James Spader (Role) : Alan Shore
Birthday : February-7-1960
Birthplace : Boston, Massachusetts
Birth Name : James Todd Spader
AKA : Jimmy Spader
Recent Role : Himself on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Gender : Male
James Spader took birth in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents, Jean and Todd Spader, were teachers. James attended The Pike School, (the school where he mama was teaching in). He next enrolled in the Brooks School, North Andover, Massachusetts. He was transferred to Phillips Academy. James soon dropped out the studies to chase his dream to become an actor. In order to pursue acting, Spader joined Michael Chekhov School in New York City. Before making acting his full time profession, James Spader adopted innumerous odd jobs such as a yoga instructor, busboy, truck driver, stable boy, and railroad-car loader.
It was 1981 when Spader got his first major movie role. The character was of Brooke Shields’ brother and the movie was ‘Endless Love’. He also has an important role in the 1980s classic ‘Tuff Tuff’. In 1987, James Spader played Molly Ringwald’s foil Steff in Pretty in Pink and this role brought him into limelight. His next appearances were on Mannequin, and on the film adaptation of Less Than Zero, portraying a loathsome drug dealer named Rip. He next appeared as a supporting character on movies such as Baby Boom and Wall Street etc. On ‘Sex, lies and videotape’, he was seen portraying a sexual voyeur, Graham and this performance led him to receive the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.
In the early 1990s, James Spader’s appearances were- as a young, affluent widower opposite in White Palace; on ‘True Colors’ as John Cusack’s moral best friend; and on ‘The Music of Chance’, he portrayed a poker-playing drifter who collides with Mandy Patinkin. In 1994, James made an appearance in the blockbuster hit Stargate portraying Daniel Jackson, an Egyptologist. In 1996, James was seen in the controversial Canadian film ‘Crash’ and his next appearance was on ‘2 Days in the Valley’.
In 1997, Spader made a guest appearance in an episode of Seinfeld. His role was of an angry recovering alcoholic. In ‘The Watcher’, Spader was seen portraying an important role. In 2001, he portrayed Maggie Gyllenhaal’s sadomasochistic boss in the critically-acclaimed Secretary.
During 2004 to 2008, Spader played the leading character of Alan Shore in the hit TV series ‘Boston Legal’. James reprised this role from the TV series ‘The Practice’.
Spader’s brilliant performance as Alan Shore on ‘The Practice’ led him to win the 2004 Emmy Award as an Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. In 2005 and 2006m he won the same award for his excellent performance on Boston Legal. James Spader is among the very few actors who’ve won consecutive Emmy Awards for playing the same role in two different series. In 2006, Spader won Satellite Award as the Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical for Boston Legal. In 2007, Spader received his third Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
In October 2006, James Spader narrated China Revealed, the first episode of Discovery Channel’s documentary series Discovery Atlas. He also has served as a voice actor in several television commercials for Acura.
While working in a yoga studio in New York, James Spader met his future wife Victoria Kheel. The couple married in 1987 and has two sons, Elijah and Sebastian. In 2004, Spader filed for a divorce from Victoria. As of now, he’s in relationship with Leslie Stefanson and has a child with her.
Spader’s friends know him as “Jimmy”. He likes to cook and has very poor eyesight.
Role on ‘Boston Legal’
James Spader portrays Alan Shore on the popular series ‘Boston Legal’. He portrayed the same character in final season of ‘The Practice’, series of which Boston Legal is a spin-off. He has Scottish ancestry and works as a lawyer. He’s often seen using questionable methods to help his clients and that’s why is known as an unethical attorney. Due to his quick wit and apparent lack of fear, he’s always ready to help his clients and fellow attorneys as well. Alan Shore is the main character on the show and this role is the best one of James’ acting career. The man is better known as Alan Shore.
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