James Spader

    Actor, Producer, Soundtrack

    Birthdate: Feb 7, 1960

    Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    James Todd Spader was born on February 7, 1960 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of teachers Jean (Fraser) and Stoddard Greenwood "Todd" Spader. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover with director Peter Sellars; he dropped out in eleventh grade. He bused tables, shoveled manure, and taught yoga before landing his first roles. Spader's first major film role was as Brooke Shields' brother in the romance drama Endless Love (1981). Spader graduated from television movies to Brat Pack films, playing the scoundrel. In Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), he played a sexual voyeur who complicates the lives of three Baton Rouge residents. This performance earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival and led to bigger and more varied roles. His best known role is the colorful attorney Alan Shore on the David E. Kelley television series The Practice (1997) and its spin-off Boston Legal (2004).

    He won 3 prime time Emmy Awards in the Best Actor, Drama category for playing the same character Alan Shore in two different television series 'The Practice' and 'Boston Legal' out of the 4 nominations he received for the same between the years 2004-2008. He also received a Golden Globe and several Screen Actor Guild Award Best Actor nominations for reprising this role.

    Known For

    The Blacklist
    The Blacklist

    (2013)

    Boston Legal
    Boston Legal

    (2004)

    Sex, Lies, and Videotape
    Sex, Lies, and Videotape

    (1989)

    James Spader Movies

    actor

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    Previous (37)

    • 2021 |

      Wolf

      asStewart Swinton
    • 2015 |

      Avengers: Age of Ultron

      asUltron
    • 2014 |

      Endless Love

      asKeith
    • 2012 |

      Lincoln

      asW.N. Bilbo
    • 2009 |
      Shortsas Mr. Black
    • 2004 |
      Shadow of Fearas William Ashbury
    • 2003 |
      Alien Hunteras Julian Rome
    • 2003 |
      I Witnessas Douglas Draper
    • 2002 |
      The Stick Upas John Parker
    • 2002 |
      Secretaryas Mr. Grey
    • 2001 |
      Speaking of Sexas Dr. Roger Klink
    • 2000 |
      The Watcheras Campbell
    • 2000 |

      Supernova

      asNick Vanzant
    • 1998 |
      It All Came Trueas Stevenson Lowe
    • 1997 |
      Driftwoodas The Man
    • 1997 |
      Critical Careas Dr. Werner Ernst
    • 1997 |
      Keys to Tulsaas Ronnie Stover
    • 1996 |
      Crashas James Ballard
    • 1996 |

      Crash

      asJames Ballard
    • 1996 |
      2 Days in the Valleyas Lee Woods
    • 1994 |
      Stargateas Dr. Daniel Jackson
    • 1993 |
      Dream Loveras Ray
    • 1993 |
      The Music of Chanceas Jack Pozzi
    • 1992 |
      Storyvilleas Cray Fowler
    • 1991 |
      True Colorsas Tim Gerrity
    • 1990 |
      White Palaceas Max Baron
    • 1990 |
      Bad Influenceas Michael Boll
    • 1989 |
      Sex, Lies, and Videotapeas Graham
    • 1989 |
      The Rachel Papersas Deforest
    • 1988 |
      Jack's Backas John
    • 1987 |
      Less Than Zeroas Rip
    • 1987 |
      Baby Boomas Ken Arrenberg
    • 1987 |
      Mannequinas Richards
    • 1986 |
      Pretty in Pinkas Steff
    • 1986 |

      Pretty in Pink

      asSteff
    • 1985 |
      The New Kidsas Dutra
    • 1985 |
      Tuff Turfas Morgan Hiller