James Todd Spader (born February 7, 1960) 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.
3.48
Popularity51
Credits6.3
Rating149M
Budget561M
RevenueActing
Primarily2024 BRATS as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron as Ultron (voice)
2014 The Homesman as Aloysius Duffy
2013 The Blacklist as Raymond 'Red' Reddington Executive Producer
2012 Lincoln as W.N. Bilbo
2012 Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen as (archive footage)
2009 Shorts as Carbon Black
2006 Discovery Atlas: China Revealed as Narrator (voice)
2004 Shadow of Fear as William Ashbury
2003 Alien Hunter as Julian Rome
2003 I Witness as Douglas Draper
2003 The Pentagon Papers as Daniel Ellsberg
2002 Secretary as Mr. Grey
2002 The Stickup as John Parker
2001 Speaking of Sex as Dr. Roger Klink
2000 Slow Burn as Marcus
2000 The Watcher as FBI Special Agent Joel Campbell
2000 Supernova as Nick Vanzant
1998 Curtain Call as Stevenson Lowe
1997 Critical Care as Dr. Werner Ernst
1997 Keys to Tulsa as Ronnie Stover
1997 Driftwood as The Man
1996 2 Days in the Valley as Lee Woods
1996 Crash as James Ballard
1994 Dream Lover as Ray Reardon
1994 Stargate as Dr. Daniel Jackson
1994 Wolf as Stewart Swinton
1993 The Music of Chance as Jack Pozzi
1992 Bob Roberts as Chuck Marlin
1992 Storyville as Cray Fowler
1991 True Colors as Tim Gerrity
1990 White Palace as Max Baron
1990 Bad Influence as Michael Boll
1989 sex, lies, and videotape as Graham Dalton
1989 The Rachel Papers as Deforest
1988 Jack's Back as John Allen Wesford / Richard Wesford
1988 Greasy Lake
1987 Wall Street as Roger Barnes
1987 Less Than Zero as Rip
1987 Baby Boom as Ken Arrenberg
1987 Mannequin as Mr. Richards
1986 Pretty in Pink as Steff McKee
1985 Starcrossed as Joey Callaghan
1985 The New Kids as Eddie Dutra
1985 Tuff Turf as Morgan Hiller
1984 Family Secrets as Lowell Everall
1983 A Killer in the Family as Donny Tison
1983 Diner as Fenwick
1983 Cocaine: One Man's Seduction as Buddy Gant
1981 Endless Love as Keith
1978 Team-Mates as Jimmy