Jason Bateman and Ricky Schroder were best friends in the ‘80s sitcom Silver Spoons, with the latter playing the main character, Ricky Stratton. They enjoyed friendship beyond filming, bonding over mischief, and riding their bikes around Universal Studios.
Bateman left the show after season two for NBC’s It’s Your Move, which lasted for only one season due to backlash from parents and the tough competition from Dynasty. Bateman’s move away from the set of Silver Spoons severed his friendship with Schroder, who remained until the finale.
Are Jason Bateman and Ricky Schroder still friends?
Bateman and Schroder went their separate ways in two years, and Bateman clarified that there were no hard feelings between them as there have been photos of them hanging out in their twenties. There is no certainty about their friendship in recent times as they do not follow each other on social media, but in their defense, they are both inactive on Instagram. Bateman often posts on X, but Schroder has no account there.
Their varying preferences as adults also signal a disconnect, as Bateman is a Democrat, while Schroder is a Republican, which has proven to cause issues in adult friendships as of late. Bateman is also a successful director, with credits for hit series like Ozark and The Outsider and films like The Family Fang starring Nicole Kidman. Like in Silver Spoon, Schroder has lasted in shows like NYPD Blue and Strong Medicine.
Throwback at mischief
Bateman admitted he and Schroder were popular on set due to their naughtiness, and they would often hang on to moving trams and people would recognize them as the kids from Silver Spoons. They would also wade and fish in the Jaws’ lake on the backlot.
The 55-year-old once recalled on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live that they almost ran over Michael Jackson during one of their mischievous adventures. With tourists coming into the area, guides sent a letter to Bateman and Schroder’s parents asking that they stop ruining the attractions.