Although he was born in Florida, actor and producer Justin Bartha spent the majority of his formative years in a suburb just outside of Detroit called West Bloomfield.

Best known for his roles in the mid-2000s “The Hangover” franchise and Nicholas Cage’s “National Treasure,” Justin Bartha brings a subtle charm and contagious wit to all the projects he takes in.

An alumnus of West Bloomfield High School, Bartha developed an early love for the spotlight while in high school drama and theater, gaining an appreciation for film and storytelling that would later propel him to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied acting.

A spunky kid with Broadway technique and blockbuster potential, he slowly built up a career by playing the guy the audience remembers, even if he isn’t necessarily the loudest voice in the room.

In short, the drive, humorous self-deprecation, and timing he honed during his time in Detroit went on to show up in every role he took on—whether he was a missing groom or a sidekick delivering dry quips.

Bartha’s breakout moment came in 2004 when he starred alongside Nicholas Cage in “National Treasure” as the character Riley Poole, a tech-savvy comic relief that leveled out Cage as the treasure hunter.

His timing was perfect, his lines surprisingly iconic, and above all else, the audience loved his dynamic on screen with Cage.

That said, what really lifted off Bartha’s career was his 2009 starring role in “The Hangover,” where he played Doug, an unlucky groom who disappeared into a cloud of chaos the night before his wedding.

That first Hangover movie wasn’t one where he even had a ton of screen time, yet it didn’t matter. The entire movie revolved around finding Doug, proving his brilliance and importance even if he spent most of his time entirely off-screen.

Justin Bartha’s range extends far beyond comedies.

He has also performed on Broadway in the plays “The Sunshine Boys” and “Lend Me a Tenor,” appeared in various independent films, and held recurring television roles in “The Good Fight,” “The New Normal,” and “Godfather of Harlem.”

And yet, Bartha has never demanded attention.

Quite the contrary, he has always earned it the hard way: by developing his craft.

In that way, he’s Detroit’s underrated silver screen great: smart, steady, and always willing to bring his all to everything he does.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: September 27, 2025