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James Spader

James Spader

Born: 1960-02-07 • Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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.

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Filmography
BRATS poster
BRATS
2024 • Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Avengers: Age of Ultron poster
Avengers: Age of Ultron
2015 • Ultron (voice)
The Homesman poster
The Homesman
2014 • Aloysius Duffy
Lincoln poster
Lincoln
2012 • W.N. Bilbo
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen poster
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
2012 • (archive footage)
Shorts poster
Shorts
2009 • Carbon Black
Discovery Atlas: China Revealed poster
Discovery Atlas: China Revealed
2006 • Narrator (voice)
Shadow of Fear poster
Shadow of Fear
2004 • William Ashbury
Alien Hunter poster
Alien Hunter
2003 • Julian Rome
I Witness poster
I Witness
2003 • Douglas Draper
The Pentagon Papers poster
The Pentagon Papers
2003 • Daniel Ellsberg
Secretary poster
Secretary
2002 • Mr. Grey
The Stickup poster
The Stickup
2002 • John Parker
Speaking of Sex poster
Speaking of Sex
2001 • Dr. Roger Klink
Slow Burn poster
Slow Burn
2000 • Marcus
The Watcher poster
The Watcher
2000 • FBI Special Agent Joel Campbell
Supernova poster
Supernova
2000 • Nick Vanzant
Curtain Call poster
Curtain Call
1998 • Stevenson Lowe
Critical Care poster
Critical Care
1997 • Dr. Werner Ernst
Keys to Tulsa poster
Keys to Tulsa
1997 • Ronnie Stover
Driftwood poster
Driftwood
1997 • The Man
2 Days in the Valley poster
2 Days in the Valley
1996 • Lee Woods
Crash poster
Crash
1996 • James Ballard
Dream Lover poster
Dream Lover
1994 • Ray Reardon
Stargate poster
Stargate
1994 • Dr. Daniel Jackson
Wolf poster
Wolf
1994 • Stewart Swinton
The Music of Chance poster
The Music of Chance
1993 • Jack Pozzi
Bob Roberts poster
Bob Roberts
1992 • Chuck Marlin
Storyville poster
Storyville
1992 • Cray Fowler
True Colors poster
True Colors
1991 • Tim Gerrity
White Palace poster
White Palace
1990 • Max Baron
Bad Influence poster
Bad Influence
1990 • Michael Boll
sex, lies, and videotape poster
sex, lies, and videotape
1989 • Graham Dalton
The Rachel Papers poster
The Rachel Papers
1989 • Deforest
Jack's Back poster
Jack's Back
1988 • John Allen Wesford / Richard Wesford
Greasy Lake poster
Greasy Lake
1988 • Digby
Wall Street poster
Wall Street
1987 • Roger Barnes
Less Than Zero poster
Less Than Zero
1987 • Rip
Baby Boom poster
Baby Boom
1987 • Ken Arrenberg
Mannequin poster
Mannequin
1987 • Mr. Richards
Pretty in Pink poster
Pretty in Pink
1986 • Steff McKee
Starcrossed poster
Starcrossed
1985 • Joey Callaghan
The New Kids poster
The New Kids
1985 • Eddie Dutra
Tuff Turf poster
Tuff Turf
1985 • Morgan Hiller
Family Secrets poster
Family Secrets
1984 • Lowell Everall
A Killer in the Family poster
A Killer in the Family
1983 • Donny Tison
Diner poster
Diner
1983 • Fenwick
Cocaine: One Man's Seduction poster
Cocaine: One Man's Seduction
1983 • Buddy Gant
Endless Love poster
Endless Love
1981 • Keith
Team-Mates poster
Team-Mates
1978 • Jimmy