Menu
James Spader

James Spader

Known For Acting
Birthday Feb 07, 1960 (65)
Birthplace Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Popularity 4 (history)
Updated Aug 08, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

James Todd Spader is an American actor. He is known for often portraying eccentric and morally ambiguous characters. He started his career in critically acclaimed independent films before transitioning into television, for which he received numerous awards and acclaim, including three Primetime Emmy ... Awards as well as nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and ten Screen Actors Guild Awards. Spader started his career acting in youth-orientated films such as Tuff Turf (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 Colours (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 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). Spader is also known for starring 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—TV Series Drama.

Known For

Headshots

Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Filmography

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron

2015

as Ultron (voice)

The Homesman

The Homesman

2014

as Aloysius Duffy

Lincoln

Lincoln

2012

as W.N. Bilbo

Shorts

Shorts

2009

as Carbon Black

Shadow of Fear

Shadow of Fear

2004

as William Ashbury

The Pentagon Papers

The Pentagon Papers

2003

as Daniel Ellsberg

Alien Hunter

Alien Hunter

2003

as Julian Rome

I Witness

I Witness

2003

as Douglas Draper

The Stickup

The Stickup

2002

as John Parker

Secretary

Secretary

2002

as Mr. Grey

Speaking of Sex

Speaking of Sex

2001

as Dr. Roger Klink

Supernova

Supernova

2000

as Nick Vanzant

The Watcher

The Watcher

2000

as FBI Special Agent Joel Campbell

Slow Burn

Slow Burn

2000

as Marcus

Curtain Call

Curtain Call

1998

as Stevenson Lowe

Critical Care

Critical Care

1997

as Dr. Werner Ernst

Driftwood

Driftwood

1997

as The Man

Keys to Tulsa

Keys to Tulsa

1997

as Ronnie Stover

Crash

Crash

1996

as James Ballard

2 Days in the Valley

2 Days in the Valley

1996

as Lee Woods

Stargate

Stargate

1994

as Dr. Daniel Jackson

Wolf

Wolf

1994

as Stewart Swinton

Dream Lover

Dream Lover

1993

as Ray Reardon

The Music of Chance

The Music of Chance

1993

as Jack Pozzi

Storyville

Storyville

1992

as Cray Fowler

Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts

1992

as Chuck Marlin

True Colors

True Colors

1991

as Tim Gerrity

Bad Influence

Bad Influence

1990

as Michael Boll

White Palace

White Palace

1990

as Max Baron

sex, lies, and videotape

sex, lies, and videotape

1989

as Graham Dalton

The Rachel Papers

The Rachel Papers

1989

as Deforest

Jack's Back

Jack's Back

1988

as John Allen Wesford / Richard Wesford

Less Than Zero

Less Than Zero

1987

as Rip

Mannequin

Mannequin

1987

as Mr. Richards

Baby Boom

Baby Boom

1987

as Ken Arrenberg

Wall Street

Wall Street

1987

as Roger Barnes

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

1986

as Steff

Tuff Turf

Tuff Turf

1985

as Morgan Hiller

Starcrossed

Starcrossed

1985

as Joey Callaghan

The New Kids

The New Kids

1985

as Eddie Dutra

Family Secrets

Family Secrets

1984

as Lowell Everall

A Killer in the Family

A Killer in the Family

1983

as Donny Tison

Diner

Diner

1983

as Fenwick

Cocaine: One Man's Seduction

Cocaine: One Man's Seduction

1983

as Buddy Gant

Endless Love

Endless Love

1981

as Keith

Team-Mates

Team-Mates

1978

as Jimmy

No data available

No data available

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

The Blacklist

as Raymond 'Red' Reddington

Episodes: 218

First Aired: Sep 23, 2013

Boston Legal

as Alan Shore

Episodes: 101

First Aired: Oct 03, 2004

The Office

as Robert California

Episodes: 25

First Aired: Mar 24, 2005

The Practice

as Alan Shore

Episodes: 22

First Aired: Mar 04, 1997

Seinfeld

as Jason 'Stanky' Hanky

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 05, 1989

Frasier

as Steven (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1993

The Frame

as James Ballard

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 09, 2013

Untitled Vision Series

as Ultron (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Unknown

Discovery Atlas

Episodes: 11

First Aired: Sep 05, 2006

The Family Tree

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Jan 22, 1983

The View

as Self

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Aug 11, 1997

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

as Self

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Feb 17, 2014

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

as Self - Guest

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Sep 13, 1993

Late Night with Seth Meyers

as Self

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Feb 25, 2014

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 08, 2003

The Daily Show

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jul 22, 1996

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 05, 1988

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 25, 1992

Celebrities Uncensored

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 04, 2003

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 03, 2005

The Reichen Show

as Self - Guest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 11, 2005

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Nominee

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 20, 1944

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 48 59 34
2024 6 43 61 29
2024 7 41 68 23
2024 8 34 50 25
2024 9 30 41 18
2024 10 30 59 18
2024 11 26 35 16
2024 12 29 44 20
2025 1 41 72 25
2025 2 34 52 4
2025 3 9 26 1
2025 4 3 4 2
2025 5 5 7 3
2025 6 4 5 3
2025 7 3 4 2
2025 8 5 9 3

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 408 89
2024 6 697 234
2025 1 675 168
2025 2 421 106
2025 3 549 103
2025 5 228 143
2025 7 402 121
2025 8 550 465

Return to Top