James Spader is an American actor known for his ability to portray eccentric, charismatic, and often morally ambiguous characters. He rose to prominence in the 1980s with roles in films such as *Pretty in Pink* and *Less Than Zero*, but it was his performance in Steven Soderbergh's *Sex, Lies, and Videotape* (1989) that earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, establishing him internationally. His filmography includes notable titles such as *Stargate* (1994), David Cronenberg's controversial *Crash* (1996), and *Secretary* (2002). Spader has achieved even greater success in television, winning three Emmy Awards for his iconic role as lawyer Alan Shore in the series *The Practice* and its spin-off *Boston Legal*. After a memorable appearance in *The Office*, since 2013 he has starred in the highly successful series *The Blacklist*, where he plays the brilliant criminal Raymond "Red" Reddington, a role that has earned him several Golden Globe nominations.