
James Spader
ActingAbout James Spader
James Todd Spader (/ˈspeɪdər/ SPAY-dər; born February 7, 1960) is an American actor. He is known for often portraying eccentric and morally ambiguous characters. He began his career in critically acclaimed independent films before transitioning into television, where he has received acclaim and many awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, and ten Screen Actors Guild Awards. Spader began acting in youth-oriented films such as Tuff Turf, The New Kids (both 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 Colors (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 the Marvel Cinematic Universe film 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). He then starred 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 – Television Series Drama. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Spader, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of James Spader reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of James Spader's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 32% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), James Spader remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best James Spader Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from James Spader's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of James Spader.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BRATS | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Ultron (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | The Homesman | Aloysius Duffy | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Lincoln | W.N. Bilbo | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Shorts | Carbon Black | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | Discovery Atlas: China Revealed | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Shadow of Fear | William Ashbury | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | Alien Hunter | Julian Rome | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | I Witness | Douglas Draper | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | The Pentagon Papers | Daniel Ellsberg | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Secretary | Mr. Grey | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | The Stickup | John Parker | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Speaking of Sex | Dr. Roger Klink | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | Slow Burn | Marcus | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Watcher | FBI Special Agent Joel Campbell | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | Supernova | Nick Vanzant | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Curtain Call | Stevenson Lowe | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | Critical Care | Dr. Werner Ernst | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Keys to Tulsa | Ronnie Stover | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | Driftwood | The Man | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | 2 Days in the Valley | Lee Woods | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Crash | James Ballard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Dream Lover | Ray Reardon | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Stargate | Dr. Daniel Jackson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Wolf | Stewart Swinton | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | The Music of Chance | Jack Pozzi | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Bob Roberts | Chuck Marlin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Storyville | Cray Fowler | Flop | Similar → |
| 1991 | True Colors | Tim Gerrity | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | White Palace | Max Baron | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | Bad Influence | Michael Boll | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | sex, lies, and videotape | Graham Dalton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | The Rachel Papers | Deforest | Flop | Similar → |
| 1988 | Jack's Back | John Allen Wesford / Richard Wesford | Flop | Similar → |
| 1988 | Greasy Lake | Digby | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | Wall Street | Roger Barnes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Less Than Zero | Rip | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Baby Boom | Ken Arrenberg | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Mannequin | Mr. Richards | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Pretty in Pink | Steff McKee | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Starcrossed | Joey Callaghan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1985 | The New Kids | Eddie Dutra | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Tuff Turf | Morgan Hiller | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Family Secrets | Lowell Everall | Flop | Similar → |
| 1983 | A Killer in the Family | Donny Tison | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Diner | Fenwick | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Cocaine: One Man's Seduction | Buddy Gant | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Endless Love | Keith | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | Team-Mates | Jimmy | Flop | Similar → |
James Spader - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of James Spader?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring James Spader is "Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen" with a rating of 7.6/10.
How many movies has James Spader acted in?
James Spader has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by James Spader?
Other notable films include "Avengers: Age of Ultron", "Wall Street", and "Stargate".




