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James Spader
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James Spader
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James Todd Spader (/ˈspeɪdər/ SPAY-dər; born February 7, 1960) is an American actor. He is known for often portraying eccentric and morally ambiguous characters. He began his career in critically acclaimed independent films before transitioning into television, where he has received acclaim and many awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, and ten Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Key Information

Spader began acting in youth-oriented films such as Tuff Turf, The New Kids (both 1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Mannequin (1987). His breakthrough role came with the Steven Soderbergh drama Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), for which he received the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. He then starred in films such as White Palace (1990), True Colors (1991), Stargate (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), and Secretary (2002). Spader took supporting roles in Bob Roberts (1992), Wolf (1994), Lincoln (2012), and The Homesman (2014). He also played the role of Ultron in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

His television roles include the attorney Alan Shore in the last season of The Practice (2003–2004) and its spin-off Boston Legal (2004–2008), which earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He portrayed Robert California in the sitcom The Office (2011–2012). He then starred as Raymond Reddington in the NBC crime thriller series The Blacklist (2013–2023), for which he received two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor – Television Series Drama.

Early life and education

[edit]

Spader was born on February 7, 1960, in Boston, Massachusetts, and is the youngest of three children. His parents, Jean (née Fraser) and Stoddard ("Todd") Greenwood Spader, were both teachers. He grew up on the north shore near Andover, Massachusetts, and in Marion, Massachusetts, near Cape Cod. He worked at the General Grocery Store where he was simply known as "Jimmy".[1][2][3] He has two older sisters, Libby Spader and Annie Spader. According to Spader, he had a very progressive and liberal upbringing. "I was always around dominant and influential women, and that left a great impression".[4][5] Spader is a sixth-generation descendant of Connecticut politician Seth P. Beers,[6] co-founder of American School for the Deaf. Laurent Clerc is his 3rd great-grandfather.[7]

During his early education, he attended many private schools, including The Pike School in Andover where his mother taught art, and the Brooks School in North Andover where his father was a teacher.[5] He later transferred to Phillips Academy, befriended President John F. Kennedy's son John F. Kennedy Jr., dropped out at the age of seventeen, and moved to New York City to pursue his acting career.[8][2] While studying to become a full-time actor, Spader undertook jobs including bartending, teaching yoga, driving a meat truck, loading railroad cars, and being a stable boy.[8]

Acting career

[edit]
Spader features in The Blacklist as Raymond Reddington

Spader's first major film role was in the film Endless Love (1981), and his first starring role was in Tuff Turf (1985). He rose to stardom in 1986, when he played the rich, arrogant playboy Steff in Pretty in Pink. He co-starred in Mannequin (1987) and the film adaptation of Less than Zero (1987), in which he played a drug dealer named Rip. Supporting roles in films such as Baby Boom (1987) and Wall Street (1987) followed until his breakthrough in Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), in which he played a sexual voyeur who complicates the lives of three Baton Rouge, Louisiana residents. For this performance he received the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival.[9]

Spader's roles in the early 1990s included a young, affluent widower opposite Susan Sarandon in the romantic drama White Palace (1990), a yuppie who meets the mysterious Rob Lowe in the Noir drama Bad Influence (1990), John Cusack's best friend in the drama True Colors (1991), and a poker-playing drifter in The Music of Chance (1993). In 1994, he starred as Egyptologist Daniel Jackson in the sci-fi film Stargate. In 1996, he played car accident fetishist James Ballard in the controversial Canadian film Crash and assassin Lee Woods in 2 Days in the Valley. In 1997, Spader guest starred in the Seinfeld episode "The Apology", as an angry recovering alcoholic who refuses to apologize to George for making fun of him. In 2000, he played a drug-addicted detective tracking a serial killer in The Watcher. In 2002, he starred as a sadomasochistic boss in Secretary.

From 2004 to 2008, Spader starred as Alan Shore in the series Boston Legal, in which he reprised his role from the television series The Practice (2003). Longtime writer-producer David E. Kelley said there was resistance when he first tried to cast Spader in the role, "I was told that no one would ever welcome James Spader into their living room". During a TV Game Changers interview Kelley noted, "People will watch him (Spader) in the movies, but they will never let him in their own home."[10]

He won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2004 for his portrayal on The Practice and won it again in 2005 and 2007 for Boston Legal.[9][11][12] With the 2005 win, he became one of only a few actors to win an Emmy Award while playing the same character in two series. Even rarer, he won a second consecutive Emmy while playing the same character in two series. He also won the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical for Boston Legal in 2006.[9]

In October 2006, Spader narrated "China Revealed", the first episode of Discovery Channel's documentary series Discovery Atlas. He also did voice-over in several television commercials for Acura.[13] He starred in Race, a play written and directed by David Mamet, which opened on December 6, 2009, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway.[14] The show closed on August 21, 2010, after 297 performances.[15] In March 2011, he was named to star in the film By Virtue Fall, written and to be directed by Sheldon Turner. As of June 2011, the movie was in pre-production.[16]

Spader guest-starred as Robert California in "Search Committee", the season 7 finale of The Office. He then joined the cast as a regular member for the eighth season. While the original plan was just to do a guest appearance, executive producer Paul Lieberstein later said, "Those two scenes became a season".[17]

Spader starred in the television series, The Blacklist, which premiered on NBC September 23, 2013, and which had its series finale on July 13, 2023, a total of ten seasons. He portrayed Raymond "Red" Reddington, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives.

He also played the villainous robot Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), and will reprise the role in the upcoming Disney+ series VisionQuest (2026).[18]

Personal life

[edit]

Spader met his wife, decorator Victoria Kheel, while working in a yoga studio after he moved to New York City in the 1980s. They married in 1987 and had two sons. Spader filed for divorce from Kheel in 2004. He began dating his former Alien Hunter (2003) co-star, Leslie Stefanson, in 2002.[19] They have one son together.[3]

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, Spader revealed he has obsessive–compulsive disorder.[3]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1978 Team Mates Jimmy Acting debut
1981 Endless Love Keith Butterfield Credited as Jimmy Spader
1985 Tuff Turf Morgan Hiller
The New Kids Eddie "Dutra" Dutra
1986 Pretty in Pink Steff
1987 Mannequin Richards
Baby Boom Ken Arrenberg
Less than Zero Rip
Wall Street Roger Barnes
1988 Greasy Lake Digby Short film
Jack's Back John / Rick Westford
1989 Sex, Lies, and Videotape Graham Dalton
The Rachel Papers Deforest
1990 Bad Influence Michael Boll
White Palace Max Baron
1991 True Colors Tim Gerrity
1992 Storyville Cray Fowler
Bob Roberts Chuck Marlin
1993 The Music of Chance Jack Pozzi
Dream Lover Ray Reardon
1994 Wolf Stewart Swinton
Stargate Dr. Daniel Jackson
1996 Crash James Ballard
2 Days in the Valley Lee Woods
1997 Keys to Tulsa Ronnie Stover
Driftwood The Man
Critical Care Dr. Werner Ernst
1998 Curtain Call Stevenson Lowe
2000 Supernova Nick Vanzant
The Watcher Joel Campbell
Slow Burn Marcus
2001 Speaking of Sex Dr. Roger Klink
2002 Secretary E. Edward Grey
The Stickup John Parker
2003 I Witness Douglas Draper
Alien Hunter Julian Rome
2004 Shadow of Fear William Ashbury
2009 Shorts Carbon Black
2012 Lincoln William Bilbo
2014 The Homesman Aloysius Duffy
2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron Ultron Voice and motion-capture

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1983 Diner Fenwick Television short
The Family Tree Jake Nichols 6 episodes
Cocaine: One Man's Seduction Buddy Gant Television film
A Killer in the Family Donny Tison
1984 Family Secrets Lowell Everall
1985 Starcrossed Joey Callaghan
1994 Frasier Steven Voice; episode: "Slow Tango in South Seattle"
1997 Seinfeld Jason "Stanky" Hanke Episode: "The Apology"
2003 The Pentagon Papers Daniel Ellsberg Television film
2003–2004 The Practice Alan Shore 22 episodes
2004–2008 Boston Legal Alan Shore 101 episodes
2006 Discovery Atlas Narrator Voice; episode: "China Revealed"
2011–2012 The Office Robert California 20 episodes
2013–2023 The Blacklist Raymond "Red" Reddington 218 episodes; also executive producer
2026 VisionQuest Ultron Voice and motion-capture; Post-production

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by James Spader

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

James Spader

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
James Todd Spader (born February 7, 1960) is an American actor best known for portraying complex, morally ambiguous characters in film and television, earning him three for his work in legal dramas. Born in , , to teachers Jean Fraser and Stoddard "Todd" Greenwood Spader, Spader grew up in faculty housing at preparatory schools where his parents worked, attending the Pike School, , and in Andover before dropping out in the 11th grade to pursue acting. He supported himself with odd jobs such as yoga instructor, stable hand, and bartender while training at the Michael Chekhov Studio in New York, making his screen debut in the 1981 romantic drama Endless Love. His breakthrough came in the 1980s with roles as brooding antagonists, including Steff McKee in John Hughes' (1986) and the sleazy Rip in Less Than Zero (1987), establishing him as a member of the "" while showcasing his distinctive intensity and charm. Spader's film career spanned diverse genres, with critically acclaimed performances in Steven Soderbergh's (1989), for which the film won the at ; the erotic thriller (2002), earning him a Best Actor nomination at the Independent Spirit Awards; and David Cronenberg's controversial Crash (1996), which received the Special Jury Prize at . He also voiced the villainous AI in Marvel's (2015) and played political operative W.N. Bilbo in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln (2012). Transitioning prominently to television in the 2000s, Spader revitalized his career as attorney Alan Shore on (2003–2004) and its spin-off (2004–2008), winning three for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2004, 2005, and 2007). He later portrayed the enigmatic CEO on (2011–2012) and master criminal Raymond "Red" Reddington on NBC's long-running thriller (2013–2023), roles that highlighted his idiosyncratic delivery and earned him two additional Emmy nominations. In his personal life, Spader has been open about living with obsessive-compulsive disorder, which influences his meticulous preparation for roles. He was married to decorator Victoria Kheel from 1987 to 2004, with whom he has two sons, Sebastian (born 1989) and Elijah (born 1992); since 2002, he has been in a relationship with actress Leslie Stefanson, and they share a son, Nathaneal (born 2008). Spader maintains a low public profile for his family while continuing to select projects that challenge his range, including an announced reprise of Ultron in Marvel's upcoming Vision series as of 2024.

Early life and education

Family and upbringing

James Spader was born James Todd Spader on February 7, 1960, in , , as the youngest of three children to Jean Fraser Spader, an art and kindergarten teacher, and Stoddard Greenwood "Todd" Spader, an English teacher and part-time copy editor for a local newspaper. His two older sisters, Annie and Spader, both pursued careers in teaching, contributing to a family environment centered on and intellectual pursuits. The Spader family frequently relocated within , dividing time between , North Andover—where both parents worked at the prestigious —and summers spent in the coastal town of Marion, a tradition dating back generations on his mother's side. These moves exposed Spader to diverse settings, from urban to the academic community of North Andover and the relaxed seaside life of Marion, where he was known locally as "Jimmy." The professions of his parents profoundly shaped Spader's upbringing, immersing him in and from an early age; his mother not only taught and but also directed faculty plays at , often casting his father in roles, while his father's work as an English instructor and editor fostered a household rich in and creative expression. This environment, combined with the family's progressive values, provided a nurturing backdrop that encouraged intellectual curiosity and artistic exploration. Spader's early interests in were influenced by these familial dynamics, including impromptu family sessions and participation in local theater through his mother's school productions, which sparked his penchant for entertaining others and putting on plays at home.

Schooling and early pursuits

Spader received his early education at several private institutions in . He attended The Pike School in Andover, where his mother served as an art teacher. He later transferred to the in North Andover, where his father taught English. In high school, Spader enrolled at the prestigious in Andover, but he found the academic environment challenging and was known for his disruptive behavior in class. At the age of 17 in 1977, Spader dropped out of during his junior year to pursue a career in , moving to with limited funds. He immersed himself in the city's theater scene, taking classes at the Studio while supporting his ambitions through a series of manual labor jobs. These included busing tables at restaurants, shoveling at an equestrian stable, teaching classes despite limited expertise, driving a meat delivery truck, and loading railroad cars. Spader's initial forays into acting occurred in small theater productions and performances, building on the stage experience he gained during his school years at . He supplemented these efforts with appearances in television commercials, honing his skills before transitioning to on-screen roles. These early pursuits allowed him to develop his craft amid financial hardship, laying the foundation for his professional entry into .

Acting career

Early roles and breakthrough

Spader's professional acting career began in the early 1980s after he moved to at age 17 to pursue opportunities in the field. His first screen appearance was a small role as Keith Butterfield, the brother of Brooke Shields's character, in the romantic drama Endless Love (1981), where he was credited as Jimmy Spader. This marked his entry into film, though it was a minor part in a project directed by . He made his television debut in 1983 as Jake Nichols, the stepson in a blended family, on the short-lived NBC soap opera The Family Tree, which ran for 13 episodes. Spader followed this with supporting roles in youth-oriented films, including Tuff Turf (1985), where he played the rebellious protagonist Morgan Hiller navigating class tensions and gang conflicts, and The New Kids (1985), in which he portrayed the antagonistic bully Eddie "Dutra" Dutra terrorizing orphans at an amusement park. These early projects established him in teen dramas, often as charismatic yet troubled figures. A pivotal role came in 1986 as the wealthy, manipulative Steff McKee in John Hughes's , where his suave villainy opposite Molly Ringwald's working-class Andie Walsh contributed to the film's status as a key "" production, associating Spader with the ensemble of young Hollywood stars defining 1980s coming-of-age cinema. Spader's breakthrough arrived with the lead in Steven Soderbergh's independent drama (1989), portraying Graham Dalton, a secretive voyeur whose arrival disrupts a strained . The film premiered at the , where Spader won the award for his nuanced performance exploring themes of intimacy and deception. This success shifted his career trajectory, allowing him to embrace more complex, eccentric characters in subsequent roles rather than remaining typecast in adolescent archetypes.

Film highlights

In the 1990s, James Spader solidified his reputation for portraying complex, often morally ambiguous characters in a series of diverse films. In Bad Influence (1990), he played Michael, a straitlaced executive drawn into a dangerous friendship that blurs ethical lines, showcasing his ability to embody intellectual vulnerability under pressure. That same year, White Palace featured Spader as a widowed advertising executive in a taboo romance with an older waitress, highlighting his nuanced depiction of repressed desire and social tension. Subsequent roles in True Colors (1991), a political thriller where he portrayed an idealistic law student navigating betrayal, and Storyville (1992), as a lawyer entangled in a Southern political scandal, further emphasized his skill in intelligent anti-heroes grappling with ambition and deceit, earning a 67% Tomatometer score for the latter's atmospheric intrigue. Spader's supporting turn in Tim Robbins' satirical Bob Roberts (1992) as the cynical news anchor Chuck Marlin reinforced his affinity for sly, manipulative figures in media-driven narratives. The decade continued with introspective dramas like (1993), where Spader's portrayal of the charismatic yet reckless gambler Jack Pozzi in a high-stakes bet against eccentric millionaires garnered universal acclaim, achieving a perfect 100% Tomatometer rating for its existential depth. In Dream Lover (1994), he starred as an architect whose ideal spouse unravels into obsession, blending elements with psychological unease, reflected in its 57% Tomatometer score. Spader's role as the ambitious editor Stewart Swinton in ' Wolf (1994), a of corporate rivalry, earned praise for his sharp, predatory charisma amid the film's 61% Tomatometer approval. His standout performance as the bespectacled Dr. Daniel Jackson in the sci-fi epic (1994) marked a shift toward more heroic yet eccentric intellectuals, with critics noting his wry humor as a highlight despite the film's mixed 53% Tomatometer reception. Entering the 2000s, Spader's film work often explored darker psychological territories, with (2002) emerging as a career pinnacle. As the domineering lawyer E. Edward Grey in the BDSM-themed romance, Spader delivered a critically lauded performance that balanced control and vulnerability, contributing to the film's 77% Tomatometer score and Roger Ebert's commendation of his "beautifully handled" tricky role. Other projects included the crime thriller The Stickup (2002), where he led as a bank robber on the run, and efforts like (2003), portraying a linguist decoding extraterrestrial signals, though these received modest audience responses of 51% and 17%, respectively. In the TV movie (2003), Spader embodied whistleblower with authoritative intensity, earning a 64% audience score for its timely journalistic drama. Spader's later film appearances became more selective, often in ensemble or voice roles that leveraged his distinctive timbre. In Robert Rodriguez's family comedy (2009), he played the villainous Mr. Black, a corporate executive suppressing a magical rock's discovery, amid the film's 47% Tomatometer rating. His motion-capture portrayal of the genocidal AI in (2015) was widely praised for infusing the villain with sardonic wit and philosophical menace, boosting the blockbuster's 75% Tomatometer score and drawing acclaim as one of the MCU's standout antagonists. Spader is set to reprise in both AI and human forms for the upcoming Marvel series VisionQuest, slated for 2026 release on Disney+. Throughout these decades, Spader's evolved toward embodying intelligent anti-heroes—cunning professionals, obsessive intellectuals, and ethically flexible outsiders—whose charm often masked deeper turmoil, a rooted in his breakthrough with (1989). While primarily an actor, Spader has taken producing credits on extensions of his projects, though his film contributions remain focused on performance.

Television prominence

Spader first gained significant television prominence with his portrayal of the eccentric and ethically flexible attorney Alan Shore on the legal drama during its eighth and final season in 2003–2004. Joining as a who often clashed with the firm's moral compass, Shore's introduction was so compelling that it directly inspired the creation of a spin-off series centered on the character. This role marked Spader's transition from film to television leads, earning him his first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2004. The spin-off, (2004–2008), allowed Spader to reprise and expand the role of Alan Shore as a senior partner at the Boston-based law firm Crane, Poole & Schmidt, where his sharp wit, unorthodox courtroom tactics, and closeted vulnerabilities drove much of the series' dramatic and comedic tension. Over 101 episodes, Spader's performance solidified his status as a television mainstay, blending legal procedural elements with social commentary. For this work, he received two additional for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2005 and 2007, along with nominations in 2006 and 2008, highlighting the critical acclaim for his nuanced interpretation of Shore. Spader's most enduring television role came as Raymond "Red" Reddington, a charismatic criminal mastermind and FBI informant, in the thriller (2013–2023). As the enigmatic who surrenders to authorities with a list of high-priority targets, Reddington's complex backstory and manipulative alliances anchored the series across 218 episodes, making it one of the longest-running scripted shows of its era. The series concluded on July 13, 2023, with Spader's character meeting a poignant end, capping a decade-long run that showcased his ability to blend charm, menace, and ambiguity. In addition to starring, Spader served as an executive producer, influencing creative decisions and contributing to the show's narrative evolution. Earlier in his career, Spader appeared in the TV movie The Pentagon Papers (2003), portraying , the real-life whistleblower who leaked classified documents exposing U.S. government deceptions about the . This biographical drama underscored his versatility in historical roles, bridging his film background with television's deeper character explorations.

Stage and other contributions

Spader's involvement in stage productions has been relatively sparse throughout his career, with his most prominent work occurring later in his professional life. He made his Broadway debut in 2009, starring as the defense attorney Jack Lawson in David Mamet's play Race at the . The production, which explored themes of race and justice through a high-stakes legal case, ran for 297 performances and received acclaim for Spader's commanding portrayal, noted for its sharp wit, intensity, and nuanced delivery of Mamet's rapid-fire dialogue. Critics praised his ability to embody the character's moral ambiguity and articulate cynicism, with reviews highlighting how Spader's performance anchored the play's provocative debates. Prior to this, Spader's theater experience was limited, primarily consisting of occasional appearances in the 1980s during his early career transition from modeling and minor film roles to more substantial acting pursuits. These early stage efforts, though not widely documented, helped hone his skills in live performance before he predominantly shifted to screen work. Beyond Broadway, Spader has made few subsequent theater commitments, reflecting his preference for film and television mediums where his distinctive presence could be more extensively explored. In addition to live stage work, Spader has contributed significantly through , leveraging his distinctive and expressive delivery. He provided the voice for the villain in the 2015 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Avengers: Age of Ultron, infusing the character with a chilling blend of sarcasm, menace, and philosophical depth that became one of the role's defining traits. Spader reprised this voice role in the upcoming Disney+ series Vision Quest (2026), marking Ultron's return in a narrative centered on Vision and the White Vision. Spader has also lent his narration to documentary projects, enhancing their storytelling with his measured, authoritative tone. He narrated the premiere episode, "China Revealed," of Discovery Channel's Discovery Atlas series in 2006, guiding viewers through an exploration of modern 's cultural and economic transformations via high-definition visuals and personal accounts. Furthermore, as an on the series from its inception in 2013 through its conclusion in 2023, Spader played a key behind-the-scenes role, influencing creative decisions, script development, and overall production direction alongside showrunners.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Spader was married to set decorator Victoria Kheel from 1987 until their divorce in 2004. They met in the early 1980s at a studio in , where Spader worked as an instructor. The couple welcomed two sons during their marriage: Sebastian, born in 1989, and , born in 1992. After the , Spader entered a long-term relationship with actress and sculptor , whom he met in 2002 while filming the science-fiction movie . Spader and Stefanson have one son, Nathaneal, born on August 31, 2008. Spader and his family have resided in as of 2025, where he has consistently prioritized their privacy, rarely discussing his children in public interviews. He has not remarried, and no other significant romantic relationships have been publicly reported since his from Kheel.

Health and interests

James Spader has publicly discussed his diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), describing it as a condition that manifests in strong routines and a particular attention to detail. In a 2014 interview, he stated, “I'm obsessive-compulsive... I have very, very strong obsessive-compulsive issues. I'm very particular,” noting that disruptions to his daily rituals can be challenging. He has elaborated that these tendencies make it “very hard” for him when routines are interrupted, emphasizing his reliance on structure for personal stability. While specific compulsions like excessive hand-washing have not been detailed in his accounts, his OCD involves organizational habits and fixations that influence his daily life. Spader's interests include , which he practiced and taught during his early career as a way to maintain physical and mental discipline. He also maintains a passion for vintage automobiles, notably owning and driving a , reflecting his appreciation for classic engineering and design. In terms of philanthropy, Spader has supported animal welfare organizations, including donations to Save the Elephants alongside his partner Leslie Stefanson, as recognized in the group's 2017 annual report. Following the conclusion of The Blacklist in 2023, Spader has prioritized a lifestyle centered on privacy and work-life balance, consistently expressing in interviews his desire to shield his personal life from public scrutiny. He has noted that this approach, while sometimes limiting professional opportunities, allows him to maintain equilibrium between his career and family responsibilities.

Filmography

Film roles

Spader's feature film roles span over four decades, beginning with his debut in youth-oriented dramas and evolving into more complex character-driven parts. The following is a chronological list of his credited appearances in theatrical s, organized by decade, including role names and directors where applicable. Producing credits are noted. Uncredited or voice roles are indicated. This list excludes television movies, series, shorts, and documentaries.

1980s

1990s

  • 1990: White Palace (directed by ) as Max Baron
  • 1990: Bad Influence (directed by ) as Michael Boll
  • 1990: Gremlins 2: The New Batch (directed by ) as Daniel Clamp
  • 1991: True Colors (directed by ) as Tim Gerrity
  • 1992: Bob Roberts (directed by ) as Chuck Marlin
  • 1992: Storyville (directed by ) as Cray Fowler
  • 1992: The Player (directed by ) as uncredited cameo
  • 1993: The Music of Chance (directed by Philip Haas) as Jack Pozzi
  • 1993: Dream Lover (directed by ) as Ray Reardon
  • 1994: Wolf (directed by ) as Stewart Swinton
  • 1994: Stargate (directed by ) as Dr. Daniel Jackson
  • 1996: Crash (directed by ) as James Ballard
  • 1996: 2 Days in the Valley (directed by ) as Lee Woods
  • 1997: Keys to Tulsa (directed by Leslie Greif) as Ronnie Stover
  • 1997: Critical Care (directed by ) as Dr. Werner Ernst
  • 1998: Curtain Call (directed by ) as Stevenson Lowe
  • 2000: The Watcher (directed by Joe Charbanic) as Joel Campbell
  • 2000: Supernova (directed by ) as Nick Vanzant

2000s

2010s

  • 2010: Extraordinary Measures (directed by Tom Vaughan) as Robert Stonehill
  • 2012: Lincoln (directed by ) as W. N. Bilbo
  • 2014: (directed by ) as Aloysius Duffy
  • 2015: Avengers: (directed by ) as (voice)
  • 2018: Avengers: Infinity War (directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo) as (voice, uncredited)
  • 2019: Avengers: Endgame (directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo) as (voice, uncredited)
No feature films are credited for the 2020s as of 2025.

Television roles

Spader's television career began in the early with several made-for-TV movies and a short-lived series. His early credits include supporting roles in family dramas and thrillers, marking his transition from stage work to screen .
YearTitleRoleNotes
1983 (pilot)FenwickUnsold pilot episode; 1 episode.
1983Don FurlongTV movie.
1983The Family TreeJake NicholsSeries regular; 6 episodes.
1984Family SecretsLowell EverallTV movie.
1985Joey CallaghanTV movie.
1994StevenVoice role; guest appearance in 1 episode ("Slow Tango in South Seattle").
1997Jason HankeGuest appearance in 1 episode ("The Apology").
1998Lt. Col. Robert Laurel SmithTV movie.
2003The Pentagon PapersTV movie.
2003–2004Alan ShoreSeries regular; 22 episodes.
2004–2008Alan ShoreSeries regular; 101 episodes.
In the mid-2000s, Spader took on voice work for a documentary series episode. He then portrayed enigmatic corporate figures in comedic series before leading a long-running crime drama as an .
YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Discovery AtlasNarratorVoice role; 1 episode (" Revealed").
2011–2012Robert CaliforniaSeries regular; 19 episodes.
2013–2023Raymond "Red" ReddingtonSeries regular and ; 218 episodes.

Awards and honors

Primetime Emmy Awards

James Spader has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, winning three times for his portrayal of attorney Alan Shore. His first win came in 2004 for the final season of The Practice, where he joined the series in a recurring role that transitioned into the lead for the spinoff Boston Legal. At the 56th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on September 19, 2004, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Spader accepted the award from presenters Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes. In his improvised speech, he humorously noted, "I should have written something down," complimented the audience's attire, and expressed particular gratitude to the hair and makeup team for their support throughout his career. Spader's subsequent nominations and wins were all for Boston Legal, underscoring his commanding performance as the eccentric lawyer. At the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 18, 2005, Spader secured his second Emmy, defeating nominees including for 24. His acceptance speech included a lighthearted thank-you to the Academy and his mother, whom he had overlooked the previous year: "I'd like to thank the academy and I'd like to thank my mother and I'd like to thank my mother again, because I forgot to thank her last year." In 2007, Spader won his third Emmy at the on , again for , this time besting three-time winner of . During the ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium, he acknowledged the competition with wit, stating, "I feel like I just stole a pile of from the Mob." He received one final nomination in 2008 for the series' fourth season but lost to for . These consecutive accolades marked Spader as one of the few actors to win Emmys for portraying the same character across two different series, elevating his stature as a premier television performer and contributing to 's critical and commercial success during its run from 2004 to 2008. The wins solidified his transition from film to television prominence, attracting renewed attention to his nuanced dramatic style and enabling further high-profile roles in the medium.

Other accolades

Spader received the Award at the for his portrayal of Graham Dalton in Steven Soderbergh's , marking a pivotal recognition early in his career for his nuanced depiction of a socially awkward voyeur. In television, Spader earned Golden Globe nominations for his role as Alan Shore on , including a nod in 2005 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama. He later received two consecutive nominations in the same category for portraying "" Reddington on , in 2014 and 2015. Spader garnered ten Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, primarily for Boston Legal across multiple seasons from 2005 to 2008 and for The Blacklist in subsequent years. He also won the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical in 2006 for Boston Legal. Among other honors, Spader received Saturn Award nominations for his genre performances, including Best Supporting Actor in 1995 for Wolf and Best Supporting Actor in 2016 for voicing Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron, as well as a 2014 nomination for Best Actor on Television for The Blacklist.

References

  1. https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-spader
  2. https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Spader
  3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000652/bio/
  4. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/james-spader/bio/3000188886/
  5. https://screenrant.com/james-spaders-best-movie-roles-ranked/
  6. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/james_spader
  7. https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/james-spader-ultron-vision-series-marvel-1236116657/
  8. https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/nominees-winners/2005/outstanding-lead-actor-in-a-drama-series
  9. https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-blacklist-end-season-10-nbc-1235509482/
  10. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/emmys-set-blacklist-as-james-707082/
  11. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/james-spader-the-strangest-man-on-tv-173892/
  12. https://people.com/all-about-james-spader-kids-8723473
  13. https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2004/09/22/marion-mom-says-emmy-won/50356919007/
  14. https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/courier-sentinel/2007/10/31/jean-fraser-spader-84-gigi/40614049007/
  15. https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/features/james-spader-life-beyond-the-brat-pack-1771607.html
  16. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/pictures/bay-state-roots-hollywood-fame/
  17. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/actors-love-3-37731/
  18. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/theater/29spader.html
  19. https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/68205
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085013/
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090213/
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089679/
  23. https://variety.com/lists/brat-pack-explained-guide-1980s-actors/
  24. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-23-mn-835-story.html
  25. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/music_of_chance
  26. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/secretary
  27. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/secretary-2002
  28. https://moviemetropolis.net/2015/04/26/this-one-belongs-to-james-spader-avengers-age-of-ultron-review/
  29. https://movieweb.com/vision-quest-2026-release-james-spader-character-details/
  30. https://movieweb.com/james-spader-best-performances-ranked/
  31. https://screenrant.com/the-practice-james-spader-alan-shore-spinoff-success/
  32. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000652/awards/
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402711/
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2741602/
  35. https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/james-spader-the-blacklist-finale-ending-reaction
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0330760/
  37. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/theater/reviews/07race.html
  38. https://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/Race.html
  39. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/dec/06/david-mamet-race-theatre-review
  40. https://ew.com/james-spader-returning-as-ultron-for-marvel-vision-series-8700697
  41. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0958523/
  42. https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/the-blacklist-season-10-renew-1235188125/
  43. https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3149130/meet-james-spaders-ex-wife-victoria-spader/
  44. https://enterprisepeak.co.uk/james-spader-wife/
  45. https://gistflare.com.ng/nathaneal-spader-biography/
  46. https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/james-spader-wife-5041470/
  47. https://uproxx.com/tv/real-life-james-spader-is-every-bit-as-strange-difficult-and-idiosyncratic-as-he-appears-on-tv/
  48. https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/the-blacklist-star-james-spader-on-obsessive-compulsive-ways-its-very-hard-for-me.html/
  49. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/blacklist-star-james-spader-then-080327280.html
  50. https://tork.buzz/carnews/The-Car-That-Mirrors-James-Spaders-Automotive-Passion-20241023-0048.html
  51. https://www.savetheelephants.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2017STEAnnualReport-web.pdf
  52. https://fandomwire.com/my-personal-life-is-not-for-public-consumption-james-spader-happily-paid-a-heavy-price-in-his-career-for-forcing-the-media-to-respect-his-privacy/
  53. https://www.looper.com/62257/james-spader-doesnt-get-many-movie-offers-anymore/
  54. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082329/
  55. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098724/
  56. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116762/
  57. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000652/fullcredits
  58. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085791/
  59. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087235/
  60. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090066/
  61. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0582501/
  62. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697651/
  63. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118437/
  64. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034423/
  65. https://www.tvmaze.com/characters/480013/the-office-robert-california
  66. https://emmys.com/bios/james-spader
  67. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2024-05-29/20-years-ag-at-the-emmys-kelsey-grammer-james-spader-al-pacino
  68. https://emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2005/outstanding-lead-actor-in-a-drama-series
  69. https://www.azquotes.com/quote/624540
  70. https://emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2007/outstanding-lead-actor-in-a-drama-series
  71. https://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/17/emmy.night/?iref=nextin
  72. https://emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2008/outstanding-lead-actor-in-a-drama-series
  73. https://emmys.com/news/59th-primetime-emmys-winners-revealed
  74. https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65314213/
  75. https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/james-spader/
  76. https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/boston-legal/
  77. https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/james-spader/
  78. https://www.sagawards.org/files/sagawards/nominee_histories.pdf
  79. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402711/awards/
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