Eighties movie heartthrob with controversial love life unrecognisable after decade-long feud with famous best friend

IN 1987, this actor looked ready to take on Hollywood as brooding new vampire Michael in The Lost Boys.

Now, nearly 40 years on from the film’s release, the star has returned to TV screens – only this time on the right side of the law.

The past four decades have certainly been turbulent for actor Jason Patric, both on and off the screen, with his career highs being matched by equal career lows.

After playing Michael in The Lost Boys, he became one to watch on the Hollywood scene alongside Kiefer Sutherland, who played blond-mulleted vampire leader David.

Together they formed a close friendship as their careers took off.

Shortly after the film’s release, Jason – whose notable rocker image and long-hair garnered a significant number of female fans – was even in line to play The Doors’ Jim Morrison in a biopic on his life, but the part eventually went to Val Kilmer.

Jason grew up around Hollywood and creative people. His father was Oscar-nominated actor and playwright Jason Miller – who’s best known for his starring role as one of the priests in The Exorcist.

On top of that, his maternal grandfather was Jackie Gleason, star of The Honeymooners and Smokey and the Bandit.

Jason landed his Lost Boys role shortly after graduation, and only had one other credit to his name at the time of being cast.

While he maintained a friendship with Sutherland, their relationship derailed in 1991 when Jason started dating Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts.

Julia was engaged to be married to Sutherland in June 1991, but the marriage never happened, with the pair calling things off shortly before the big day.

Jason and Julia went public with their relationship shortly thereafter – and on the day of what would have been the wedding, the pair went on holiday to Ireland while Sutherland moved out of the home he shared with her.

The couple would split in 1992, and it would take over a decade before Jason and Sutherland reconciled.

Eventually, they would repair their friendship, having been cast together on Broadway in That Champion Season – which is written by Jason’s father.

In 2011, Jason told Cinemovie that he was “very close”; with his Lost Boys co-star once again.

Jason has also previously dated Christy Turlington from 1994 to 1999, and Danielle Schrieber, with whom he has a son.

During the last decade, Jason has appeared both on stage – notably in his father’s seminal work That Champion Season on Broadway – and screen, with hits including Sleepers and Speed 2: Cruise Control.

In 2009, he appeared alongside Cameron Diaz in cult favourite My Sister’s Keeper, as the devastated husband and father caught between the warring mother and daughter.

Earlier this year, Jason landed a new role in Law & Order: Organised Crime, joining Christopher Meloni in the latest spin-off of the long-running crime drama.

He is playing Detective Tim McKenna in what has been billed as a recurring role throughout the fifth season.