Family ties can be complicated.
Jason Bateman offered a rare glimpse into his current relationship with his sister, Justine Bateman, 59.
“We don’t see each other a ton,” he admitted in a profile published by Esquire on Monday.
The Arrested Development star, 56, has been married to Amanda Anka since 2001, and they share two daughters: Francesca, 19, and Maple, 13.
Bateman added that their dynamic isn’t the typical close-knit setup. “It’s not like, ‘We see each other every Thanksgiving or every Christmas and our kids want to be together,’” he explained.
Jason and Justine Bateman were once frequently seen together at industry events, including the 2003 premiere of Out of Order at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.
Like her brother, Justine built a successful acting career of her own. She’s best known for roles in Desperate Housewives and Californication, and she shares two children with her husband, Mark Fluent.
Both siblings launched their careers young: Justine rose to fame on Family Ties, while Jason got his start as a child star on Little House on the Prairie.
Justine has been candid about the challenges of early stardom. In a 2017 interview with People, she reflected on the overwhelming level of attention they received.
“We were at the level of fame where you just can’t go anywhere,” she recalled. “You just try to keep your head above water … I found it frustrating having no control over what people thought of you.”
Still, she emphasized that the experience wasn’t without its positives. “I’m not saying I’m ungrateful for fame at all,” she added. “I’m just saying it’s a crazy emotional experience.”
Justine Bateman appears at Showtime Networks’ Television Critics Association presentation at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood, Calif., in 2003.
Justine and Jason Bateman were spotted together at the 1987 Toyota Pro-Celebrity Grand Prix Classic at Long Beach Raceway in Long Beach, Calif.
Jason rarely speaks publicly about his family, which stands in contrast to how openly he discusses his longtime friend Jennifer Aniston, 56. In an interview with Vanity Fair this August, he said Aniston is “the first one to call or text about big dates in the girls’ lives. She has questions about boyfriends.”
When asked whether Aniston feels like an aunt to his daughters, he replied: “Aunts you might not see all the time. She’s almost closer to a co-mom with Amanda Anka. She’s been a part of their lives from the moment they were born.”
Justine Bateman and Jason Bateman were spotted at the Sheppard Theater in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 28, 1986.
Jason Bateman recently posed for Esquire’s Winter 2025 issue, photographed by Mark Seliger.
Speaking to the magazine, he shared that he and Justine — who has been outspoken on political issues and has publicly criticized Meghan Markle and Prince Harry — are still very much in contact.
“Our conversations are the rich conversations you would have with an adult friend, not the kind of petulant back-and-forth you might have with your adult sibling,” he explained.
The Black Rabbit star added that they enjoy spending time together when they can. “We hang out, and we’re nice to each other because we respect one another as individuals regardless of the blood thing,” he said. “I’m seeing her for lunch next week.”
Justine Bateman attended the “Violet” photo call during the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 9, 2021.
In a 2015 appearance on the “WTF With Marc Maron” podcast, Jason said he doesn’t believe family relationships are simply guaranteed by blood. “Well, let’s earn the relationship that adults should or could have,” he said. “You’re not handcuffed because of the blood. You’ve gotta earn it.”
