Iconic science fiction and fantasy genre actor James Spader was born February 5, 196o, making Wednesday, February 5, 2025, his 65th birthday. Happy birthday, Mr. Spader!

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror Roles

Spader has had many illustrious roles in his forty-year career. His most recent fame is as Ultron, in the Marvel Studios movie Avengers: Age of Ultron. But he’s been working the whole time, of course. He played archaeologist Dr. Daniel Jackson in the original Stargate movie (1994). which won the Saturn Award for the best science fiction film of that year. Michael Shanks took over the role of Dr. Jackson for the long-running TV show.

James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson, the linguist, in the original 1994 move Stargate.

James Spader earned a Saturn nomination for playing John in the Jack-the-Ripper horror film Jack’s Back (1988)

Spader played Stewart Swinton in the horror movie Wolf (1994). He played the evilly ambitious robot Ultron in the MCU, first in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), then reprising the role in VisionQuest, scheduled to debut on Disney+ in 2026. Spader provided both the voice of the robot menace, and through motion-capture, its body.

He starred in Alien Hunter (2003) as cryptologist Julian Rome,

His best-known role outside of science fiction was as attorney Alan Shore in The Practice and Boston Legal, for which he won four Emmy awards.

James T. Spader was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His first major role (credited as Jimmy Spader was as Keith, Brooke Shields’ brother in Endless Love (1981). He was widely praised for his role in Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989). He was honored at the Cannes Film Festival as Best Actor for that role.

Awards and Honors

He’s been nominated for a Saturn Award three times. In 19990 for Best Actor in Jack’s Back, in 1996 for Best Supporting Actor in Wolf, and again in 2014 for Best Actor on Television for playing Raymond “Red” Reddington on The Blacklist. He’s had three Golden Globe nominations, all for Best Actor in a Television Series (Drama). 2005, for Boston Legal, 2014 and 2015 for The Blacklist. In 2015, Spade was nominated for a Blimp Award for Favorite Villain as Ultron.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Spader. Welcome to the world of senior discounts. We look forward to seeing you as Ultron again and in other roles.

DON’T LEAVE JUST YET. WE NEED YOUR HELP.

SCIFI.radio is listener supported sci-fi, fantasy, comics and
horror fandom news and radio. We’re a fan-operated venture,
and we live or die on your donations alone.
Be the 1%. Click this button to go to our
Patreon page and pledge your support.
  • 30 –
Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.