1998

"Dead Man's Curve": Michael Vartan Biography

Michael Vartan grabbed the attention of the film world with his breakthrough performance in the 1993 Italian epic Fiorile. Vartan's most recent role was starring opposite Drew Barrymore in Fox 2000's hit romantic 'comedy Never Been Kissed'. He plays high school teacher 'Sam Coulson,' who falls in love with 'Josie' (Barrymore), a copy editor who goes undercover as a student to get a news scoop. The film marks Vartan's first starring role in a studio feature.

Vartan has recently begun production on The Next Best Thing by Oscar-winning director John Schlesinger. He co-stars with Madonna and Rupert Everett as Madonna's ex-boyfriend who comes back to claim the child he never knew he had. A bitter custody battle soon ensues.

Vartan garnered attention for his performance in Sony Pictures Classics the Myth of Fingerprints, a drama about the sudden unraveling of a quintessential american family. He portrayed eldest brother 'Jake,' who couldn't admit to love or commit to his girlfriend (Hope Davis). The film premiered in dramatic competition at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.

Fans of NBC's Friends caught Vartan on the Thanksgiving '97 episode in which he played the optometrist son of 'Richard' (Tom Selleck) who comes to the aid of 'Monica' (Courtney Cox).

Born in Paris, Vartan was raised in the tiny Normandy village of Fleury, which has a population of 300. At the age of eighteen, Vartan moved to America to live with his mother, who convinced him to take acting classes.

In his limited free time, Vartan feeds his obsession with sports. He enjoys playing ice hockey, golf, tennis and bowling.

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