Michael Vartan

Michael Vartan (born November 27, 1968) is an 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, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, Monster-in-Law, Rogue, Colombiana, and Small Town Crime.

Early life Vartan is the son of Edmond "Eddie" Vartan, a musician, and Doris (née Pucher), a painter and artist. His paternal aunt is singer Sylvie Vartan and his stepfather is writer Ian La Frenais. Michael's paternal grandfather was of Armenian and Bulgarian descent, while Michael's paternal grandmother was of Hungarian Jewish background. Michael's mother is a Polish Jewish immigrant to the United States.

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".

His parents divorced when he was five and he moved to the United States with his mother. At age eighteen, Vartan moved back to 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.

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). 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. TNT canceled the series after its third season.

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. Since his last film and television roles in 2017 and 2018 respectively, Vartan has largely stepped away from acting and lives a quiet, private life in Los Angeles.

Personal life

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.

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. The couple married on April 2, 2011, at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, California. Skaar filed for divorce in July 2014, citing irreconcilable differences.

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. 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. After the completion of the film Rogue, Vartan got a Southern Cross tattoo on his right arm to show his love for Australia.

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

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 One Man and Two Women Fred 1992 Summer Walks Thomas 1992 Stringer Chris 1993 Fiorile Jean / Massimo 1995 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Tommy 1996 Scott 1997 Touch Me Adam 1997 Jake 1998 Chris 1999 Never Been Kissed Sam Coulson Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (with Drew Barrymore) 2000 It Had to Be You Charlie Hudson 2000 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 Teacher Uncredited 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 Year Title Role Notes 1988 Black Leather Jacket Motorcycle Boy Television film 1993 Spender Paul Ducheyne Episode: "Puck" 1993 Fallen Angels Harry Stone Episode: "Murder, Obliquely" 1997 Friends Dr. Tim Burke Episode: "The One with Chandler in a Box" 2000 Ally McBeal Jonathan Bassett 2 episodes 2001 Lancelot Television film 2001–2006 Alias Michael Vaughn 95 episodesNominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor on TelevisionNominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor – Drama/Action AdventureNominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Male Breakout Star 2005 Kitchen Confidential Michel Valentine Episode: "French Fight" 2007 Big Shots James Walker 11 episodes 2009–2011 Hawthorne Dr. Tom Wakefield 30 episodes 2012 Go On Himself Episode: "Bench-Clearing Bawl" 2012 Ring of Fire Dr. Matthew Cooper 2 episodes 2014 Bates Motel George Heldens 6 episodes 2014 Satisfaction Dylan 3 episodes 2015 Rectify Forrest Episode: "Sown with Salt" 2017–2018 The Arrangement Terence Anderson 20 episodes 2018 God Friended Me Jeffrey Bloom Episode: "The Prodigal Son"