Michael Vartan from A&E's Bates Motel

George Heldens Played by Michael Vartan

Christine introduces her brother George to Norma in the hopes that they will hit it off. George is sensitive, kind, handsome, and divorced. Is he everything Norma has always wanted?

Michael Vartan

Michael Vartan came to international acclaim with his starring role as 'Agent Michael Vaughn' on the worldwide hit ABC series, "Alias," which ran for five seasons. With a successful new television series and a starring role in a major studio film, he continues to explore the different facets of his talent, clearly demonstrating his versatility.

On the feature front, Vartan starred opposite Zoe Saldana ("Avatar") in "Colombiana," which TriStar Pictures released on August 26, 2011. The film is about a woman named 'Cataleya' (Saldana), a professional assassin on a journey to avenge her parents' death, which she witnessed as a small child. Vartan plays the role of 'Danny,' her love interest who is in the dark about her true identity and mission. Olivier Megaton ("Transporter 3") directed from a script by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen (the team who wrote "Taken," "The Transporter").

He most recently starred alongside Jada Pinkett Smith in TNT's medical drama "HawthoRNe" for TNT, which just completed its third season.

Vartan had the opportunity to showcase his comedic side in the Detroit workplace comedy feature "Demoted," which was released in 2012. He starred as 'Rodney McAdams,' a sales associate for Treadline Tires who is "demoted" to secretary when his boss unexpectedly dies and is replaced by his archrival (David Cross). J.B. Rogers ("American Pie 2") directed from a screenplay by Dan Callahan.

In the fall of 2011, Vartan starred in the independent film "Jolene: My Life," for director Dan Ireland ("The Whole Wide World"). Based on a story from critically acclaimed author, E.L. Doctorow ("Ragtime," "Billy Bathgate"), the film revolves around a woman, who at the age of 15, escapes an oppressive foster care system only to jump into three disastrous marriages, each of which forces her to rely on her survival instincts and determination to make something of her life. Vartan played 'Brad Benton,' the only son and heir to an oil drilling fortune who uses his charms to pursue an uninterested 'Jolene' (Jessica Chastain).

Vartan starred in the suspense thriller "Rogue" for The Weinstein Co. He played a cynical American travel writer who embarks on a river cruise in the Australian outback, where the group finds themselves stranded in a treacherous lagoon. The role offered a departure from his recent romantic male leads in such romantic comedies as the Summer '05 blockbuster "Monster-in-Law" and FOX 2000's "Never Been Kissed." "Rogue" was written and directed by Aussie Greg McLean (whose debut film "Wolf Creek" received rave reviews). With a reported $25 million budget, it is one of the most expensive, locally produced movies made in Australia.

He previously starred opposite Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez in New Line Cinema's summer blockbuster, "Monster-In-Law." He portrayed 'Kevin,' a man whose overprotective mother (Fonda) tries to derail his engagement to his fiancée (Jennifer Lopez). He also starred opposite Robin Williams in the psychological thriller, "One Hour Photo." In the later film, he played 'Will Yorkin,' a husband and father whose family becomes the obsession of William's character, an employee at the local One Hour Photo. Additional film credits include a starring role opposite Drew Barrymore in the romantic comedy "Never Been Kissed."

Vartan appeared in the two-part TNT mini-series "The Mists of Avalon," a retelling of the legendary story of Camelot. He portrayed 'Sir Lancelot,' opposite Angelica Huston, Julianna Margulies and Joan Allen.

Born in Paris to a French father and an American mother, Vartan grew up in the tiny Normandy village of Fleury until the age of 16 when he moved to Los Angeles to live with his mother, who encouraged him to take acting classes.

After starring in two small French films, Vartan grabbed the attention of the film world with his breakthrough performance in the 1993 Italian epic, "Fiorile," directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. Vartan, who was nominated for a French Caesar Award for Best Up-and-Coming Actor, played two characters in this fable of a curse that haunts a family through centuries. Of his performance, New York Post movie critic Mike Medved heralded the actor, saying, "[Vartan] is so hugely effective that it's hard to understand how he could have (so far) avoided discovery by Hollywood."

Soon after, Vartan signed with an agent and landed a role in "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar," playing the bigoted small-town thug who harasses three drag queens (Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo). He went on to star opposite David Schwimmer as one of his bestfriends in "The Pallbearer," a comedy of escapades surrounding three old high school pals coping with bachelorhood, marriage and a case of mistaken identity. He also starred in Sony Pictures Classics' "The Myth of Fingerprints" with Julianne Moore.

In his limited free time, Vartan feeds his obsession with sports, particularly ice hockey. "If it weren't for acting, I'd give anything to play a professional sport," he says, still holding onto his life-long dream.