James Marsters

Date of Birth : 20 August 1962

Location : Greenville, California, USA

Birth Name : James Wesley Marsters

Height : 5’ 9½" (1.77 m)

Mini Biography

James graduated from Davis High School and attended Juilliard, the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and the American Conservatory Theatre. After spending ten years doing stage work he finally moved to L.A. to pursue a career in film and television. After appearing in several guest roles he finally got his big break as Spike in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997). Originally the character was suppose to be killed after a few episodes but Spike became so popular that he became a regular on the show. After the show ended he appeared as Spike in the spin-off "Angel" (1999) and in several movies. James is also a talented musician; his band Ghost of the Robot released their first album, Mad Brilliant.

Spouse : Liane Davidson (? - ?) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Gained the scar on his left eyebrow when he was mugged whilst living in Queens

Won the Sexiest Male Vampire Award at the Nocturnal 2K Convention in London, England. [July 2000]

Graduated from Davis High School in Modesto, California.

Studied at Juilliard, the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and the American Conservatory Theatre.

While doing regional theatre in Chicago, he co-founded the New Mercury Theatre company (named after Orson Welles’ "Mercury Theatre"). In 1990, New Mercury’s founders packed the operation up and relocated to Seattle in the hopes of finding more opportunity; they played there for a number of years, using any available space, including the basements of restaurants and churches, but eventually found themselves a more permanent space near Pioneer Square.

Was recognizable in public chiefly for his platinum-blond-bleached hair. He had to bleach his hair regularly to play Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997). In a famous "Entertainment Weekly" interview, he admitted to adding four to seven packets of Sweet ’n’ Low to the bleaching solution, to take the sting out. When the show ended, Marsters had his bleached hair shaved on TV (to sell for charity) and reverted back to his normal brown hair.

Has a HUGE cult following in the Sci-Fi/fantasy community. There are (literally) hundreds of websites dedicated to him and his immensely popular vampire character ’Spike’ on the internet.

He lived at one point (possibly still living there) in a house right on the beach. He once said during an interview that the worst part of living there was that because of his role on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997), he couldn’t go out on the beach for any length of time because he’d pick up a tan.

Fronted a band called Ghost of the Robot. The band’s first album, "Mad Brilliant," was released in February 2003. After just over two years together, he dissolved the group to pursue a solo performing and recording career. His first solo CD, "Civilized Man," was released during his sell-out 2005 European tour.

His appearance at the 2002 Shore Leave sci-fi convention was so popular that a great number of fans had to watch his Q&A sessions from specially set up monitors outside the conference hall. Despite the almost Beatlemania-like overcrowding at the event, he stayed on for over 2 hours after he was scheduled to leave to ensure every single fan who’d waited in line got an autograph.

Spent the first ten years of his professional acting career in the theater, (at various times in New York, Chicago and Seattle.)

One of his first major theater roles was a Chicago production of ’The Tempest’ in which he was strapped near-naked to a large wooden wheel for his entrance. (He claims that he has never been self-conscious about appearing nude since.)

Has long harboured a desire to direct a film adaptation of ’Macbeth’. He frequently cites the Shakespearean tragedy as his favorite play.

Has produced over 70 plays.

His favorite Buffy episode is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, with Feeling (#6.7)" (2001).

Originally his Spike character from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) was supposed to be killed during his first season on Buffy, but due to his very high popularity fan base for the show, they kept him on the show instead.

Has one son, Sullivan (born in 1996), with ex-wife Liane Davidson.

Has two siblings. One older sister (Susan, born 1960) and one younger brother (Paul, born 1964).

The Royal Shakespeare Company of Stratford, England, held a 2004 poll asking movie viewers to vote for the actor and actress they would most like to see in the roles of Romeo and Juliet. The winners were Marsters and Keira Knightley. More than 2,000 people voted for more than 150 different actors for both roles. Marsters, a Shakespearean actor, triumphed over Orlando Bloom, Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp. Speaking from his Californian home, Marsters said, "I’m flattered and excited that people would think of me for the role of Romeo. I think the themes of violence and social disintegration are as important today as they were in Shakespeare’s day." (April 23, 2004)

Just as his character’s human counterpart from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997), he is also a writer in real-life. He and comic book writer/novelist Christopher Golden teamed up in 1999 for Dark Horse Comics’ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike & Dru" comic book tie-in mini-series. It is now reprinted as a graphic novel.

Named #1 of the Top Ten Sexiest Men of the Buffy / Angel universe in a fan poll by the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanzine (2004).

Originally, his BtVS character of Spike was supposed to be Creole, and James practiced a Bayou accent. But almost at the last minute, producer Joss Whedon decided Spike should be British.

Was one of the three actors called in to audition for the role of Spike opposite Juliet Landau

Was asked to audition with both a Cockney accent and a Southern accent, as the writers/producers hadn’t decided which they wanted Spike to be

Loves filming the violent scenes and stunt work on "Buffy" and takes great pride in doing his own stunts

His favorite playwright is Chekhov

His favorite play is Shakespeare’s Macbeth

One of his favorite books in "Twentieth Century Insanity and The Madness of Crowds"

He says Spike is the best role he’s ever had because he’s been able to play so many different sides of him.

He says his personal strength is patience while his personal weakness is his temper

According to both Marina Sirtis and Joss Whedon, he tested for the role of Shinzon in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). In order for him to have time off to film the movie, his character was sent to Africa at the end of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)’s sixth season.

Enjoys playing the guitar, watching football and spending time with friends at the beach.

Is left handed, but plays guitar right handed.

Auditioned for the part of Praetor Shinzon in Star Trek Nemesis (2002).

Is the legal guardian of his niece.

Is the first live-action actor to play the comic book villain Brainiac from the Superman comics.