Jason Bateman’s sister is Justine Bateman, who starred as Mallory Keaton on Family Ties from from 1982 through 1989.
Mallory was the second-oldest child of Elyse and Steven Keaton, behind braniac older brother Alex P. Keaton, portrayed by Michael J. Fox.
Born in 1966, Justine is three years older than younger brother Jason, who was also appeared on the small screen in the 1980s in sitcoms like Silver Spoons (1982-84) and It’s Your Move (1984-85).
During their sitcom heyday, Justine and Jason Bateman appeared in two TV movies together.
After their 80s splashes, both siblings continued a fairly steady stream of television and movie appearances into the 2000s. But, while Jason has ramped up his silver screen appearances in the 2010s and 2020s, Justine’s on-screen roles have become more spaced out.
Today, Justine Bateman continues to write and direct, including for her directorial film debut Violet in 2021.
Here is a more complete biography for Jason Bateman’s sister:
Justine Bateman charted an unconventional path from child actor to multi-hyphenate Hollywood creative. Born in 1966 in Rye, New York, Bateman discovered her passion for performing early on. Her charismatic presence and razor-sharp comic timing landed her breakout role as Mallory Keaton on the iconic 80s sitcom Family Ties when she was just 18 years old.
Bateman’s nuanced portrayal of the rebellious middle child in the Keaton household earned her two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nod. She brought emotional depth and dry wit to the fan favorite character over Family Ties’ 7-season run. Even decades later, Bateman is still closely associated with the sarcastic and fashionable Mallory.
The hit show cemented Bateman’s status as a household name, though she resented being pigeonholed as a situational comedian. She leveraged her fame to land roles in films like Satisfaction (1988) and Men Don’t Leave (1990), demonstrating her versatility in more dramatic work. She went on to guest star on shows like Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives, and Californication, carefully selecting projects that allowed her to transform her image.
As Bateman entered her 30s, she became increasingly concerned with the entertainment industry’s ageist attitudes towards women. Rather than accept limited opportunities, she shifted gears and made her mark behind the scenes. She stepped into producing, directing and writing, motivated to create better roles.
Bateman wrote, directed and starred in the cutting comedy short film Five Minutes, which screened at festivals including Sundance. She also helmed two digital series, CTRL and Kids. These projects allowed Bateman to satirize the fickle nature of Hollywood from personal experience.
In her 40s, Bateman’s passion for technology led her back to school, where she enrolled in computer science courses at UCLA. She observed the lack of older women in tech first-hand, and became an outspoken advocate for inclusion and representation.
Drawing from both her entertainment and tech background, Bateman launched the digital production company Section 5 in 2017. The forward-thinking studio develops engaging, socially-impactful content at the intersection of Hollywood and Silicon Valley.
Now in her late 50s, Justine Bateman has come full circle with a career that unites all her interests. She continues to act selectively while writing, producing and directing film and television projects that provide opportunities for others. Though acting made her famous, her creativity refuses to be defined by a single skillset. Bateman serves as an inspiration for women in media determined to forge their own paths mid-career and beyond.
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