Last updated on: February 26, 2025
James Spader, born on February 7, 1960, in Boston, is a celebrated actor known for playing quirky and morally complex characters.
Spader was raised by teacher parents. After enrolling at Phillips Academy but leaving after 11th grade to pursue acting dreams, he worked odd jobs such as teaching yoga and waiting tables while studying acting in New York.
Spader first rose to fame through minor roles in Pretty in Pink (1986) and Wall Street (1987), before scoring his breakthrough role in Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), winning him Best Actor at Cannes. Later starring roles included Stargate (1994), Crash (1996), and Secretary (2002) – often playing challenging or unconventional characters.
Spader became a television favorite as lawyer Alan Shore in The Practice and Boston Legal, earning three Emmy awards. Later he played the mysterious Robert California in The Office before winning numerous Golden Globe nominations as Raymond “Red” Reddington on The Blacklist from 2013-2023.
As of February 2025, James Spader is 65 years old. His estimated net worth is $30 million, and he is 5 feet 11 inches (178 cm or 1.78 m) tall.
Bio / Wiki
Full Name
James Todd Spader
Nickname
RC” “The Lizard King”
Profession
American actor
Career
Debut
Movie
Endless Love (1981)
T.V. Show
Diner (1983)
Best Known for
Spader is best known for his roles as Alan Shore in Boston Legal, Raymond Reddington in The Blacklist, and his performance in S*x, Lies, and Videotape
Awards.
Personal Profile and Background Details
Date of Birth
7 February 1960
Age
As of today, Spader is 65 years old.
Zodiac sign
Aquarius
Signature
Nationality
America
Birth Place
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Residence
New York, USA
School / College / University
Phillips Academy
Brooks School
The Pike School
James Spader went to several private schools in Massachusetts, including Phillips Academy, but dropped out in 11th grade to chase his acting dreams in New York. While studying at the Michael Chekhov School, he took on odd jobs like teaching yoga and bartending to make ends meet.
Religion
James Spader believes in God but doesn’t follow organized religion. He sees a higher power in life but keeps his faith personal and open-ended. He’s even said he’s “not afraid of death,” which kind of fits the deep, mysterious vibe he brings to his roles—like Raymond Reddington in The Blacklist. Some think he’s Jewish, but Spader himself focuses more on personal spirituality than labels.
Race / Ethnicity
James Spader’s roots are mostly English, but his ancestry is a fascinating mix of Scottish, French, Dutch, German, and even a bit of Norwegian and Jersey Channel Islander. He’s also got distant Irish, Welsh, and French Huguenot ties. Most of his family history goes way back to Colonial America, with one great-great-great-grandfather making the journey from France.
Hobbies
James Spader is known for having some impressive hobbies.
He’s an avid classic car enthusiast, restoring vintage rides like true gearheads. In his free time, he enjoys cooking meals for loved ones as an avid chef.
Spader loves nature–hiking and birdwatching are among his many interests–along with music (he prefers vinyl records over CDs for an authentic vintage sound). Furthermore, he enjoys books, traveling, and visiting art galleries.
Physical Attributes and Measurements
Height
- In feet: 5′ 11″
- In Centimetres: 178 cm
- In meters: 1.78 m
Weight
- In kilograms: 124 kg
- In Pounds: 275 lbs
Body Measurements
- Chest Size: 45″
- Biceps Size: 14″
- Waist Size: 34″
Shoe size
12 US
Eye color
Blue
Hair Color
Light Brown
Family
Wife
Victoria Spader (1987—2004)
Victoria Spader was an integral part of James Spader’s life for almost two decades, beginning when they met in the early ’80s and married in 1987, producing two sons named Sebastian and Elijah together. Victoria worked as an exceptional set designer contributing to films like Sex, Lies & Videotape while supporting James as his career flourished.
After 17 years, Victoria and Joe amicably divorced in 2004 while remaining respectful co-parents. Victoria hails from an artistic background; after moving into interior design as her profession of choice she remains low profile while continuing her passion. She is from a military family, her birth parents were army officers, they fought in World War ll.
Father
Mother
Siblings
Libby Spader, James Spader’s sister, has had quite a diverse career. A theater graduate from Wesleyan University, she’s worked in education, advertising, classical music management, and even event logistics for medical education programs.
She spent two decades at InsideNGO and later worked as Director of Programs at Humentum. Now, she’s an independent learning consultant, designing training programs worldwide. From instructional design to USAID regulations, she’s got a wealth of expertise. Oh, and she once had a quirky gig as a “Goddess of Culture” at a startup.
Libby lives a very private life, with her husband she has 2 kids a daughter named Layla and a son named Greg.
Annie Spader is James Spader’s sister who followed in their parent’s footsteps and pursued a teaching career instead of Hollywood. With a Master’s in Elementary Education from UCLA, she has spent decades molding young minds.
Annie began as a kindergarten and art teacher before switching over to Brearley School where she has taught primary graders since 1997. Annie takes great pleasure in helping kids flourish as individuals while using their time efficiently. She is married to Mr Byerly, and they have 2 daughters Anna and Lily.
Children
Sebastian Spader (son) (1989)
James Spader’s son, Sebastian Spader, was born in 1989 and has carved out his own unique path.
Growing up, Sebastian’s presence made his dad rethink his health—Spader once shared a sweet moment of them kicking stones together on a walk, realizing he needed to quit smoking.
Sebastian studied at Harvard-Westlake School and NYU, working in film editing before switching gears to real estate in L.A. But he never let go of his creative side—he’s passionate about photography, even publishing a book called Wondering.
Beyond that, he loves traveling and exploring places like Spain, Portugal, Thailand, India, Japan and Mongolia. He loves nature and Elephants a lot. He never opened any social media accounts.
Elijah Spader (Born in 1992)
James Spader’s son, Elijah Spader, has carved out his own creative path. Born in 1992, he showed early talent in school plays and later studied at L.A. Film School. Now, he’s a mix engineer and guitarist, with credits on Barry and even The Blacklist—talk about keeping it in the family!
Beyond sound mixing, Elijah is an artist who sculpts fun clay characters like Olaf and Pikachu. He even co-hosted a podcast, The Dumbest Guys in the Room, before wrapping it up in 2017.
On the personal front, he married his longtime love, Samantha Ladenheim, in June 2024 in dreamy Tuscany. They have been together since at least 2020. The couple loves traveling, having explored places like Hawaii, Japan, and Peru.
Nathaneal Spader (2008)
Nathaneal Spader was born to James Spader and Leslie Stefanson on September 24, 2008. As Spader had become a father once more at age nearly 50, one major difference he noted this time around was being “slower.”
During the COVID-19 lockdown, he spent quality time with Nathaneal, bonding over backyard BB gun target practice. In 2014 he joked that three children were enough, saying “I believe in negative population growth.”
Nathaneal remains out of the public eye and does not have social media, though he can often be found alongside his dad.
Others
Lee Kheel (father-in-law)
Julian Kheel (mother-in-law)
Relationship & More
Marital Status
In a relationship with Leslie Stefanson
Marriage Date
1987
Girlfriend and Dating History
Leslie Stefanson (2002–Present)
Victoria Kheel (1987–2004)
Net worth 2025
$30 million
As of February 2025, it’s estimated that James Spader has a net worth of about $30 million. He is one of those actors who has mastered the art of playing eccentric, mysterious, and often morally ambiguous characters. With a career spanning decades in both film and television, he’s built a solid financial empire. He’s earned his fortune through TV roles, blockbuster films, voice-over work, and even smart real estate investments.
Let’s break down how he makes his money, how much he’s earned from different projects, and what makes his approach to Hollywood so unique.
1. Television: The Biggest Paycheck
Television has been Spader’s biggest money-maker, especially in the later stages of his career.
The Blacklist (2013-2023) – $50+ million
When The Blacklist debuted in 2013, it was an instant hit, and Spader’s portrayal of Raymond “Red” Reddington was a masterclass in charisma. Initially, he was paid $160,000 per episode for the first seven seasons. With 22 episodes per season, that’s about $3.5 million per season.
As the show became a long-running success, his salary increased to $300,000 per episode for later seasons. That’s about $6.6 million per season. Over 10 seasons, he reportedly earned over $50 million—and that’s just from his salary!
Not bad for a guy who once waited tables to support himself. It’s incredible how his commitment to complex characters paid off. He really made Red Reddington one of TV’s most unforgettable figures.
Boston Legal (2004-2008) & The Practice (2003-2004) – Estimated $10+ million
Before The Blacklist, Spader was already a household name thanks to Boston Legal and The Practice, where he played the quirky, sharp-witted attorney Alan Shore.
Though exact figures aren’t public, top actors in major TV dramas around that time earned between $250,000 to $300,000 per episode. Given that Boston Legal ran for 101 episodes, Spader likely made over $10 million from the show.
Alan Shore was such a fun character—smart, sarcastic, and unpredictable. If you’ve ever watched Boston Legal, you know why Spader’s chemistry with William Shatner was pure gold.
The Office (2011-2012) – Estimated $1.5 million
Spader had a one-season arc as the mysterious and manipulative Robert California in The Office. His salary wasn’t as high as in The Blacklist, but it’s estimated he made around $1.5 million for his role.
2. Film Earnings: Big Roles, Big Paychecks
While TV has been his main money source in recent years, Spader has also made millions from films, especially in the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – $2+ million
Spader voiced and performed motion capture for Ultron, the menacing villain in Avengers: Age of Ultron. While Marvel actors like Robert Downey Jr. made $50+ million for the movie, Spader’s paycheck was smaller—estimated at $2 million or more.
He was absolutely chilling as Ultron. His voice alone made the villain ten times more intimidating.
Other Notable Film Salaries
- Stargate (1994) – Earned $1 million
- Secretary (2002) – Earned $400,000
- Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) – Salary unknown, but this indie film put him on the map and won him Best Actor at Cannes
Secretary is one of those movies that only Spader could pull off. He thrives in roles that are weird, intense, and strangely charming.
3. Voice Work & Commercials – Estimated $2+ million
Spader has done voice work for documentaries and commercials, which add to his income.
- Narrated the Discovery Channel documentary “China Revealed”
- Did voice-over work for Acura commercials
While specific figures aren’t available, major brands like Acura pay top-tier actors $500,000 to $1 million per commercial campaign.
4. Real Estate Investments
Spader has made some smart moves in real estate, buying and selling high-end properties.
- Los Angeles Home – Bought in 2002 for $1.74 million, sold in 2016 for $4 million
- Maine Waterfront Property – Bought in 2016 for $1.1 million
Even though real estate isn’t his main income stream, these smart investments have added a few million to his wealth.
Classic Spader—low profile, smart choices, and a taste for unique properties.
Final Thoughts: How Spader Built His Wealth
James Spader is proof that talent and persistence pay off. Unlike many actors, he never chased blockbuster fame—he picked roles that fit his persona, no matter how quirky or unconventional.
Where He Made the Most Money:
✅ The Blacklist – $50+ million
✅ Boston Legal & The Practice – $10+ million
✅ Movies (Avengers, Stargate, etc.) – $5+ million
✅ Voice work & Commercials – $2+ million
✅ Real Estate Investments – $2+ million
Total estimated career earnings: $70+ million before taxes
James Spader’s career is like a fine wine—it’s aged beautifully. He’s not a mainstream superstar, but he’s carved out a unique space where his talent is undeniable. Whether he’s playing a brilliant lawyer, a criminal mastermind, or an AI villain, you can’t take your eyes off him. And that’s why he’s made millions doing what he loves.
Pets
Social Media Profiles
He is not active on social media.
