Alias

Background:

“About five years ago, I made a conscious decision to take acting seriously. It’s not an easy job, That’s why I decided to stick to projects I really love because if the job’s going to be hard, at least I’m going to do something I love. If you hate what you're doing and, on top of that, it’s hard, that’s not good.” Michael Vartan

French film and television actor Michael Vartan became famous while playing CIA Agent Michael Vaughn, the angst-ridden boyfriend of Jennifer Garner’s double agent Sydney Bristow, in the critically praised action series Alias (2001-2005). He also impressed fans for his high-profile performance as the legendary Lancelot in the acclaimed miniseries “The Mists of Avalon” (2001, alongside Joan Allen, Angelica Huston and Julianna Margulies.

On the silver screen, Vartan gained respect and recognition after portraying the English Lit teacher Sam Coulson in the 1999 hit Never Been Kissed (1999, opposite Drew Barrymore). Additionally, the actor is also known for his roles in such films as the Italian production Wild Flower (1993), To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (1995), The Pallbearer (1996), Touch Me (1997), The Myth of Fingerprints (1997), It Had to Be You (2000), One Hour Photo (2002), The Curve (1998) and The Next Best Thing (2000). Recently starring as the perfect man for Jennifer Lopez, Kevin, in the romantic comedy Monster-in-Law (2005), Vartan announced his involvement to star opposite Sam Worthingon, John Jarratt and Radha Mitchell in the new film from Wolf Creek director Greg McLean called Rogue (2006).

Off screen, Vartan was romantically linked with his actress fiancé of 10 years, Shannon Gleason. The couple began dating in 1988, but they decided to end the relationship in the late 1990s. Vartan also has a well publicized romance opposite Alias costar Jennifer Garner from 2003-2004.

Multi Ethnicity

Childhood and Family:

The son of a Bulgarian father of Armenian and Hungarian origin and a Jewish American mother, Michael Vartan was born on November 27, 1968, in Paris, France. His parents, Eddie Vartan and Doris Vartan-LaFrenaise, divorced when Michael was only 5. Following the breakup, the young boy spent his childhood between the U.S. (where his mother lived) and France (where his father worked as a musician) until he was teenager. At age 18, Michael eventually joined his mother in Los Angeles.

Dropping out of school at age 16, Michael began studying acting after relocating to the States. Before deciding to give acting a try, he dreamed of becoming a professional pool player.

A passionate sports devotee, Michael loves hockey as well as other sports. His favorite NHL Hockey team is the Los Angeles Kings. The cousin of French singer David Hallyday, Michael also plays the guitar and paints.

Never Been Kissed

Career:

A good-looking, light-haired actor, Michael Vartan arrived at Hollywood at age 18 and began to study his craft as a way to meet people. Two years later, he got his first taste in front of the camera as a motorcycle boy in the made-for-TV film Black Leather Jacket (1988). Though he started taking drama lessons in Los Angeles, Vartan’s early film career was marked by the French productions A Man and Two Women (1991) and Summer Strolls (1992). Still working in Europe, Vartan achieved worldwide notice for playing attractive dual roles of idealistic French soldier Jean and the soldier’s beset descendant Massimo in Wild Flower (1993).

Two years after the global success, Vartan broke into Hollywood with a feature role of Tommy in the cross-dressing comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995). Following a costarring role opposite David Schwimmer and Gwyneth Paltrow in the comedy The Pallbearer (1996), he received offers to play more substantial roles like that of a lecherous, but amiable, health club boss who gets involved with an aerobics trainer in the independent AIDS drama Touch Me (1997) and an undergraduate in the college crime thriller The Curve (1998). Vartan also delivered a remarkable performance in the Sundance entrant The Myth of Fingerprints (1997), where he was cast as Jack, the sweet, but non-ambitious, adult/child returning home for Thanksgiving. The ensemble drama also starred Julianne Moore, Noah Wyle and Hope Davis.

Vartan eventually launched his status as one of Hollywood’s leading men in 1999 when he landed the role of charming Sam Coulson, a high school teacher lovestruck by an undercover reporter posing as a pupil (Drew Barrymore), in the romantic comedy Never Been Kissed.

Entering the new millennium, Vartan was seen in the indie circuit as Charlie Hudson, who becomes attracted to character Anna (played by Natasha Henstridge) while planning their respective weddings, in It Had to Be You (2000). The same year, he played the supporting role of Kevin Lasater in the critically lambasted Madonna vehicle The Next Best Thing (2000) and took the starring role of Tyler Briggs, whose life is upset by the arrival of his troublemaking family, in Sand (2000).

While working on the wide screen, Vartan also appeared continually on television. He made guest appearances in such shows as “Fallen Angels” (1993), “Spender” (1993), the NBC popular comedy “Friends” (1997) and “Ally McBeal” (2000). In 2001, he presented a high-profile performance as the celebrated Lancelot in the acclaimed CBS miniseries “The Mists of Avalon,” the serialized adaptation of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s novel of the same name. The series saw Vartan acting opposite big names Joan Allen, Angelica Huston and Julianna Margulies.

Still working on the small screen, Vartan experienced a big breakthrough as regular CIA Agent Michael Vaughn, the tormented love interest of college-girl-turned-spy Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), in the stylish, critically praised ABC adventure series Alias (2001). He stayed with the show until 2005, when his character was killed in the season five premiere. Many fans reportedly complained about his sudden departure from the Jennifer Garner spy series.

After two years away from film making, Vartan made his return to independent film with the 2002’s One Hour Photo, portraying the father and husband of a family that is the obsession of a troubled photo processor, played by Robin Williams. Recently, he could be seen as Jennifer Lopez’s ideal guy, Kevin, whose dictatorial mother (Jane Fonda) attempts to destroy the couple’s relationship, in the romantic comedy Monster-in-Law (2005). Vartan will soon star in the big-budget Rogue (2006), a film produced by Harvey and Bob Weinstein. The Greg McLean-directed film also stars The Surgeon’s Sam Worthingon, Melinda and Melinda star Radha Mitchell, and Wolf Creek villain John Jarratt.

Awards:
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