James Marsters - Biography

Last Editor: anniemm2005				James Marsters Biography -   Name : James Marsters Date of birth : 20 August 1962 Place of birth : Greenville, California, USA Birth name : James Wesley Marsters Height : 5' 11

James Marsters Trivia -

Gained the scar on his left eyebrow when he was mugged whilst living in Queens Is left-handed. 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. Is instantly recognisable chiefly for his platinum blonde bleached hair. He has to bleach his hair regularly to play Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997). He recommends adding four to seven packets of Sweet 'n' Low to the bleaching solution, to take the sting out. 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', 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 "Once More with Feeling". 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), James Marsters 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.

James Marsters Detailed Biography -

JAMES MARSTERS, may best be known around the world for his ever popular cult character "Spike," the punk-goth vampire who he played on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" for the past seven years. After working 6 years on the hit show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" he made the move to "Angel" for the last season it aired. A fan favorite, Marsters has received and been nominated for numerous awards world wide. Born in the remote northern logging town of Greenville, California, and raised in Modesto, California, Marsters always knew he wanted to be an actor. From his debut as 'Eyeore' in a fourth grade production of "Winnie the Pooh", he went on to study acting at New York's prestigious Julliard. He began his professional career in the theater, performing in stage productions including "The Tempest" and "Red Noses" at Chicago's renowned Goodman Theater. In addition, Marsters revisited the stage in Los Angeles , with a starring role in an original play titled "The Why" which was produced by Noah Wyle. Marsters made his on-screen debut guest-starring on the television series "Northern Exposure". He landed the prominent role of an ill-at-ease priest, which was cast locally in Seattle, soon after moving to the Pacific Northwest. He was inspired by the success to move to Los Angeles and within months was sinking his proverbial teeth into the role of 'Spike' in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Marsters, no stranger to television starred in the anthology series "Strange Frequency" for VH1, as well as in Gene Roddenburys "Andromeda." Other credits include the feature film "The House of Haunted Hill", This past summer Marsters toured Europe with his defunct band Ghost of the Robot to promote his CD Mad Brilliant. The band sold out all tour dates throughout the continent. In addition to the European dates he and his bandmates have also been selling out shows at Los Angeles hot spots such as The House of Blues, The Viper Room and the Knitting Factory. When he's not working, Marsters enjoys being a father, playing the guitar, watching football, and spending time with friends at the beach. He currently lives in Los Angeles.