Michael Vartan

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Michael Vartan
Born Michael Vartan
November 27, 1968 (1968-11-27) (age 39)
Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Michael Vartan (born November 27, 1968) is a French-American[1] film and television actor.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Personal 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.[2][3] His paternal aunt is singer Sylvie Vartan and his stepfather is writer Ian La Frenais.[4] Vartan's father was Bulgarian-born and of part Armenian and Hungarian descent[5] and Vartan's mother is an American Jew originally from Poland;[6][7][8][9] 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.”[10][6] He has stated that he tends to be considered a Frenchman in the United States and an American in France.[1] His parents divorced when he was five and he moved to America with his mother.[11] 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"[9] in Fleury, a small town in Normandy.[12][11] At the age of eighteen, Vartan moved back in with his mother in Los Angeles, telling her that he wanted to be an artist,[13] because he did not wish to fulfill the mandatory military service required in France.[9] In Los Angeles, he attended an acting school after he was told he possessed acting talent. Vartan now considers himself to be American and stated on the talk show "Rove" that he would like Australia to be his second home.[14] He is completely bilingual in English and French.[15]

[edit] Career

After many minor film roles, Vartan had noticeable supporting roles in major movies, including Never Been Kissed (1999), One Hour Photo (2002) and Monster-in-Law (2005).[14] In 2007, he appeared in the Australian horror film Rogue and will next star in the film Jolene.

Vartan's most notable role to date has been as Michael Vaughn in the American television series Alias (2001–2006). After appearing as a regular cast member through the first four seasons of the series, Vartan returned as a guest star in a limited number of episodes. He appeared as Vaughn in Sydney Bristow's dream in one episode, and beginning with the episode broadcast on April 19, 2006, he appeared in all remaining episodes. Vartan has also had guest appearances on Friends (as Dr. Tim Burke, Tom Selleck's character's son), Ally McBeal (as Jonathan Basset), and also Kitchen Confidential (as a rival French chef) starring his former Alias co-star Bradley Cooper. As of September 2007, Vartan is starring in the new ABC drama, Big Shots, as James Walker.

[edit] 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
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 Kevin
2007 Rogue Pete McKell completed
Jolene Brad post-production
Big Shots James Walker television series

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Interview Michael Vartan - Alias
  2. ^ Meyer-Stabley, Betrand. "Elle: Internet Watch: Michael Vartan", Elle France, 2002-09-23. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  3. ^ "Superstar Moms: Famous Kids", People.com, 2002-04-24. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  4. ^ "Running Man", Arena UK Magazine, October, 2002. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  5. ^ "From La Maritza to La Seine", Le Site Officiel. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  6. ^ a b Peyser, Marc; Devin Gordon. "NEWSMAKERS", Newsweek, 2005-05-23. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  7. ^ Bloom, Nate. "Celebrity Jews", The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, 2005-06-03. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  8. ^ Vartanian, Hrag. "5 things Michael Vartan wants you to know", In the Public View, April, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  9. ^ a b c Fischer, Paul. "Interview: Michael Vartan", Dark Horizons.com, 2005-05-03. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  10. ^ j. - Celebrity Jews
  11. ^ a b Barker, Lynn. "Michael Vartan", 2005-05-10. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  12. ^ "Michael Vartan: The Golden Nephew", Gala Magazine, November, 2002. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  13. ^ Colon, Suzan. "Q&A: Michael Vartan", Jane Magazine, November/December, 1997. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  14. ^ a b Hellard, Peta. "Hollywood hero's bush horror", The Daily Telegraph, 2007-11-04. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. 
  15. ^ :: Michael Vartan - vartanfan[dot]com - fan site ::

[edit] External links