By Tatiana Ponil
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
James Todd Spader (born February 7, 1960; /ˈspeɪdər/ SPAY-dər) is an American actor. He is known for often portraying eccentric and morally ambiguous characters. He began his career in critically acclaimed independent films before transitioning into television, for which he received many awards and acclaim, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, and ten Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Spader began acting in youth-oriented films such as Tuff Turf, The New Kids (both 1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Mannequin (1987). His breakthrough role came with the Steven Soderbergh drama Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), for which he received the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. He then starred in films such as White Palace (1990), True Colors (1991), Stargate (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), and Secretary (2002). Spader took supporting roles in Bob Roberts (1992), Wolf (1994), Lincoln (2012), and The Homesman (2014). He also played the role of Ultron in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
His television roles include the attorney Alan Shore in the last season of The Practice (2003–2004) and its spin-off Boston Legal (2004–2008), which earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He portrayed Robert California in the sitcom The Office (2011–2012). He then starred as Raymond Reddington in the NBC crime thriller series The Blacklist (2013–2023), for which he received two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor – Television Series
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Question of the Day
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Born
- John Deere (farm equipment manufacturer) –
- Charles Dickens (author) –
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (author) –
- Sinclair Lewis (novelist) –
- James Spader (actor) –
- Garth Brooks (musician) –
- Chris Rock (comedian & actor) –
- Steve Nash (basketball player) –
- Ashton Kutcher (actor) –
- Tina Majorino (actress) –
Died
- Doug Henning (magician) –
- Dale Evans (actress) –
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh (aviator & author) –
- Richard Hatch (actor, writer, producer) –
Events
- Madame Francisquy Hutin first introduced ballet in the U.S. when she staged The Deserter at the Bowery Theater in New York City –
- American Guernsey Cattle Club founded, in New York City –
- Fire began that destroyed 1,526 buildings, Baltimore, Maryland –
- Aviatrix Amelia Earhart wed George Putnam –
- Walt Disney’s movie Pinocchio debuted –
- Shoe rationing was announced in the United States in response to the shortage of leather during World War II. Citizens were restricted to three pairs of new shoes a year until 1945 –
- U.S. astronaut, Bruce McCandless II, became the first human to fly in space with a jet backpack while untethered to a spacecraft –
- Stardust probe launched, Cape Canaveral, Florida –
- Ellen MacArthur set a new world record by sailing around the world in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds –
Weather
- Gouverneur, New York, recorded a temperature of -40 degrees F –
- Snow accumulated a foot deep, Berrien County, Michigan –
COURTESY www.almanac.com
