Whatever Happened to Justine Bateman?

You could argue that Famly Ties remains the prototypical 80s sitcom. The show chronicled the trial and tribulations of the Keaton family and reflected on the societal shift from the liberal ideals of the 60s and 70s to the more culturally conservative 80s.

The show’s premise was most notably depicted in the relationship between the family’s parents, Elyse and Stephen Keaton, and their son Alex P. Keaton, portrayed by Micheal J. Fox. But, Alex wasn’t the only Keaton child that found his way onto the American television sets during the show’s run on NBC.

Justine Bateman played Alex’s older sister Mallory. While not as outwardly political as her brother Alex, Bateman’s Mallory embraced the rampant consumerism of the decade in which the show aired which was in stark contrast to her parent’s “hippy” idea’s of free love and communal living.

Bateman portrayed Mallory for the show’s full 7-season run from 1982–1989. It was her first acting job, and it propelled her immediate national notoriety.