For me, when working on a film or play or television show, everything for me starts with the screenplay and I am devoted to that and that is what I work from. Any research I do or any preparation I do on my own is all ultimately in service of that.

In October 2006 Spader narrated China Revealed the first episode of Discovery Channel's documentary series Discovery Atlas. They married in 1987 and have two sons Elijah and Sebastian. Spader also won the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Series Comedy or Musical for Boston Legal in 2006.

James Todd Spader (born February 7 1960) is an American actor best known for his eccentric roles in films such as Pretty in Pink Less Than Zero Sex Lies and Videotape Crash Stargate Secretary and Lincoln. His most famous television roles are those of the colorful attorney Alan Shore in The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal for which he won three Emmy Awards and Robert California in The Office.