James Marsters' Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Smallville Milton Fine Buffy the Vampire Slayer Spike Angel Spike Spider-Man Sergei Metal Hurlant Chronicles Brad Davis Medicine Ball Mickey Coll…

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

James Marsters (born August 20, 1962) is an actor.

Marsters moved to Chicago, where his first professional acting role was Ferdinand in The Tempest at the Goodman Theatre in 1987. In this production, he was rolled onto the stage strapped naked to a wheel. He also appeared with well-known Chicago companies such as the Northlight and the Bailiwick and with his own group, the Genesis Theatre Company. Marsters was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for his performance of the lead role of Robespierre in the six-hour drama Incorruptible: The Life, Death and Dreams of Maximilian de Robespierre in 1989.In 1990, Marsters moved to Seattle and, with Liane Davidson and Greg Musick, formed the New Mercury Theatre. In this and other companies, Marsters was involved in a wide range of plays, including Teechers (a British play by John Godber), Anouilh's Antigone, an original work based on the Dr. Seuss books, and Shaw's Misalliance.

In 1992, Marsters got his first acting job on TV on Northern Exposure, in which he appeared for two episodes as a bellboy and a church minister. He has made guest appearances on television series such as Andromeda, as well as the independent films Chance (2002), Winding Roads (1999), and the 2005 USA Network movie Cool Money. In 1999, he had a small role in the remake of House on Haunted Hill as a TV cameraman.


TRIVIA:

• Just as his character's human counterpart from _"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)_ (qv), he is also a writer in real-life. He and comic book writer/novelist 'Christopher Golden' (qv) teamed up in 1999 for Dark Horse Comics' "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike & Dru" comic book tie-in miniseries. It is now reprinted as a graphic novel.
• 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' (qv). More than 2,000 people voted for more than 150 different actors for both roles. Marsters, a Shakespearean actor, triumphed over 'Orlando Bloom' (qv), 'Ewan McGregor' (qv), 'Jude Law' (qv), and 'Johnny Depp' (qv). 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)
• Has played two of Superman's arch enemies. On the TV series _"Smallville"(2001), he played Milton Fine, AKA "Brainiac." In the animated video _Superman/Doomsday (2007)_, he played the voice role of Lex Luthor.
• Has two siblings. One older sister (Susan, born 1960) and one younger brother (Paul, born 1964).
• Auditioned for the part of Praetor Shinzon in _Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)_ (qv).
• Is the first live-action actor to play the comic book villain Brainiac from the Superman comics.
• Studied at Juilliard, the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and the American Conservatory Theatre.
• Has long harbored a desire to direct a film adaptation of "Macbeth." He frequently cites the Shakespeare tragedy as his favorite play.