Jennifer Garner Sends Birthday Wishes to Former Flame Michael Vartan with ‘Alias’ Nostalgia

Jennifer Garner, Michael Vartan Getty Images(2)

Jennifer Garner showed her love for her former co-star and ex-boyfriend Michael Vartan by sending him a special birthday tribute on Instagram. "I can't remember why I was Bavarian, but I do know today is your birthday," wrote Garner on Monday, November 27. "I hope it's a great one, Michael! XX S. Bristow."

She shared a photo of them from their time on Alias. Vartan, who just turned 55, first met Garner while they were working on the ABC spy drama. They portrayed love interests Michael Vaughn and Sydney Bristow on the show from 2001 to 2006 and their on-screen chemistry translated to a romance off camera.

In August 2003, Garner’s representative confirmed that the co-stars were in a relationship, but they broke up the following year. Despite this, they remained friends and continued to play love interests on the show until it ended. Vartan only appeared in seven episodes of the final season.

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Following their separation, Vartan informed USA Today that the split was "amicable" and devoid of drama. "Jennifer and I were initially best friends, both during our relationship and afterwards," he stated in May 2005.

In 2011, Vartan married Lauren Skaar, but they separated in 2014. Garner was married to Ben Affleck for ten years and had three children with him before their divorce in 2018. She has since moved on with businessman John Miller. Garner and Vartan have stayed in contact since their series ended. Garner previously wished Vartan a happy 50th birthday and hopes to reunite with him and their other castmates for an Alias revival.

“In June 2021, Garner expressed her amazement at how close she still is to that cast. She mentioned that she had been in touch with Kevin Weisman and Merrin Dungey in the past week, as well as spoke to Victor Garber and Ron Rifkin. Garner expressed her continued love for the cast members, including Michael Vartan, Carl Lumbly, and Gina Torres, and confidently stated that they would all be on board for a reunion.”

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However, Garner explained that an official reunion wasn’t up to her but rather former showrunner J.J. Abrams, who has since gone on to create Lost and helm Star Wars films.

You need to have a conversation with your friend J.J. Abrams and also talk to your connections at Netflix. They have to be interested in doing it,” she explained. “If you want me to return, you better move things along a bit faster!... I may not do 5 a.m. anymore, but I am still capable of doing those fight scenes if needed.