Whatever Happened To ‘Alias’ Star Michael Vartan?

MONSTER-IN-LAW, Michael Vartan, 2005 — New Line/Everett Collection

What To Know

Michael Vartan began his acting career in the early 1990s, gaining recognition with roles in European films and American movies like Never Been Kissed.
He is best known for playing Michael Vaughn on Alias (2001–2006) and continued acting in films and TV shows until his last major role in The Arrangement (2017–2018).
Since 2018, Vartan has mostly stepped away from acting, making only occasional public appearances and briefly co-hosting an online sports show.

For many viewers, Michael Vartan is still best known for his role as Michael Vaughn on Alias. However, he also worked steadily from the ’90s through the late 2010s, appearing in everything from romantic comedies to thrillers and network dramas, before seemingly stepping away from acting.

How did Michael Vartan begin his career?

Vartan was born on November 27, 1968, in France and spent parts of his childhood in both Europe and the United States. After moving to Los Angeles as a teenager, he pursued acting and began booking roles in the early 1990s. His early work included European films such as Fiorile, followed by supporting roles in American projects like To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, The Pallbearer and The Myth of Fingerprints. By the late ’90s, he was appearing regularly in studio films, including Never Been Kissed, which brought him wider attention and an MTV Movie Award nomination.

What is Michael Vartan known for?

ALIAS, Michael Vartan, (2003), 2001-2006

Patrick Fraser/TV Guide/ABC/Everett Collection

His most recognizable role arrived in 2001, when he was cast as Michael Vaughn on Alias. The series ran for five seasons, and Vartan appeared in 95 episodes between 2001 and 2006. During that time, he received multiple award nominations, including a Saturn Award nomination and several Teen Choice Award nods. Following Alias, Vartan continued to work consistently. His film credits during this period included Monster-in-Law, Rogue, Jolene, Colombiana and later Small Town Crime. On television, he took on a significant role in TNT’s Hawthorne, appearing in 30 episodes from 2009 to 2011. He also had notable appearances on Bates Motel, Rectify, Satisfaction and God Friended Me.

BIG SHOTS, Michael Vartan, (Season 1), 2007-08

Sam Jones/Warner Bros./Everett Collection

His final extended television role came in 2017, when he joined the cast of E!’s The Arrangement as Terence Anderson. The series ran for two seasons and ended in 2018. According to his filmography, that year marked his final acting credit, spanning his professional career from 1988 to 2018.

Where is Michael Vartan now?

Since then, Vartan has largely stayed out of the public spotlight. One of the few projects he has been publicly involved with is a weekly live sports show, Advanced Shouting, which he co-hosted with friends; it began streaming online in 2020 and seemed to end a few years later. In 2021, former costar Drew Barrymore had Vartan on her talk show as part of a Never Been Kissed cast reunion.

Aside from that, he has been very quiet in recent years but we hope he returns to the screen soon.