French-American actor Michael Vartan was born on November 27, 1968 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He moved with his mother to Los Angeles when he was five years old, after his parents divorced. He then moved back to France to live with his father until his high school years. Wary of having to serve the mandatory military service that is required in France, he moved back to his mother, where he eventually stated his intention of becoming an actor. He then entered acting school and subsequently launched his acting career.
His screen debut was in 1988, when he appeared in the reenactments for the British do!$#!#entary The Black Leather Jacket. Early roles came few and far between; he initially got roles in some French films, and later in some American releases. He also played guest roles in Fallen Angels and Friends. Vartan’s first notable film role came in 1999, when he took on a role in the romantic comedy Never Been Kissed; he played the role of Josie Geller’s (Drew Barrymore) English teacher, Sam Coulson. This was followed by more supporting roles, in films such as The Next Best Thing and It Had to Be You.
Vartan gained wider recognition in 2001, when he signed on for a role in the spy drama Alias. He played the role of Michael Vaughn, a co-worker of Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) within the CIA. Initially a handler of hers, the two eventually developed romantic feelings for each other and eventually plotted to bring down the SD-6, where Sydney also worked as a double-agent. He was part of the cast until the show ended its run in 2006.
The prominence brought to him by the role led to other roles. Since Alias, he became part of the cast of films such as One Hour Photo and Monster-in-Law. He also joined the cast of the television drama Big Shots, where he plays the CEO of a chain of megastores who works through a failing marriage. Due to low ratings and generally negative critical response, the series was cancelled after one season.
French-American actor Michael Vartan was born on November 27, 1968 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He moved with his mother to Los Angeles when he was five years old, after his parents divorced. He then moved back to France to live with his father until his high school years. Wary of having to serve the mandatory military service that is required in France, he moved back to his mother, where he eventually stated his intention of becoming an actor. He then entered acting school and subsequently launched his acting career.
His screen debut was in 1988, when he appeared in the reenactments for the British do!$#!#entary The Black Leather Jacket. Early roles came few and far between; he initially got roles in some French films, and later in some American releases. He also played guest roles in Fallen Angels and Friends. Vartan’s first notable film role came in 1999, when he took on a role in the romantic comedy Never Been Kissed; he played the role of Josie Geller’s (Drew Barrymore) English teacher, Sam Coulson. This was followed by more supporting roles, in films such as The Next Best Thing and It Had to Be You.
Vartan gained wider recognition in 2001, when he signed on for a role in the spy drama Alias. He played the role of Michael Vaughn, a co-worker of Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) within the CIA. Initially a handler of hers, the two eventually developed romantic feelings for each other and eventually plotted to bring down the SD-6, where Sydney also worked as a double-agent. He was part of the cast until the show ended its run in 2006.
The prominence brought to him by the role led to other roles. Since Alias, he became part of the cast of films such as One Hour Photo and Monster-in-Law. He also joined the cast of the television drama Big Shots, where he plays the CEO of a chain of megastores who works through a failing marriage. Due to low ratings and generally negative critical response, the series was cancelled after one season
Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France
-Michael likes to take a stuffed animal dog around with him because "someone special" gave it to him.
-Michael thinks Star Wars is one of the greatest movies of all time.
-Michael's music tastes vary between Sinatra, Guns And Roses, Jimi Hendrix, and The Police.
-Michael loves motorbikes and started riding a bike of the Italjet brand when he was a kid.
1988 Black Leather Jacket-Motorcycle Boy
1991 Un homme et deux femmes-Fred
1992 Stringer-Chris
Promenades d'ete-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
Alias-Michael Vaughn
2002 One Hour Photo-Will Yorkin
2005 Monster-in-Law-Kevin
2007 Rogue-Pete McKell
Jolene-Brad
Big Shots-James Walker
- Look at the size of my head. It's enormous... I look like one of those dolls you get at the ballpark!
- Every actor will tell you it's so much more fun to play the bad guy because usually those characters are more complex and more broad and more interesting, and have more sides to them.
- I would rather do movies because I'm very lazy and the hours are much easier.
- You have to learn to go with what you are.