Michael Vartan Biography / Pictures
A handsome, light-haired French-American
actor, Michael Vartan began to study his craft shortly after arriving in Los
Angeles as a way to meet people. Discovering a knack for performing, he soon
lent his engaging presence to a variety of feature projects worldwide.
Having completed a number of French productions, most notably "Un Homme et
deux femmes" (1991) and the following year's "Promenades d'ete", Vartan made
his international debut in 1993's "Fiorile", an Italian film directed by the
famed Taviani brothers. In this acclaimed time-spanning film, Vartan played
a captivating dual role, taking on the parts of idealistic French soldier
Jean and the soldier's besieged descendant Massimo in a story of an Italian
family believed to be cursed. He made his US film debut with a featured role
in the cross-dressing comedy "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie
Newmar" (1995) and the following year co-starred in the comedy "The
Pallbearer" as Scott Edelman, best friend of David Schwimmer's Tom Thompson.
Vartan proved a pleasant presence onscreen, giving an endearing performance
in the role of the friend who seemingly has it all.
In 1997, Vartan gave a breakthrough performance in "The Myth of
Fingerprints", starring as a sweet but unambitious son returning to the
family home for Thanksgiving along with his brother, two sisters and
girlfriend Margaret (Hope Davis). His Jake was a particularly effective
contrast to his forthright girlfriend, his ill-tempered sister Mia (Julianne
Moore) and his troubled brother Warren (Noah Wyle). Next up was "Touch Me"
(1998), in which he appeared as a lecherous but charming health club manager
who gets involved with an aerobics instructor (Amanda Peet) in this
AIDS-themed drama. He could also be seen in "The Curve/Dead Man's Curve", a
college-set black comedy given a limited regional release before landing on
video shelves. Vartan starred as an undergraduate whose desperation to enter
the Harvard Business School leads him to find ways besides studying to get
straight As. He and roommate Tim (a particularly sinister Matthew Lillard)
scheme to murder their third roommate (a distasteful character played by
Randall Batinkoff) and make the death appear self-afflicted, following the
urban legend that roommates of a suicide victim get an automatic 4.0 GPA as
condolence. Vartan's characterization was most interesting, making the role
sympathetic despite murderous intentions and blind ambition.
1999 would see the actor come to the forefront as a leading man with
starring roles in two films. In the romantic comedy "Never Been Kissed", he
was cast as a young teacher lovestruck by an undercover reporter posing as a
student (Drew Barrymore) while the indie "It Had to Be You" teamed him with
Natasha Henstridge in a tale of a couple who discover a mutual attraction
while planning their respective weddings. In 2000 he had a supporting turn
in the dismal Madonna-Rupert Everett comedy "The Next Best Thing," and took
the leading role in the drama "Sand," as a man whose life is upended by the
arrival of his troublemaking family.
Despite the regular flow of feature film work, television would prove to be
the medium that would elevate Vartan from actor to star. His early TV work
included "Murder, Obliquely", a 1993 segment of the Showtime series "Fallen
Angels" and he made a memorable guest appearance as the handsome son of
Courtney Cox's much older boyfriend (Tom Selleck) on a 1997 episode of NBC's
"Friends" before landing a two-episode love interest stint on "Ally McBeal"
in 2000. He had a high-profile turn as the legendary knight Lancelot
opposite Anjelica Huston, Joan Allen and Julianna Margulies in the acclaimed
CBS miniseries "The Mists of Avalon" in 2001, the same year he was cast in
his breaktrhough as Agent Michael Vaughn, the tortured love interest of
college-girl-turned-spy Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) on the adventure
series "Alias" (ABC, 2001 - ). His "Alias" stint also landed him in the
entertainment magazines when he was briefly romantically linked to his
co-star Garner immediately following the breakup of her marriage to actor
Scott Foley. His character was killed off in 2005, after rumors of Vaughn's
impending demise prompted rabid fans to protest his departure.
Vartan's increased profile as a result of his "Alias" role led to more work
in features: in the creepy indie drama "One Hour Photo" (2002) he was the
husband and father in a family that soon becomes the obessession of a
distrubed photo processor played by Robin Williams. Next was a role in the
romantic comedy "Monster-In-Law" (2005) as Jennifer Lopez's perfect man
whose domineering mother (Jane Fonda) tried to destroy the couple's
relationship.
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This Michael Vartan Biography Page is Copyright © 2004 - 2009 Chuck Ayoub