James Spader is an American actor and voice artist who has a net worth of $30 million as of 2021. He is known for his roles in films such as “Sex, Lies, and Videotape”, “Stargate”, “Secretary”, and “Lincoln”. He is also famous for his television roles as Alan Shore in “The Practice” and “Boston Legal”, Robert California in “The Office”, and Raymond “Red” Reddington in “The Blacklist”. He has won three Emmy Awards and a Cannes Film Festival Award for his acting.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Spader was born on February 7, 1960, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Jean and Stoddard Spader, both teachers. He has two older sisters, Libby and Annie. He attended several private schools, including The Pike School, where his mother taught art, and the Brooks School, where his father taught. He also befriended John F. Kennedy Jr. at Phillips Academy, but dropped out at age 17 to pursue acting in New York City.
Spader started his acting career in the early 1980s with minor roles in films such as “Endless Love”, “A Killer in the Family”, and “Cocaine: One Man’s Seduction”. His first major role was as Steff McKee, a wealthy and arrogant high school student, in the 1986 film “Pretty in Pink”.
His breakthrough role came in 1989 when he starred as Graham Dalton, a sexually dysfunctional man who videotapes women’s confessions, in the film “Sex, Lies, and Videotape”. The film was a critical and commercial success and won Spader the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. He then played more diverse and complex characters in films such as “Bad Influence”, “White Palace”, “True Colors”, “Bob Roberts”, “The Music of Chance”, “Dream Lover”, and “Crash”
Film and Television Success
In the mid-1990s, Spader transitioned to more mainstream and blockbuster films. He starred as Dr. Daniel Jackson, an Egyptologist who discovers an alien portal, in the 1994 sci-fi film “Stargate”. He then played supporting roles in films such as “Wolf”, “2 Days in the Valley”, “Critical Care”, and “Supernova”.
In 2002, Spader returned to his indie roots with the film “Secretary”, a dark comedy about a sadomasochistic relationship between a lawyer and his secretary. The film was a cult hit and earned Spader a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. He then appeared in films such as “The Stickup”, “The Pentagon Papers”, “Shadow of Fear”, and “I Witness”
Spader also became a prominent television actor in the 2000s. He joined the cast of the legal drama series “The Practice” in its final season as Alan Shore, an unethical but brilliant lawyer. He then reprised his role in the spin-off series “Boston Legal” from 2004 to 2008. His performance as Shore earned him three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He also received four Golden Globe nominations and seven Screen Actors Guild nominations for his role
In 2011, Spader joined the cast of the popular sitcom “The Office” as Robert California, a charismatic but manipulative executive who becomes the CEO of Dunder Mifflin. He appeared in 25 episodes of the show’s eighth and ninth seasons
In 2013, Spader began starring as Raymond “Red” Reddington, a former government agent turned criminal mastermind who helps the FBI catch other criminals, in the NBC crime thriller series “The Blacklist”. The show has been a ratings hit and has received positive reviews from critics. Spader has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and three Screen Actors Guild Awards for his role.
Spader has also lent his voice to various animated films and shows. He voiced Ultron, a rogue artificial intelligence who tries to destroy humanity, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s film “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015). He also voiced King Louie, a giant orangutan who rules over the monkeys, in Disney’s live-action remake of “The Jungle Book” (2016). He has also voiced characters in shows such as “Family Guy”, “Rick and Morty”, and “Robot Chicken”
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Spader has been married twice and has three sons. His first marriage was to Victoria Kheel, a decorator, in 1987. They met when Spader worked as a yoga instructor and Kheel was his student. They have two sons, Sebastian and Elijah. They divorced in 2004.
Spader’s second partner is Leslie Stefanson, an actress and model, whom he met on the set of the film “Alien Hunter” in 2002. They have a son, Nathaneal, who was born in 2008. They live together in Los Angeles.
Spader is involved in several charitable causes and organizations. He supports the David Lynch Foundation, which promotes transcendental meditation for stress relief and wellness. He also supports the Alzheimer’s Association, which raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research and care. He has taken part in activities including Red Nose Day, Comic Relief USA, Stand Up to Cancer, and Night of Too Many Stars.
FAQs
How much does James Spader make per episode?
Spader made $160,000 per episode for seasons 1-7 of “The Blacklist”. He then increased his salary to $300,000 per episode for seasons 8-10.
What is James Spader’s height?
Spader is 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) tall.
What is James Spader’s nationality?
Spader is an American citizen. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts
