Despite his utterly convincing British accent on
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Marsters was born and bred in California. Trained at Juilliard, the sexy thespian honed his craft for a decade on the stage in Chicago and Seattle and was already in his mid-thirties when cast as bleach-blond bloodsucker Spike, a character he played for eight years on both
Buffy and its spin-off
Angel. On the side, Marsters pursued his musical ambitions, fronting the band Ghost of the Robot before touring as a solo performer in 2005. That same year, he returned to the small screen with a villainous stint on
Smallville.
James Marsters Fast Facts:
- First TV role was a guest spot on Northern Exposure in 1992.
- Received a Saturn Award in 2001 for Best TV Supporting Actor for his role as Spike in the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- Fronted a band named Ghost of the Robot, then left the group to pursue a solo career. His first solo CD, Civilized Man, was released in 2005 as he embarked on a European tour.
- Co-created the Genesis Theater Company in Chicago.
- James Marsters Relationships:
- Liane Davidson - Ex-wife
- Paul Marsters - Brother
- Sullivan Marsters - Son
- Susan Marsters - Sister
- College:
- The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, Santa Maria, CA (1982); attended The Juilliard School, New York, NY