Mitchell Hurwitz is the creator of the Emmy-winning series Arrested Development. Despite only having three seasons when it debuted in 2003–2006, the show was a cult favourite. It was immediately popular after being added to Netflix, so the company decided to revive it for a further two seasons. The show centres on the Bluth family, whose father is imprisoned for a number of offences including fraud and stealing. With him gone, Michael Bluth, the “regular” one, takes charge of the business and the family issues.
Michael Bluth actor Jason Bateman addresses how Arrested Development was never a popular show with the general public but was “seen and appreciated by those who hand out employment in this business” in an interview with The Telegraph. Despite its comedy’s lack of widespread appeal, it gave the ensemble a chance to showcase their highly sought-after humorous acting skills. As a result, most of the actors have had unique and exciting possibilities after the show finished. Younger stars like Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat in particular might be better known for the projects they took on after Arrested Development than for the show itself. Look no farther if you’re curious about the cast’s current activities.
Alia Shawkat
Alia Shawkat, another teen performer on the programme, was 14 years old when she was cast as Maeby de Rossi. Shawkat has acted in a variety of short films recently, including The Key, Alina, The Letter Room, Eer, and others. Since playing Maeby, Dory Sief in Search Party has been her most significant part. This darkly humorous sitcom follows a group of four friends who search for a college mate who goes missing. Shawkat will also appear in Severance’s second season, however specifics of her involvement have not yet been made public.
David Cross
On Arrested Development, David Cross portrayed Maeby’s father, Tobias Fünke. He has appeared as a guest star on several top-notch TV shows since 2019. In the post-apocalyptic HBO miniseries Station Eleven, Cross portrayed Gil, Skip Glouberman, and Dominykas the Dreadful. He appeared in Kung Fu Panda, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Kill Your Darlings, and Obvious Child during the time Arrested Development was off the air. Along the way, there has been an intriguing mingling of mainstream animation and more independent films.
Henry Winkler
Barry Zuckerkorn, the incompetent attorney for the Bluth family, was portrayed by Henry Winkler. In addition to his work on Arrested Development, Winkler has done a lot of voice acting. Among other shows, he has appeared on American Dad!, Scoob!, Vampirina, DuckTales, and Human Resources. Gene Cousineau in Barry is Winkler’s most often appearing character in recent years. Winkler won an Emmy for his performance in this dark comedy, which stars Bill Hader as a hitman who relocates to Los Angeles. Winkler played Uncle Joe in the ensemble cast of Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch.
Jason Bateman
Jason Bateman has primarily been concentrating on Ozark since the most recent Arrested Development season. This programme has a darker tone this time around as it follows another family involved in criminal activity. Marty, played by Bateman, is compelled to use money laundering for a drug lord in order to settle a debt. In addition to Ozark, Bateman has worked on a few other Netflix productions, including the Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer-starring film Thunderforce and a Christmas episode of the dr ama series Murderville. It will be interesting to see where Ozark goes next after finishing Ozark.
Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Tambor portrayed George Bluth, the patriarch of the Bluth family. One of Tambor’s most well-known characters outside of Arrested Development was Maura Pfefferman on the series Transparent. Just before the release of Arrested Development’s last season, he was sacked from that programme for sexually assaulting another cast member. He has only released one project since then as a result. The Disney film Magic Camp, which also features Adam Devine, was this undertaking.
Jessica Walter
The mother of the family, Lucille Bluth, was portrayed by legendary actress Jessica Walter. She had a similar trajectory for her career after Arrested Development as several of her co-stars. She played a significant part in the adult animated comedy Archer and appeared as a guest star on American Housewife, Harley Quinn, and Good Girls. In some of the programmes, former cast members from Arrested Development appeared. Walter unfortunately passed away in 2021 at the age of 80. She made a lasting impression as a cherished, Emmy-winning, and versatile actor.
Liza Minnelli
20th Century Fox celebrities The antagonist and recurring character Lucille Austero, Lucille Bluth’s “friend,” was portrayed by Liza Minnelli. Given that her most recent acting gig was on Arrested Development’s fourth season, and given that she is now in her 70s, it is not surprising that she is taking a break from acting. At the 2022 Academy Awards, Minnelli shared a stage alongside Lady Gaga. The same year, she appeared on Broadway in a two-night production with Alan Cumming. Minnelli is still acting; when asked by Variety if she wants to act again, she responded simply, “Oh, certainly.” We may not be sure where we’ll see her next.
Mae Whitman
2013 marked Mae Whitman’s final appearance on Arrested Development. Ann Veal, sometimes known as “Egg,” was her character; she was George Michael’s girlfriend. She appeared in a couple films after her tenure on the programme, including The DUFF and Duck Butter, which starred Alia Shawkat, a former cast member of Arrested Development. The most prominent recent project for Whitman is Good Girls, in which she portrays Annie Marks, one of three mothers who choose to engage in questionable behaviour in order to regain control of their lives.
Michael Cera
When he played George Michael Bluth, the character’s son, in the first season of Arrested Development, Michael Cera was just 15 years old. Between the first season of Arrested Development and the second, Cera continued to portray the awkward teen in films like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Juno, and Superbad. Cera has largely appeared as a guest star on other TV programmes like Medical Police and At Home With Amy Sedaris since the show was cancelled a second time. He has been the lead character in Amy Schumer’s Life & Beth since 2022.
Portia de Rossi
Portia de Rossi portrayed Lindsay Bluth Fünke, Michael’s sister, on Arrested Development. De Rossi had recurring appearances on other dramas like Nip/Tuck, Better Off Ted, and Scandal while the show was cancelled. She made her acting retirement public in 2018. I kind of understood what acting would look like for me for the next 10, 20 years, so I chose to stop and create a business,” she stated in a statement to her wife Ellen DeGeneres (via PEOPLE). We might not have seen the last of her, but there is the caveat that she would return for subsequent seasons of Arrested Development.
Ron Howard
Every episode of Arrested Development had a narration by Ron Howard, who also made a few guest appearances. Howard hasn’t acted or narrated anything since Arrested Development ended. But producing and directing have always been his top priorities. Most notably, in 2020, he produced and released the Oscar-nominated film Hillbilly Elegy, starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close. Later, he released the motion picture Thirteen Lives, which was based on the true account of some young boys and their soccer coach who became lost in a network of caves.
Tony Hale
Buster Bluth, the youngest and arguably least capable member of the Bluth family, was portrayed by Tony Hale as the final remaining Bluth brother. Since the end of Arrested Development, Hale has been hard at work, completing nearly 40 projects. Gary Walsh’s part in Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ political satire series Veep, Jess Oppenheimer in Being the Ricardos, and Forky in Toy Story 4 are just a few of the highlights from this time period. In addition to playing these notable roles, Hale has voiced several characters like Harley Quinn and Birdgirl.
Will Arnett
Gob was portrayed by Will Arnett as one of the Bluth siblings. Arnett began playing the title character in the adult animated comedy BoJack Horseman in the interim between the first and second seasons of the relaunch. It aired from 2014 to 2020 and received three Emmy nominations. Arnett has appeared in programmes like The Morning Show, Our Flag Means Death, and Murderville in addition to BoJack Horseman. In addition, he has kept doing voice work for films like Rumble, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and Minions: The Rise of Gru. As a result, it’s likely that you’ve only ever seen his face once or twice.
