Jennifer Garner just delivered an Alias reunion with an unexpected extra dose of nostalgia. The actress reunited with her former costar and ex-boyfriend Michael Vartan, sharing a rare photo of the two together as she celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ABC spy drama that helped turn her into a household name.
Garner, 54, included the sweet snapshot in an Instagram video montage posted September 30. In the photo, she has an arm around Vartan, 57, who keeps things casual in glasses, a New York Mets baseball cap and a button-down shirt.
© Jennifer GarnerFor longtime Alias fans, seeing Sydney Bristow and Michael Vaughn together again was a serious throwback. The reunion also offered a rare glimpse at the friendly relationship Garner and Vartan appear to have maintained more than two decades after their real-life romance ended.
Why Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan reunited
The occasion was a major one: Alias premiered 25 years ago. Garner marked the milestone by looking back at the series, which ran for five seasons from 2001 until 2006. Her anniversary montage was not solely focused on Vartan. It also featured familiar faces from the Alias family, including Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Merrin Dungey and series creator J.J. Abrams.
In a voiceover accompanying the video, Garner described the show's cast and crew as her "whole world" and reflected on how they have remained connected over the years. She called the group a "little band" that has stayed together across the past 25 years.
Neither Garner nor Vartan indicated that the reunion was romantic.
Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan dated during Alias
Of course, Garner and Vartan's history extends beyond their television roles.
© WireImageGarner starred as Sydney Bristow, a highly skilled double agent navigating an increasingly complicated world of espionage, while Vartan played CIA officer Michael Vaughn. Their characters' relationship became one of the show's central storylines.
Their chemistry eventually carried over into real life. Garner and Vartan began dating in 2003 after meeting through Alias. The relationship was relatively brief, with the pair splitting in 2004. Despite their breakup, they continued working together on the series and remained on friendly terms.
© Ron Galella Collection via GettyVartan spoke about their breakup in a 2005 interview with USA Today, describing the split as amicable and explaining that he and Garner had been close friends before, during, and after their relationship.
Years later, he also made it clear that he wasn't expecting a romantic reunion. Asked in 2018 whether he and Garner might ever get back together, Vartan said he didn't think so, reasoning that their relationship had already run its course.
© GC ImagesAlias changed Jennifer Garner's career
Beyond the attention surrounding her reunion with Vartan, Garner's anniversary post was ultimately a celebration of the role that transformed her career.
Before Alias, Garner said she wasn't viewed as an obvious choice for action-heavy or particularly tough roles. Playing Sydney changed that perception and affected Garner personally as well. "I walked differently after I played Sydney," Garner recalled in the anniversary video, adding that she remains proud of her involvement with the series.
© GC ImagesThe demanding role required Garner to move between elaborate disguises, fight sequences, emotional drama and the complicated double life at the center of the show.
It also earned her major industry recognition and established her as a leading television star before she moved further into films including 13 Going on 30, Elektra, Juno and Dallas Buyers Club.
