James Spader

James Spader (also credited as Jimmy Spader and James Todd Spader) is an American screen actor born on February 7, 1960, in Boston, Massachusetts. Celebrated for bringing sharp intelligence to eccentric, morally ambiguous characters, Spader built a career that moves fluidly between indie film intensity and mainstream television stardom.

He first gained notice in 1980s youth-oriented features, including Mannequin as Mr. Richards, before a major breakthrough with sex, lies, and videotape, where his performance as Graham Dalton earned top acting honors at Cannes. He continued to take distinctive roles across genres, from Stargate as Dr. Daniel Jackson to David Cronenberg’s Crash as James Ballard, and supporting turns in titles like Bob Roberts (Chuck Marlin) and Wolf (Stewart Swinton).

On television, Spader became a defining presence as attorney Alan Shore on The Practice and Boston Legal, a run that brought him multiple Primetime Emmy wins and further awards recognition. He later played Robert California on The Office.

From 2013 to 2023, Spader anchored NBC’s The Blacklist as Raymond Reddington, earning Golden Globe nominations and reaffirming his status as one of American acting’s most compelling, unpredictable leads.