Biography: Despite his age, Jason Bateman is a popular veteran of network television, having previously and most recently starred as Bob Newhart's impulsive son in Paramount Network Television's George And Leo for CBS. Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Bateman's acting career began when the late Michael Landon discovered the young actor and cast him in the long-running hit series Little House on the Prairie. He then segued to play Ricky Schroder's conniving friend for two seasons on Silver Spoons, and also starred in the series It's Your Move.

At 16 Bateman appeared opposite Valerie Harper and later Sandy Duncan in "The Hogan Family," which had a five-year run from 1986-1991. During that show's tenure, he became the youngest director in the history of the Director's Guild of America when he helmed three episodes of the series. Recently, Bateman portrayed Harry Kulchak on the comedy series "Chicago Sons," and has guest-starred on the Showtime series "Rude Awakening" and the WB's "For Your Love."

His telefilm credits include "This Can't Be Love" with Katherine Hepburn and Anthony Quinn; "Two Faces of Evil" with James Earl Jones; and "A Taste for Killing." Bateman has also co-starred in several motion pictures, including the independent feature "Love Stinks," as well as "Necessary Roughness," "Breaking the Rules" and "Teen Wolf Two."

In the series Some Of My Best Friends, Bateman stars as Warren Fairbanks, a gay, unemployed writer who unwittingly takes in sexy, struggling Italian-bred actor Frankie (Danny Nucci) as his new roommate. But when the refined Warren quickly finds out that the two men are culturally - and sexually - diverse, he wonders if their living arrangement could ever work.

(Courtesy Paramount Television, 2001)

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