Jason Bateman: A Child Actor Moves On From His Arrested Development

As a popular child actor in the '80s, Jason Bateman seemingly went off the radar after his show, "The Hogan Family," was canceled in 1991. As he struggled to find work, Bateman's career seemed to be heading towards the same early end as those of so many other young actors, until he was brought onto the show "Arrested Development." Now, Bateman is one of the most recognizable faces in comedy, frequently appearing in ensemble pieces to critical and box office success.

His first major role was in "Little House on the Prairie," in which he played young James Cooper Ingalls. Bateman's character lasted for twenty-one episodes before the show was taken off the air after a slow decline in ratings. With his first taste of national recognition behind him, Bateman went on to co-star in "Silver Spoons" with Ricky Schroeder. Cast as Derek, Bateman appeared on the show for its first two seasons before moving on to star in his own series, "It's Your Move." While popular with critics, the show was canceled after its second season. Following the cancellation of "It's Your Move," Bateman would continue to work as a guest star in shows like "Knight Rider," "Mr. Belvedere," and "St. Elsewhere."

In 1986, Bateman was cast in the role of 16-year-old David in the show "Valerie." Starring Valerie Harper, the series focused on the title character as she tried to raise her kids while working full time. During the show's initial run, Bateman became the youngest member of the Directors Guild of America when he directed three episodes of the series at the age of eighteen.

In the middle of the show's second season, trouble arose when Harper wanted a raise. The producers wrote her out of the series, changing the show's name to "The Hogan Family," and brought in Sandy Duncan as the family's aunt. Initially, the change was a success, but by 1991, ratings were at a low, and the series was canceled.

Following the cancellation of "The Hogan Family," Bateman struggled to find work. He had starred in "Teen Wolf Too" in 1987, but the film flopped at the box office, leading to a stigma that Bateman could not open a film.

During the '90s, Bateman would appear sporadically on television, guest-starring in shows like "Ned and Stacey," "Chicago Sons," and "Rude Awakening." His luck finally changed in 2003, when he signed on to star in Mitch Hurwitz's new show, "Arrested Development."

Detailing the fall of the Bluth family, "Arrested Development" took a very tongue-in-cheek look at family dynamics, politics and economics. Bateman played Michael Bluth, the good son of the family, who tries to keep everyone together after his father is arrested for fraud. The trailblazing comedy featured a biting wit that had no problem with making fun of television clichés, the Iraq war, or even its own network, Fox. The cast included Michael Cera, Will Arnett, and David Cross and would even feature guest stars Liza Minelli and Henry Winkler poking fun at their own images. Producer Ron Howard lent his voice as the Narrator, playing off of his own image. While the show was a hit critically, it couldn't find an audience, leading to its cancellation in 2006. Since then, the show has become a cult hit, finding success on DVD and Netflix. Its influence has been felt in some of today's biggest shows, including "The Office" and "30 Rock."

For Bateman, "Arrested Development" was the spark that would reignite his career. His comic timing and ability to play the straight man led to him seeing an influx of work. He would work with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau in a number of films, including "Dodgeball," "The Break Up," and "Couples Retreat." Bateman would become a featured actor in many of Peter Berg's films, having major roles in "The Kingdom" and "Hancock." He would even reunite with Michael Cera in the Oscar-winning comedy, "Juno."

With his career at an all-time high, Bateman has continued to find consistent work. The 2011 hit "Horrible Bosses" teamed Bateman with Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day, leading to financial success and production on a sequel. He has even started a production company with "Arrested Development" costar Will Arnett, and their first film, "Mansome," was a Spotlight selection at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.

Even with all of these projects, Bateman shows little sign of slowing down. He's currently filming the fourth season of "Arrested Development," due to be released on Netflix. For 2013, he has a couple of films in production, with "The Identity Thief" set to premiere in February. For an actor whose career was nonexistent in the '90s, Bateman has risen to the challenge and become one of the go-to actors for ensemble comedies. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.