Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka, knew each other for a decade before they started dating — and they say their long friendship is one of the reasons their romance has lasted.
The duo met in the mid-1980s when they were both just 18 years old, but they didn’t start dating for another 10 years. Though they’ve since become one of the longest-lasting couples in Hollywood, they’ve still weathered their share of ups and downs.
Bateman, who got his start as a child star, has been open about the fact that he struggled with alcohol and drug abuse when he was younger. The Ozark actor hadn’t fully calmed down by the time he married Anka in July 2001, and at one point, his behavior nearly cost him his marriage.
The duo eventually got past that rough patch, welcoming daughters Francesca and Maple in 2006 and 2012, respectively.
Keep scrolling to see Bateman and Anka’s relationship timeline, including their date night at the SAG’s 2026 Actor Awards:
