James Spader

James Spader

Acting • Born 1960-02-07

Acting5Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Biography

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. 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Spader, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Filmography

72 credits
Crash

Crash

Movie • 1996

James Ballard

sex, lies, and videotape

sex, lies, and videotape

Movie • 1989

Graham Dalton

Stargate

Stargate

Movie • 1994

Dr. Daniel Jackson

Mannequin

Mannequin

Movie • 1987

Mr. Richards

Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts

Movie • 1992

Chuck Marlin

Supernova

Supernova

Movie • 2000

Nick Vanzant

The Watcher

The Watcher

Movie • 2000

FBI Special Agent Joel Campbell

Wolf

Wolf

Movie • 1994

Stewart Swinton

Secretary

Secretary

Movie • 2002

Mr. Grey

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

Movie • 1986

Steff McKee

Alien Hunter

Alien Hunter

Movie • 2003

Julian Rome

Bad Influence

Bad Influence

Movie • 1990

Michael Boll

Shorts

Shorts

Movie • 2009

Carbon Black

2 Days in the Valley

2 Days in the Valley

Movie • 1996

Lee Woods

True Colors

True Colors

Movie • 1991

Tim Gerrity

The Pentagon Papers

The Pentagon Papers

Movie • 2003

Daniel Ellsberg

Less Than Zero

Less Than Zero

Movie • 1987

Rip

Tuff Turf

Tuff Turf

Movie • 1985

Morgan Hiller

White Palace

White Palace

Movie • 1990

Max Baron

The Rachel Papers

The Rachel Papers

Movie • 1989

Deforest

Jack's Back

Jack's Back

Movie • 1988

John Allen Wesford / Richard Wesford

The Stickup

The Stickup

Movie • 2002

John Parker

Critical Care

Critical Care

Movie • 1997

Dr. Werner Ernst

I Witness

I Witness

Movie • 2003

Douglas Draper

Speaking of Sex

Speaking of Sex

Movie • 2001

Dr. Roger Klink

The Music of Chance

The Music of Chance

Movie • 1993

Jack Pozzi

Dream Lover

Dream Lover

Movie • 1994

Ray Reardon

Curtain Call

Curtain Call

Movie • 1998

Stevenson Lowe

Cocaine: One Man's Seduction

Cocaine: One Man's Seduction

Movie • 1983

Buddy Gant

Endless Love

Endless Love

Movie • 1981

Keith

Shadow of Fear

Shadow of Fear

Movie • 2004

William Ashbury

Starcrossed

Starcrossed

Movie • 1985

Joey Callaghan

The New Kids

The New Kids

Movie • 1985

Eddie Dutra

Lincoln

Lincoln

Movie • 2012

W.N. Bilbo

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Movie • 2015

Ultron (voice)

Driftwood

Driftwood

Movie • 1997

The Man

Greasy Lake

Greasy Lake

Movie • 1988

Digby

Team-Mates

Team-Mates

Movie • 1978

Jimmy

Storyville

Storyville

Movie • 1992

Cray Fowler

Slow Burn

Slow Burn

Movie • 2000

Marcus

Keys to Tulsa

Keys to Tulsa

Movie • 1997

Ronnie Stover

A Killer in the Family

A Killer in the Family

Movie • 1983

Donny Tison

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

Movie • 2012

(archive footage)

Wall Street

Wall Street

Movie • 1987

Roger Barnes

The Homesman

The Homesman

Movie • 2014

Aloysius Duffy

Baby Boom

Baby Boom

Movie • 1987

Ken Arrenberg

BRATS

BRATS

Movie • 2024

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Family Secrets

Family Secrets

Movie • 1984

Lowell Everall

Diner

Diner

Movie • 1983

Fenwick

Discovery Atlas: China Revealed

Discovery Atlas: China Revealed

Movie • 2006

Narrator (voice)

Seinfeld

Seinfeld

TV • 1989

Jason 'Stanky' Hanky

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

TV • 2003

Self

The Daily Show

The Daily Show

TV • 1996

Self

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

TV • 1988

The View

The View

TV • 1997

Self

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

TV • 1992

Frasier

Frasier

TV • 1993

Steven (voice)

The Practice

The Practice

TV • 1997

Alan Shore

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

TV • 1993

Self - Guest

Discovery Atlas

Discovery Atlas

TV • 2006

Boston Legal

Boston Legal

TV • 2004

Alan Shore

Celebrities Uncensored

Celebrities Uncensored

TV • 2003

Self

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

TV • 2005

Self

The Blacklist

The Blacklist

TV • 2013

Raymond 'Red' Reddington

The Family Tree

The Family Tree

TV • 1983

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

TV • 2014

Self

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

TV • 2014

Self

The Reichen Show

The Reichen Show

TV • 2005

Self - Guest

The Frame

The Frame

TV • 2013

James Ballard

The Office

The Office

TV • 2005

Robert California

VisionQuest

VisionQuest

TV

Ultron (voice)

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

TV • 1944

Self - Nominee