New York native Justine Bateman was 16 when she originated the role of Mallory, the eternally underachieving daughter of former student radicals Elyse (Meredith Baxter-Birney) and Steven Keaton (Michael Gross) on the TV sitcom Family Ties (1982-1989). Bateman would make a memorable turn in the band movie Satisfaction in 1988, but found more success on the small screen on shows like Men Behaving Badly, Men in Trees, and Desperate Housewives. Bateman would also come find success as a producer on the comedy series Easy to Assemble with Illeana Douglas.
Justine Bateman
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- Appeared in a number of theatrical productions starting when she was 11.
- Bitten by the acting bug when younger brother, Jason, joined the cast of Little House on the Prairie during the show's final season; signed with her brother's agency and landed roles in commercials at the age of 15.
- Originally read for a small role in the pilot of Family Ties and was then asked to audition for the part of underachiever Mallory Keaton, which she ultimately landed.
- Forayed into professional theater in 1984 in the drama Journey to the Day, playing a suicidal woman in a mental institution. Brother Jason was also in the cast, and their father, Kent Bateman, directed the play.
- Taught acting classes and directed a play at Otis Parson's in downtown L.A. during the summer of 1986.
- In a November 9, 1996, article of TV GUIDE magazine, discussed her struggles with eating disorders during Family Ties and how she was able to overcome them.
- An avid knitter, she took a break from acting and founded Justine Bateman Design in 2000.
- Sold a script to the Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place in 2008.
- In 2008, appeared before a U.S. Senate committee hearing promoting "net neutrality" of the Internet.
- Is a licensed pilot and certified scuba instructor .
- Served on the National Board of Directors on the Screen Actors Guild.