To mark 25 years of J.J. Abrams' groundbreaking spy thriller Alias, star Jennifer Garner shared a collection of memories from the making of the show, and glimpses of her relationships with the cast now.
The actress included photos of her iconic Sydney Bristow wigs, times spent now with Victor Garber, and most notably, a selfie from a recent reunion with co-star Michael Vartan.
© InstagramWhile Michael, now 57, became a household name especially thanks to Alias, and appeared in a variety of projects after, in the years since, he's stepped away from Hollywood altogether.
Here's what we know of his life now…
Michael Vartan's early life
Michael was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France in 1968 to Eddie and Doris Vartan. While his mother was a painter, his father was a renowned French musician and bandleader.
Following his parents' divorce when he was just five, he divided his time between France with his father and the United States with his mother and new stepfather, famous writer Ian La Frenais. He attended an acting school in Los Angeles, where he discovered his passion for acting.
© Getty ImagesMichael Vartan's career
After a string of appearances in English and Italian projects, starting with 1988's Channel 4 documentary Black Leather Jacket, his screen debut, his Hollywood career began with a bit part in 1995's To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
He appeared in an episode of Friends in 1997 and debuted as a leading man the same year in the film Touch Me. 1999's Never Been Kissed opposite Drew Barrymore proved to be his first taste of success.
© Alamy Stock PhotoIn 2001, he joined the cast of Alias, staying with the show for the entirety of its run until 2006, making him a household name and a certifiable Hollywood dreamboat. A string of film roles like 2002's One Hour Photo and 2005's Monster-in-Law cemented that status.
Further TV roles followed in Big Shots, Hawthorne, Bates Motel, and The Arrangement. His final on-screen role came in a 2018 episode of the CBS dramedy God Friended Me.
© Getty ImagesMichael Vartan's life now
Michael has stepped away completely from Hollywood in recent years, his last public appearance being in 2019 at a Boston Bruins vs Los Angeles Kings as the celebrity guest of honor.
In 2020, he began hosting the weekly sports program Advanced Shouting with his friends Noel Fogelman and Dan Petriw, airing on YouTube. However, his last appearance on an episode of the show came in 2021, with new co-hosts joining the fray after an extended break. Returning host Dan did mention that he still regularly kept in touch with Michael, though.
© CBSMichael made an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2021 with other cast members of Never Been Kissed for a reunion, debuting his new silver fox look for the first time. That proved to be his final talk show appearance to date.
In January 2026, the actor was photographed running errands in Los Angeles, now sporting a thick gray beard and glasses, the same as in his selfie with Jennifer, and looked completely unrecognizable. It is presumed that Michael now lives a quiet life in LA.
