Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman is an accomplished actor, director, and producer whose career spans over four decades. Raised in a family with entertainment industry ties—his father was a film and television director—Bateman entered the acting world at a young age. He first gained recognition for his role as James Cooper on the television series "Little House on the Prairie." Throughout the 1980s, he became a familiar face on TV, starring in popular sitcoms like "Silver Spoons" and "The Hogan Family," where he also made his directorial debut.

After a relatively quiet period in the 1990s, Bateman made a significant career comeback in the early 2000s with his role as Michael Bluth on the critically acclaimed sitcom "Arrested Development." His portrayal of the straight-laced, sarcastic head of a dysfunctional family earned him widespread praise, a devoted fan base, and a Primetime Emmy nomination. His performance also won him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy. He then expanded his acting range with the Netflix drama "Ozark," where he starred and directed several episodes. Bateman's performance in "Ozark" won him a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series.

In addition to his television success, Bateman has built a significant film career with roles in comedies like "Horrible Bosses" and "Game Night" as well as dramas such as "The Gift" and the recent drama film "Air." In 2024, he costars in Netflix's "Carry-On" alongside Taron Egerton. He also made his feature film directorial debut with "Bad Words" in 2013. Currently, he is set to direct "The Pinkerton" for Warner Bros. Pictures and Bad Robot and will also serve as executive producer.

Bateman's directing prowess was further highlighted when he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in 2019 for "Ozark." Beyond acting and directing, Bateman extends his talents to the podcasting world, co-hosting the comedy podcast "SmartLess" with Will Arnett and Sean Hayes since July 2020. In 2023, "SmartLess" was ranked #4 in Apple's Top Shows of the year. Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett also co-founded a media company and launched a series of four comedy podcasts in 2023.