James Spader

Three-time Emmy Award-winning actor James Spader currently stars as eccentric lawyer Alan Shore in ABC's Boston Legal, a role he originated on the TV legal drama The Practice. He is the first actor to receive consecutive "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" Emmy Awards for the same character on two different series.

Spader became known for his work in quirky films with his breakthrough role in art-house hit Sex, Lies, and Videotape, for which he won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. His career interspersed art-house work such as Tim Robbins' Bob Roberts]' and John Cronenberg's Crash 1996 with box office hits like Stargate and Wolf Movie. After his role in Sundance Film Festival favorite Secretary, he made a surprise move to TV, a decision that has earned him multiple Emmies for his role as Alan Shore.

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• February 7, 1960: Born

• 1981: Endless Love

• 1985: Tuff Turf

• 1986: Pretty in Pink

• 1987: Mannequin

• 1987: Less Than Zero

• 1987: Wall Street

• 1989: Sex, Lies, and Videotape

• 1991: True Colors

• 1992: Bob Roberts

• 1994: Stargate

• 1996: 2 Days in the Valley

• 2000: Supernova

• 2002: Secretary

• 2003: I Witness

• 2003-2004: The Practice

• 2004-2007: Boston Legal