- Michael Vartan
-
Michael Vartan 
Michael Vartan in 2010Born Michael S. Vartan
November 27, 1968
Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, FranceSpouse Lauren Skaar (2011–present) Michael S. Vartan (born November 27, 1968) is a French-American[1][2] film and television actor. He is probably best known for the role of Michael Vaughn on the American television action drama Alias. He is currently appearing in the TNT medical drama Hawthorne.
Contents
Early life
Vartan was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France, the son of Doris (née Pucher), a painter and artist, and Eddie Vartan, a musician.[3][4] His paternal aunt is singer Sylvie Vartan and his stepfather is writer Ian La Frenais.[5] Vartan's Bulgarian-born father was of Armenian, Bulgarian, and Hungarian ancestry,[6][7] and Vartan's American mother is Jewish and originally from Poland.[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 America 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 the age of eighteen, Vartan moved back in with his mother in Los Angeles, telling her that he wanted to be an artist,[15] because he did not wish to fulfill the mandatory military service required in France.[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, speaking both English and French fluently.[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). 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 is co-starring opposite Jada Pinkett Smith in TNT's series Hawthorne. Vartan replaced Jeffrey Nordling, who played the role in the pilot.[18]
Personal life
Vartan at the 23rd Genesis Awards, Beverly Hills, California, March 28, 2009
Over the course of his relationship with Alias co-star Jennifer Garner, he never made any public appearances with her. Garner confirmed their relationship in August 2003.[19] Vartan began dating Garner in mid-2003, and though rumors of their break-up began in March 2004,[20] Garner only confirmed the end of their relationship in August 2004.[21][22] On March 5, 2010, he announced his engagement to Lauren Skaar, whom he met in a Whole Foods Market parking lot in Los Angeles in 2009.[23] The couple married on April 2, 2011 at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, California.[24]
Vartan 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.[25]
After the completion of the film Rogue, Vartan got a Southern Cross tattoo on his right arm to show his love for Australia.[26]
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes 1988 Black Leather Jacket Motorcycle Boy Documentary 1991 Un homme et deux femmes Fred 1992 Stringer Chris Promenades d'été Thomas 1993 Fiorile Jean/Massimo 1995 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Tommy 1996 The Pallbearer Scott 1997 Touch Me Adam Friends Dr. Tim Burke The Myth of Fingerprints Jake 1998 The Curve Chris 1999 Never Been Kissed Sam Coulson 2000 It Had to Be You Charlie Hudson The Next Best Thing Kevin Lasater Sand Tyler Briggs 2001 The Mists of Avalon Lancelot Television miniseries Alias Michael Vaughn Television series 2002 One Hour Photo Will Yorkin 2005 Monster-in-Law Dr. Kevin Fields Kitchen Confidential French chef Television series 2007 Rogue Pete McKell Big Shots James Walker Television series 2008 Jolene Brad 2009- Hawthorne Dr. Tom Wakefield Television series 2009 Demoted Rodney 2010 High Calculus Teacher 2011 Colombiana Danny Delanay References
- ^ http://www.usaweekend.com/03_issues/030323/030323alias.html
- ^ WE'RE NOT FONDA THIS ONE. J.Fo out-divas J.Lo in 'Monster' catfight that goes ogre the top. Oh well, that's shrew biz
- ^ Meyer-Stabley, Betrand (September 23, 2002). "Elle: Internet Watch: Michael Vartan". Elle France. http://www.vartanfan.com/pressroom/2002/020923_ELLE_france.shtml. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Superstar Moms: Famous Kids". People.com. April 24, 2002. http://www.vartanfan.com/pressroom/2002/020424_people.com.shtml. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Running Man". Arena UK Magazine. October 2002. http://www.vartanfan.com/pressroom/2002/0210_arena_UK.shtml. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "From La Maritza to La Seine". Le Site Officiel. http://www.aplmusique.com/vartan/vartane.htm. Retrieved November 3, 2007.[dead link]
- ^ Vartanian, Hrag (April, 2004). "Michael Vartan: A Face That's Hard to Forget". Armenian General Benevolent Union. http://www.agbu.org/publications/article.asp?A_ID=146.
- ^ a b Peyser, Marc; Devin Gordon (May 23, 2005). "NEWSMAKERS". Newsweek. http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:JfNjiT0oPQIJ:www.newsweek.com/id/52147+%22isn%27t+enough+that+Michael+Vartan+plays+second+fiddle+to+Jennifer+%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Bloom, Nate (June 3, 2005). "Celebrity Jews". The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California. http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/26070/edition_id/504/format/html/displaystory.html. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ a b c Fischer, Paul (May 3, 2005). "Interview: Michael Vartan". Dark Horizons.com. http://www.vartanfan.com/pressroom/2005/05032005_darkhorizons.shtml. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ j. – Celebrity Jews
- ^ Interview Michael Vartan – Alias
- ^ a b Barker, Lynn (May 10, 2005). "Michael Vartan". http://www.vartanfan.com/pressroom/2005/05102005_teenhollywood.shtml. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Michael Vartan: The Golden Nephew". Gala Magazine. November, 2002. http://www.vartanfan.com/pressroom/2002/0211_gala_magazine.shtml. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Colon, Suzan (November/December, 1997). "Q&A: Michael Vartan". Jane Magazine. http://www.vartanfan.com/pressroom/1997/9712_jane.shtml. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ a b Hellard, Peta (November 4, 2007). "Hollywood hero's bush horror". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22690716-5009160,00.html. Retrieved November 3, 2007.[dead link]
- ^ :: Michael Vartan – vartanfan[dot]com – fan site ::
- ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i79da12a20aa4355ab508da1b38511d25
- ^ Susman, G, "Undercover Work". Entertainment Weekly. August 14, 2003. Retrieved on December 13, 2006.
- ^ Buzzle Staff and Agencies, "Garner & Vartan Split?". Buzzle.com. March 24, 2004. Retrieved on January 23, 2007.
- ^ "Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan". Moono.com. August 21, 2004. Retrieved on January 23, 2007.
- ^ "Garner Confirms Love Split". AskMen.com. August 19, 2004. Retrieved on January 23, 2007.
- ^ "Michael Vartan of Alias is Engaged!". People.com. March 19, 2010.
- ^ "Alias Star Michael Vartan Gets Married!". Us Weekly. April 2, 2011.
- ^ "Outback tests Michael Vartan". November 10, 2007. Retrieved on April 19, 2010.
- ^ "Rogue star Michael Vartan answers back". November 16, 2007. Retrieved on April 19, 2010
External links
Categories:- 1968 births
- American actors
- American film actors
- American Jews
- American people of Armenian descent
- American people of Bulgarian descent
- American people of Polish-Jewish descent
- American television actors
- French Armenians
- French film actors
- French emigrants to the United States
- French Jews
- French people of Bulgarian descent
- French people of Polish descent
- French television actors
- Jewish actors
- Living people
- People from Boulogne-Billancourt
- Polish Jews
- French people of Armenian descent
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