<P> Bateman first appeared in a cereal commercial for Golden Grahams in 1980 and began his television career on Little House on the Prairie as James Cooper , an orphaned boy who , along with his sister , is adopted by the Ingalls family . From 1982 to 1984 , he was a supporting character on the television show Silver Spoons as Ricky Schroder 's `` bad boy '' best friend Derek Taylor . He appeared in the Knight Rider third - season episode `` Lost Knight '' in 1984 , and a number of other small television roles . In 1984 , in response to his popularity on Silver Spoons , the show 's producers gave Bateman his own starring role as Matthew Burton on the NBC sitcom It 's Your Move , from September 1984 to February 1985 . In 1987 , he appeared with Burt Reynolds on the men 's team in the inaugural week of game show Win , Lose or Draw . </P>
<P> Bateman first appeared in a cereal commercial for Golden Grahams in 1980 and began his television career on Little House on the Prairie as James Cooper , an orphaned boy who , along with his sister , is adopted by the Ingalls family . From 1982 to 1984 , he was a supporting character on the television show Silver Spoons as Ricky Schroder 's `` bad boy '' best friend Derek Taylor . He appeared in the Knight Rider third - season episode `` Lost Knight '' in 1984 , and a number of other small television roles . In 1984 , in response to his popularity on Silver Spoons , the show 's producers gave Bateman his own starring role as Matthew Burton on the NBC sitcom It 's Your Move , from September 1984 to February 1985 . In 1987 , he appeared with Burt Reynolds on the men 's team in the inaugural week of game show Win , Lose or Draw . </P>
who does jason bateman play in little house on the prairie
who does jason bateman play in little house on the prairie
James Cooper
James Cooper