Son of teachers Todd and Jean Spader. Attended Phillips Academy in Andover with director Peter Sellars; dropped out in eleventh grade. Bused tables, shoveled manure, and taught yoga before landing his first roles. Graduated from TV movies to Brat Pack Films, playing the bad guy. His performance in Sex, Lies, and Videotape (Best Actor, Cannes 1989) led to bigger and more varied roles.


Secretary (2002): $400,000 + gross points
Stargate (1994): $1,000,000

Children: Sebastian Spader (born 1989) and Elijah Spader (born 1992). Has two unsuccessful TV pilots, Diner (1983) (TV) and Starcrossed (1985) (TV), to his credit. His wife, Victoria Spader, was the set decorator for Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989). Born on the same date (7 February 1960) as "Saturday Night Live" (1975)'s "TV Fun House" writer/cartoonist Robert Smigel, best known as the voice of 'Triumph the insult comic dog' from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1993). Has very poor eyesight, and cannot wear contact lenses. Has said that in roles in which he does not wear his eyeglasses, he can barely make out the face of the actor across from him in the scene. Is quick to point out that, unlike the sleazy, slime ball characters he is best known for playing, he is actually a nice, friendly guy in real life. Is a huge Bob Dylan fan. He was working as a janitor at a rehearsal studio in Times Square when he landed his first feature film, Endless Love. Has a photographic memory. He can look at a script and he remembers what the pages look like. As he films a scene he "reads" the page. The only reason he screws up a line is if very similar words (e.g. it and is) are written fairly close together.