I wouldn’t call James Spader an outstanding actor, and his films are sometimes less than noteworthy. However, some of his character roles are great. Some of the films are noteworthy. Even James realizes he is not a passionate actor. His heart isn’t always in his work. He was once quoted as saying, "If I don't need the money, I don't work… I don't mind going to somebody and saying, 'Okay, this is how much money I need to pay my bills for the next six months. If you pay me that, I'll do the film'."
Though passion can be over-rated. Simply, he gets the job done. One can’t blame him for lacking passion in recent films, especially since some of his best roles have been over-looked. I have friends that still refer to him as “the creepy guy from Pretty in Pink”. *Sigh* What do they know? Like anyone else, he has a name. He’s not just “some actor” (and please don’t mistake him as a mere 1980s bratpacker).
James Spader was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 7, 1960. He was the son of two teachers, but James desired a job more outstanding and less modest. He wanted in the limelight. James moved to New York and enrolled in the Michael Chekhov Studio to study acting when he was in his late teens. In 1981, he got a breakthrough role in a movie called Endless Love. His character was a somewhat controlling “bad guy”, an older brother trying to breakup his sister’s romantic relationship, a typecast he has very rarely broken out of. After that, he was in a slump and appeared in only a few made for TV movies. The teens that now claim to be fans of the 1980s will most likely recognize him as the yuppie snob in Pretty in Pink, but that was a seemingly light role for him, even though he was the “bad guy” (isn’t anyone against the general wellbeing and happiness of Molly Ringwald a bad guy?). Less Than Zero, starring Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, and Robert Downey Jr., came in 1987, and was sadly over-looked. Once again, James Spader played the spoiled yuppie, but he played it magnificently. (The film itself was great. Go rent it.) During the same year, Spader married Victoria Kheel, whom he'd known since 1979. Later, they have two children together, Sebastian and Elijah.
Finally in 1989, James got a role in the critically acclaimed Sex, Lies and Videotape, and he finally got some deserved attention. In fact, he won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, which lead him to starring with Susan Sarandon in White Palace. Many other over-looked films, most of which were “bad guy” rolls, followed, including my personal favorite True Colors (which involved a role reversal… John Cusack as a bad guy? Who would have think it?). In 1994 Spader co-starred in Stargate, a better than average but less than amazing film. Unfortunately, the Spader fame was gone, and Kurt Russell easily over-shadowed him. However, it was a successful film, and it allowed him to have a new start and forget the unfortunate films like Jack’s Back and Dream Lover (although if you want a cheesy, erotic thriller with male and female nudity, I would definitely recommend Dream Lover).
Since Stargate, James Spader has been in Crash, Two Days in the Valley, and Critical Care. (He even made a guest appearances on Seinfeld and Frasier.)
Filmography from imdb.com:
Secretary (2002) .... Mr. Grey
Speaking of Sex (2001) .... Dr. Roger Klink
Slow Burn (2000/I) .... Marcus
The Watcher (2000) .... Joel Campbell
Supernova (2000/I) .... Nick Vanzant
Curtain Call (1999) .... Stevenso Lowe
Critical Care (1997) .... Dr. Werner Ernst
Keys to Tulsa (1997) .... Ronnie Stover
Driftwood (1996) .... The Man
2 Days in the Valley (1996) .... Lee Woods
Crash (1996) .... James Ballard
Dream Lover (1994) .... Ray Reardon
Wolf (1994) .... Stewart Swinton
Stargate (1994) .... Dr. Daniel Jackson
The Music of Chance (1993) .... Jack Pozzi
Bob Roberts (1992) .... News Anchor, Chuck Marlin
Storyville (1992) .... Cray Fowler
True Colors (1991) .... Tim Gerrity
White Palace (1990) .... Max Baron
Bad Influence (1990) .... Michael Boll
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) .... Graham
The
Rachel Papers (1989) .... Deforest
Jack's Back (1988) .... John/Rick Westford
Less Than Zero (1987) .... Rip
Wall Street (1987) .... Roger Barnes
Baby Boom (1987) .... Ken Arrenberg
Mannequin (1987) .... Mr. Richards
Pretty in Pink (1986) .... Steff McKee
The New Kids (1985) .... Eddie Dutra
Starcrossed (1985) (TV) .... Joey Callaghan
Tuff Turf (1985) .... Morgan Hiller
Family Secrets (1984) (TV) .... Lowell Everall
A Killer in the Family (1983) (TV) .... Donny Tison
Diner (1983) (TV) .... Fenwick
Cocaine: One Man's
Seduction (1983) (TV) .... Buddy Gant
"The
Family Tree" (1983) TV Series .... Jake Nichols
Endless Love (1981) .... Keith
Team-Mates (1978) .... Kid at Party
On a personal note, this man is entirely sexy, but not in a typical way… more in a bad boy way (as should be expected, I guess). I wouldn’t want a relationship with this guy. It would be unfair to the sexuality that he exudes. Honestly, I could barely contain myself while watching Sex, Lies and Videotape for the first time He just has charisma. Typically I do not like blondes, blue eyes, or men in preppie clothes, but him… I like him. I think he would look even better if he temporarily forgot to shave for a while... *devilish grin*