James Spader Siblings: Getting to Know Libby and Annie Spader
Actor James Spader PHOTO/Today
James Todd Spader was born on February 7, 1960, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Jean Fraser Spader and Stoddard Greenwood “Todd” Spader, both educators.
The youngest of three children, Spader grew up in a progressive, liberal household surrounded by influential women, including his mother and sisters.
His early education included stints at The Pike School, where his mother taught art, and the Brooks School, where his father was a teacher.
Spader later attended Phillips Academy but dropped out at 17 to pursue acting, moving to New York City to train at the Michael Chekhov School.
Before breaking into Hollywood, he took on eclectic jobs, including yoga instructor, busboy, and truck driver.
Siblings
James has two older sisters, Libby Spader and Annie Spader, who have shaped his life in meaningful ways.
While neither sister has pursued the spotlight like their brother, they have carved out their own paths and maintained a close relationship with him.
Annie, born in 1960 in Boston, Annie is the eldest of the Spader siblings.
A professional interior designer, she has built a successful career working with prestigious clients, including the Kennedy family, and even launched her own furniture line sold in the Boston area.
Annie’s influence on James is notable; she has been a source of inspiration and support throughout his career.
Her accolades include a nomination for the Interior Designers of America Award in 2009.
Beyond her professional achievements, Annie is a dedicated philanthropist, actively supporting the Boston Children’s Hospital and local education initiatives.
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Career
Spader’s acting career began in the early 1980s with roles in films like Endless Love (1981), where he played Brooke Shields’ brother.
He gained prominence in youth-oriented films such as Tuff Turf (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Mannequin (1987).
His breakthrough came with Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), where he played a sexual voyeur, earning the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
The 1990s saw Spader in diverse roles, from the erotic romance White Palace (1990) to the sci-fi blockbuster Stargate (1994) and the controversial Crash (1996).
In 2002, he starred as a sadomasochistic boss in Secretary, further showcasing his range.
His transition to television proved equally successful, with standout performances as attorney Alan Shore in The Practice (2003–2004) and its spin-off Boston Legal (2004–2008).
Spader’s portrayal of Raymond “Red” Reddington in The Blacklist (2013–2023) became one of his most iconic roles, earning him widespread recognition.
He also voiced the villainous Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and is set to reprise the role in the upcoming Vision Quest (2026).
Accolades
Spader won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: one for The Practice (2004) and two for Boston Legal (2005, 2007), making him one of the few actors to win Emmys for the same character across two series.
His role in Sex, Lies, and Videotape earned him the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award in 1989.
Spader has also received three Golden Globe nominations and ten Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for his television work.
Additionally, he won a Satellite Award for Best Actor for Boston Legal in 2006 and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012).