Since the show went off the air, Jason has been able to carve out a nice career in feature films with a terrific role in current hit "Juno" as well as roles in recent releases "The Kingdom" with Jamie Foxx and "Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium" opporite Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman.

"I've been a real lucky guy to be able to do the things that I'm doing because I got real lucky getting cast on "Arrested Development," Jason told me when we chatted recently at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. "A lot people who are casting films watched that show and that's the lucky part of this business."

These films came on the heels of "Smokin' Aces" "The Ex" and "The Break-Up." Next up for Jason, who turns 39 on Monday, is the summer release "Hancock" in which stars with Will Smith and Charlize Theron.

"It's been great, it's been a lifeline," he said of the string of films. "It's nice that I've got another medium to try and earn a rent check from."

Jason has a family to support, after all. His wife, Amanda, is the daughter of singer Paul Anka and the couple have a 1-year-old daughter.

Even though he's a big movie star now, television has been very good to the actor. He won a Golden Globe Award for his performance as Michael Bluth in "Arrested Development" which was the pinnacle of a television career that began when he was 12 with a recurring role on "Little House on the Prairie" and including lengthy runs on the sitcoms "Silver Spoons" and "The Hogan Family." He also played a gay man in the short-lived CBS sitcom "Some of My Best Friends."