7 Things You Never Knew About James Spader
James Spader, born on February 7, 1960, has a reputation for playing enigmatic, often morally ambiguous characters, but the man behind the roles is even more interesting. Maybe you know him from his long-running TV roles on Boston Legal or The Blacklist, or perhaps from the sleazy yuppy characters he played in 1980s films like Pretty in Pink and Wall Street. You might even recall Spader from the 1994 cult movie Stargate or his guest-starring role on The Office. It doesn’t matter which of his characters you are most familiar with; there are plenty of little-known facts about this talented actor who has been working for decades. To celebrate his 65th birthday, let’s find out a few of them!
1 An eidetic memory sets him apart
Fine Line Features/Everett Collection
Most actors have to spend hours memorizing their lines, but Spader has a special advantage: an eidetic memory. He can glance at a script and remember exactly what the page looks like. When filming, he essentially says that he “reads” the page in his mind. The only time he fumbles a line is when similar words, like “it” and “is,” are written too close together. His costars often marvel at how quickly he can internalize a script and bring it to life with minimal preparation.
2 He landed his first film role while working as a janitor
Before his Hollywood breakthrough, Spader was working as a janitor at a rehearsal studio in Times Square, run by acting teacher and casting director Trent Gough. It was there that Spader was discovered and landed his first feature film, Endless Love (1981).
3 He struggles with terrible eyesight
Triumph Releasing Corp./ Everett Collection
While being able to see is rarely an issue for Spader’s character, in real life, his vision is shockingly bad. He also can’t wear contact lenses, so when he’s acting in a role that doesn’t allow him to wear glasses, he can barely make out the face of the person standing across from him in a scene. It is very impressive to think that he delivers such intense performances while essentially acting blind.
4 He has a passion for cooking
Will Hart/©NBC/Everett Collection
For someone who often plays calculating and mysterious characters, Spader has a surprisingly wholesome hobby: he loves cooking — and is known to be quite the chef. Cooking is his way of unwinding from the intensity of acting. He has even shared that he enjoys the process of preparing meals for loved ones, emphasizing that cooking is just another form of storytelling.
5 Nothing like the villains he portrays
Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection
Spader has spent much of his career playing morally gray or outright villainous characters, but he’s the first to point out that he’s nothing like them in real life, which fans can attest to after seeing him in interviews or meeting him in real life. Far from being sleazy or scheming, he’s actually known for being friendly and easygoing. Just goes to show how convincing an actor he really is.
6 Refuses to watch his own movies
MGM/courtesy Everett Collection
Many actors don’t like watching themselves on screen, but Spader takes it a step further — he outright refuses, and simply has no interest in revisiting his performances once they’re done. That means he’s never watched a single one of his most iconic films or shows. He believes that once a role is completed, it’s out of his hands and belongs to the audience. By avoiding watching his own work, he keeps himself free from self-criticism and instead focuses on moving forward to his next job.
7 He was a part of the Brat Pack
20th Century Fox Film Corp/Courtesy: Everett Collection.
While Spader was not necessarily one of the most famous faces of the 1980s unofficial crew the Brat Pack, he certainly starred in a lot of their films, three just with Andrew McCarthy alone: Less than Zero, Mannequin, and Pretty in Pink. Going with his villainous vibe, he was often the bad boy in these films. Which film is your favorite?
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