Jason Bateman became a household name after his role on sitcom Arrested Development in 2003, where he played the reserved Michael Bluth.
Before that he was a child star who had a recurring role on Valerie, and later appeared in a handful series like Simon, Chicago Songs and Some of My Best Friends.
However, it was with Netflix original series Ozark that Bateman as Marty Byrde really got to show off his acting skills.
Through his comedic and dramatic roles, as well as the ups and downs of a partying lifestyle off screen, one person who has stuck by him is wife Amanda Anka.
Ahead of the final season of Ozark airing on Friday, April 29, here's a look at their close friendship turned relationship from first meeting to two decade marriage.
Who is Amanda Anka?
Jason Bateman’s wife Amanda Anka is the daughter of famous Canadian singer and songwriter Paul Anka, known for hits like Diana, Put Your Head on My Shoulder, and Lonely Boy.
Anka's mother is model Anne de Zoghed, who was married to her father from 1963 until their divorce in 2000.
When did Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka meet?
Jason Bateman met future wife Amanda Anka when they were both 18 years old, at a Los Angeles Kings game. Though they eventually married, the pair did not date until a decade after their first encounter.
At the time, Bateman was a rising star with a love for partying and also struggled with substance abuse.
He revealed his lifestyle didn't allow for any genuine relationships saying: "I didn’t really have the balls to be with someone who was my equal and, as a result, a lot of those relationships were short-term," with Anka also telling GQ: "I simply wasn’t into where he was at."
The pair who had built a strong friendship over the years finally began dating in 1999, tying the knot two years later in July 2001.
When did Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka marry?
After several years of short-term relationships, when Jason Bateman realised he was ready for a serious relationship he said he wanted to "marry somebody who wasn’t someone I had to be in any particular mood to want to be around".
He told the Daily Telegraph: "I looked around at the relationships that were the longest in my life, and they were the ones I had with my friends. I thought, if I only wanted to get married once, I should probably marry a friend. With close friends, you can be with them no matter what mood you’re in."
Bateman found this relationship with Anka, whom he considered a "very close friend". Speaking of marriage to Anka, Bateman said: "Our marriage has defied the odds and works really well. We are really aware of our boundaries. We know how to bug each other and not bug each other.
"If you don’t get along, it’s garbage. With a girlfriend, you get into a fight, you drive away. With us, we learn to fight quickly or not at all," adding "That’s why it feels so effortless. It gets better every single year."
