James Spader Plays Dark, Familiar Creep In Broadway Debut

nytimes.com:

"CULTIVATE the appearance of contrition," the character Jack Lawson, a lawyer, tells a white client accused of raping a black woman in "Race," a new play opening on Broadway next Sunday. As uttered with don't-waste-my-time iciness by the actor James Spader, the clipped and merciless directive telegraphs not only that this is dialogue by David Mamet, but also that it is set in the kind of up-for-grabs moral universe that Spader characters have been occupying in Hollywood for years.
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Robert Caplin for The New York Times

From "Boston Legal" to New York stage: James Spader at Ethel Barrymore Theater, where he is making his Broadway debut in David Mamet's new play, "Race." More Photos »
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The New Season | Theater: We Can't Stop Talking About Race in America (September 13, 2009)
Times Topics: James Spader
Video Feature Trailer: 'Race' (RaceonBroadway.com)

Filmography: James Spader
Paramount/Everett Collection

James Spader in scene from one of his early films from the 1980s, "Pretty in Pink." More Photos >
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The sexy sleazes he played in the mid-1980s, most notably the preppy Steff in "Pretty in Pink," gave way to the twisted and perverse protagonists of "sex, lies, and videotape" (1989), "Crash" (1996) and his latest major film, "Secretary," in 2002. Then came Alan Shore, the outrageously sardonic, ethically cynical lawyer on both "The Practice" and "Boston Legal" on ABC. In that role Mr. Spader's instincts for dark, enigmatic characters grounded an entire performance, one that won him three Emmys.

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Comments

[TurgidCaterwauling]

12:52 AM on 11/30/2009

Once Alan Shore became a nice guy, Boston Legal became less interestin­g.

[Theatrixnyc]

06:10 PM on 11/29/2009

Have liked him ever since "Baby Boom" with Diane Keaton. Jack Nicholson peed on his leg in "Wolf" - marking his territory when he found out Spaders character was sleeping with his wife. The role on "Boston Legal" and the relationsh­ip he had with Shatner on the show is one of the best in TV History.

[KoolBreez]

10:01 PM on 11/28/2009

Love Spader..I don't think he gets enough recognitio­n. He is a genre unto himself.

[Fudgefase]

05:26 PM on 11/28/2009

Love him as an actor. He just enjoys dark characecte­rs I think. He wasn't dark or sleazy in Stargate.

[brahdog]

04:24 AM on 11/29/2009

which is exactly why that role is the most forgettabl­e of his.

[MANifestDestiny07]

01:52 AM on 11/27/2009

And in later news, Samuel L. Jackson plays a loud guys, and Steven Seagal gets in a couple of fights.

I think James Spader is an excellent actor, and I loved him in Secretary, but does Spader playing a dark, creepy character really scream "against the type"?

[HHarvey]

04:35 PM on 11/28/2009

I didn't think he was creepy in White Castle, but Secretary was definitely my favorite.

[brahdog]

04:24 AM on 11/29/2009

dang, secretary. strong film

[Wodahs]

06:32 PM on 11/26/2009

Love the Spader man! What a great actor he is. So miss Boston Legal, great show.

[Debby Lyn]

06:25 PM on 11/26/2009

I like James Spader. I think he's a really good actor. I even enjoyed his Seinfeld cameo.

[Susanna Brisk]

03:18 PM on 11/26/2009

I loved him in Secretary and Sex, Lies and Videotape. And many of us get bloated as we get older, does it make us worse actors?

[Angry23]

12:55 PM on 11/26/2009

I used to love Spader. Then he turned old, bloated, and left his wife of twenty plus years and now I want him to go away. Wow, creepy. Way to challenge yourself and act against type.

[olddognewtrick]

11:56 AM on 11/26/2009

Just call him Spanky.

[NYCMami]

11:07 AM on 11/26/2009

Who was more gorgeous than Spader in his white suit in Some Kind of Wonderful?

[CammyV]

10:29 AM on 11/26/2009

I like James Spader, I always thought he should play Donald Trump in a film, or whatever.

[gemini2]

02:36 PM on 11/26/2009

Great casting suggestion to play Trump.