Hellard, Peta (November 4, 2007). "Hollywood hero's bush horror". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  17. :: Michael Vartan – vartanfan[dot]com – fan site ::. Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine .
  18. Andreeva, Nellie (February 16, 2009). "Michael Vartan joins TNT's 'Time Heals'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  19. Rice, Lynette (September 2, 2011). "TNT cancels 'HawthoRNe' after three seasons". Entertainment Weekly.
  20. Susman, G, "Undercover Work". Entertainment Weekly . August 14, 2003. Retrieved on December 13, 2006.
  21. "Garner & Vartan Split?". Buzzle.com. March 24, 2004. Retrieved on January 23, 2007.
  22. "Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan Archived 2009-07-20 at the Wayback Machine ". Moono.com. August 21, 2004. Retrieved on January 23, 2007.
  23. "Garner Confirms Love Split Archived 2008-05-26 at the Wayback Machine ". AskMen.com . August 19, 2004. Retrieved on January 23, 2007.
  24. "Michael Vartan of Alias is Engaged!". People. March 19, 2010.
  25. "Alias Star Michael Vartan Gets Married!". Us Weekly. April 2, 2011.
  26. Corriston, Michelle (July 16, 2014). "Michael Vartan & Lauren Skaar Divorcing After 3 Years of Marriage". People. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  27. "Michael Vartan Pens Love Letter To His Dog," People. December 7, 2011.
  28. Hellard, Peta (November 10, 2007). "Outback tests Michael Vartan". The Courier-Mail . Brisbane. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  29. "Rogue star Michael Vartan answers back". Herald Sun . Melbourne. November 16, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  30. Wang, Cynthia (July 18, 2011). "Michael Vartan: That Other Thing I Do". People.