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James Spader Biography

Birth Name:James Todd Spader

Birth Place:Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

Trained in acting at the Michael Chekhov School
Worked as a yoga instructor before becoming an actor
Quote: "I've had a lazy career, sometimes one film a year, sometimes none․ I'm walking around in the street and doing this other thing, living, that I'm much more interested in․ I just do some acting on the side․"
Quote: "Sometimes with people their work is the most important thing to them, and sometimes the work enables you to do other things that are more important to you․ I probably am closer to that․"
Quote: "I'm demanding of the people I work with and therefore I feel I should bring a lot․ And I do․"
Frequently portrays characters who are quirky
Has claimed to have a photographic memory that allows him to remember scripts verbatim
Was in contention for a role in "Taps," but lost out on the part to Sean Penn

Awards

1989Best Actor-: winner
1990Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
1990CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1990Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
1995Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2003Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2005Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
2005Satellite Award-Outstanding Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2006OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2006Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: winner
2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2008OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2009Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor - Drama Series: nominated
2010Felix-Best Actor: nominated
2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor of the Decade: nominated
2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
2012ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2012BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2012NFCS Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
2012SEFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2013COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2013Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2014Saturn Award-Best Actor on Television: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2014TV Guide Award-Favorite Villain: nominated
2014TV Guide Award-Favorite Actor: nominated
2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
2016BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film: nominated
2016BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film: winner
2016Blimp Award-Favorite Villain: nominated
2016MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: nominated
2016MTV Movie Award-Best Virtual Performance: nominated
2016Georges Award-Best Foreign Villain of the Year: nominated