He Was a 2000s Heartthrob and Once Dated Jennifer Garner — His Last Public Outing After Fame Sparked Buzz

Fans couldn't stay calm after the actor's appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," where he reunited with the cast of one of his most beloved films.

This movie star rose to international fame for his role as Agent Michael Vaughn on the hit ABC series "Alias." In the years since, he has largely stayed out of the spotlight — but his last public appearance sparked a wave of chatter among longtime fans.

"Never Been Kissed" remains a timeless classic, with its leading man, who played Sam Coulson, once a heartthrob who kept audiences glued to their screens. After years in the spotlight, he chose to live a quieter, more private life.

So when fans saw Michael Vartan during his last public appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," it came as quite a surprise. Once a 2000s favorite and former boyfriend of Jennifer Garner, the actor's look sparked a wave of mixed emotions online.

Some couldn't believe how much he had changed, writing, "It's a different person🙈." Another netizen wondered, "Omg is that Mr. Sam Coolson [sic] on the right???" while someone else exclaimed, "Omg what happened to Mr. Coulson 😮."

One person didn't mince words, claiming, "Michael Vartan is no longer hot......" Others, however, remained loyal admirers. "Vartan is still a TOTAL BABE!" one gushed, while another declared, "Today, I fell in love with Michael Vartan. 💫." One fan let out an excited cheer with, "Michael Vartannnnn!!! ❤️❤️❤️."

Vartan's last known role came in 2018, when he appeared in an episode of "God Friended Me." Since then, he has remained largely absent from the entertainment scene. A year earlier, at 48, he made a statement that caught many by surprise — saying he felt his career was just beginning.

The actor maintained a healthy, youthful outlook on both life and a career that has spanned nearly three decades. However, he admitted that for much of his early career, he struggled with insecurity and often doubted his abilities as an actor.

"As I get older, it's not that I care less, but I really do. I care less about what people think about me. I care less about what I look like. I care less about things that, at the end of the day, are ultimately unimportant. I feel like I haven't delivered my best performance yet," he noted.

Vartan shared that he often wished he could go back in time with the knowledge and experience he had gained over the years, to reshoot every project he had worked on. While he didn't believe he would necessarily perform better, he felt he would have a much deeper understanding of his craft.

He recalled one experience from the late 1990s, "My first day on set of 'Never Been Kissed' with Drew, my inner monologue was 'Oh my god, I'm so nervous. Please don't vomit on her shoes. Don't do anything stupid!' That’s not necessarily the best headspace to be in as an actor. The fear of vomiting on my co-stars has disappeared, which is a good thing."

Although Vartan is a veteran in the industry, he has also acknowledged that his Hollywood journey has seen both highs and lows. He considered the final year of "Alias" in 2006 — a project he still cherishes — as a major turning point in his career.

He admitted that the business turned out to be much tougher than he had expected. When he landed "Alias" at around 31 or 32, he felt secure in his path. Vartan believed he would continue moving from one show to another, perhaps even finding another opportunity as fulfilling as that one.

However, things didn't unfold as smoothly as he imagined, and in many ways, he reiterated that he is still waiting for that next big moment. "The moment you think you've arrived, even if it's not at the top of the mountain, you realize very quickly that nothing is a given. You have to get it," he shared.

At 49, while starring in E!'s "The Arrangement," Vartan also opened up about his past relationship with Jennifer Garner and his personal life during an appearance on E!'s "Daily Pop."

The two had dated for about a year before parting ways in 2004. When the topic of rekindling old relationships came up, he made it clear that he had no plans to revisit the past. "If it didn't work once, there's a reason it didn't work," he said.

Vartan described himself as single and joked that he expected to stay that way for life — unless his partner happened to have four legs. He was referring to his chocolate Labrador, Millie, whom he lovingly called the true love of his life. He shared that he absolutely adored her and that she held a special place in his heart.

The actor then reflected more broadly on relationships, noting how many people around him seemed to be embracing single life. He observed that being single often felt easier. Though he noted, "I love relationships. When they work, when they're great, they're great and when they're not, they're not."

Take a look at Vartan's transformation — from his early career days to his most recent public appearance.

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