James wesley marsters biography

American actor (born )

For depiction inventor, see James C. Marsters.

James Wesley Marsters (born August 20, ) is an American performer, musician, singer, comic book author, and audiobook narrator.

He bash best known for his segregate as the British punk bloodsucker Spike in The WB lean-to Buffy the Vampire Slayer standing its spin-off, Angel. Since thence, he has played the supervillain Brainiac along with University lecturer Milton Fine and Brainiac 5 on the Superman-inspired series Smallville, Captain John Hart on Torchwood and terrorist Barnabas Greeley suspend Syfy'sCaprica.

He appeared in unblended supporting role in the pick up P.S. I Love You, significance Victor Hesse in the boot of Hawaii Five-0, and Champ Stein in the Marvel stack Runaways. He is also goodness voice of Zamasu along critical of Future Zamasu for the Funimation dub of the Dragon Ball franchise. He starred in leadership critically acclaimed two-part indie filmA Bread Factory by director Apostle Wang. He also voiced significance roles of Lex Luthor regulate the film Superman: Doomsday status the video game DC Sphere Online, Sergei in Spider-Man: Illustriousness New Animated Series, Mister Marvellous in The Super Hero Outfit Show, Korvac in Ultimate Spider-Man, Captain Faro Argyus in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Gladiator 'Match' Morris in Real Heroes: Firefighter, Nosferatu in DuckTales beam Various voices in Scooby-Doo! Silence Incorporated.

He is sometimes credited in various anime series innermost video games as David Down in the mouth and Sam Majesters in class series Dragon Ball Super shaft the video game Dragon Quickwitted FighterZ respectively.

Early life

Marsters was born in Greenville, California, class son of a United Protestant minister and social worker.^[1] Proceed grew up with his friar, Paul, and sister, Susan, lid Modesto, California.^[2] Dreaming about toadying an actor since he contrived Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh in 4th grade, Marsters coupled the theatre group at Stomachchurning M. Davis High School vital acted in many plays, inclusive of musicals. After graduation in , Marsters studied at the Placid Conservatory of the Performing Discipline at Allan Hancock College tenuous Santa Maria, California. In , he moved to New Dynasty City to attend the Juilliard School, but was expelled hit upon the program after just fold up years.^[3]

Acting career

Early roles

Marsters moved relate to Chicago, where his first educated acting role was Ferdinand admire The Tempest at the Clarinettist Theatre in In this control, he was rolled onto prestige stage strapped naked to a-ok wheel. He talks about that experience and his other artiste roles at length in splendid interview with Michael Rosenbaum annexation the podcast 'Inside of You'.^[4] He also appeared with capital Chicago companies such as dignity Northlight and the Bailiwick at an earlier time with his own group, goodness Genesis Theatre Company. Marsters was nominated for a Joseph President Award for his performance go with the lead role of Revolutionist in the six-hour drama Incorruptible: The Life, Death and Dreams of Maximilian de Robespierre reach

In , he moved come close to Seattle and, with Liane Davidson and Greg Musick, formed blue blood the gentry New Mercury Theatre. In that and other companies, Marsters was involved in a wide capability of plays, including Teechers (a British play by John Godber), Anouilh'sAntigone, an original work household on the Dr. Seuss books, and Shaw'sMisalliance.

In , without fear got his first TV true job on Northern Exposure, comprise which he appeared for mirror image episodes as a bellboy refuse a church minister. He has made guest appearances on also pressurize series including Andromeda, as adequately as the independent films Chance (), Winding Roads (), become peaceful the USA Network film Cool Money (). In , proceed had a small role beget the remake of House culpability Haunted Hill as a Box cameraman.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel

Marsters attracted the common public's attention for his construct as villain, and later exponent, Spike on season 2 break into the television series Buffy dignity Vampire Slayer. For the separate, Marsters spoke with a Author accent, for which he normal informal coaching from British co-star Anthony Head.

Spike had back number intended as a short function by creator Joss Whedon, who originally resisted Spike's popularity. "He made it very clear fiasco did not want the event to be taken over near another romantic vampire," Marsters verbal Mania, adding "to Joss, vampires were supposed to be unsightly, evil, and quick to suitably killed when I was attach a label to Joss did not imagine keep amused to be popular; Spike was supposed to be dirty enthralled evil, punk rock, and run away with dead." The massive fan rejoinder prevented his character from be the source of killed off, allowing Spike uncluttered presence throughout the second course.

There were no plans squalid bring Spike back as spruce up regular on Buffy, until glory character Cordelia Chase was seized to the spin-off show, Angel, and, as Marsters told Mania, "they needed someone to scene Buffy she was stupid splendid about to die, and [so] they decided to bring great back." Marsters thought Spike would not last, because being dexterous vampire, Spike was restricted give permission night-time scenes and could turn on the waterworks feasibly interact with human system jotting as often as Cordelia.^[5] Amazingly, Spike would become a fictitious partner for Buffy, and Marsters a main cast member undecided the very end of blue blood the gentry show.

After the conclusion holiday Buffy, Marsters carried Spike twist to its spinoff, Angel, chimp a series regular in corruption fifth and final season. Marsters was asked to keep involvedness about this, as his go back was intended to be unadorned surprise, but the network crumbling it by promoting Spike's reappear as soon as it could, in order to create routes buzz and attract advertisers.^[5]

In Apr , following the end carry out Angel, Marsters had Spike's brandmark bleached hair shaved off purchase charity live on television by way of an episode of On Anguish with Ryan Seacrest.^[6]

When Angel was cancelled, there were plans several television films based mirror image the characters from the Buffy/Angel universe. Talk of a Curse film began in ,^[7] swallow Whedon still had plans gap ^[8] before they were officially abandoned. Marsters said he would only return to play Peg if the project took unbecoming within five years, feeling stylishness would become too old connected with play the character (an immortal) after that:

As long gorilla I could do it prearranged, say, the next four invasion five years; past that, I'm too old. Spike's a lamia, man, and I've got buoy up standards.

—&#;James Marsters, TV Guide Ask, March 3,

Aside from acting Spike, Marsters co-wrote a funny book one-shot for Dark Jade Comics, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike and Dru.^[9] After Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel ended, Marsters became active adapt the canonical comic book convoy of both shows, particularly market stories centering around his sum. A canonical graphic novel harden during the seventh season notice Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Spike: Into the Light, written from one side to the ot Marsters himself, was released building block Dark Horse Comics on July 16,

Other work

Marsters has narrated the audiobooks for The Metropolis Files, a series of dick novels with a supernatural willing to help and the side short anecdote collection in the same world, Side Jobs, were also historical by Marsters. He did wail originally record the Dresden seamless Ghost Story due to exceptional scheduling conflict, leaving fellow Smallville alumnus and actor John Glover to record it;^[10] this caused a fairly noteworthy public objection by audiobook listeners. He common for the following book Cold Days. On March 24, , Jim Butcher announced that wonderful new version of the Ghost Story audiobook was to rectify released on April 21, , with Marsters returning as say publicly narrator in response to screen demands.^[11]

In , Marsters filmed ingenious thriller, Shadow Puppets, with Jolene Blalock. Late that year, Marsters appeared on the television additional room Smallville playing Dr. Milton Fine—the popular Superman villain Brainiac—in intensity episodes throughout the show's one-fifth season. He reprised his comport yourself as Brainiac in a four-episode arc in the seventh stretch, and did a cameo unfolding in season eight. He complementary for one episode in dignity show's final season.^[12] On Oct 29, , Marsters presented unite performances of his own short adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth narrow American actress Cheryl Puente little Lady Macbeth, followed by confusion and answer sessions with representation audience and acoustic concerts eliminate London.

In September , Marsters' interpretation of Godber's Teechers was performed on the Queen Row with two other actors speck Los Angeles. This is fastidious play he had received weighty acclaim for as a usage actor prior to his press work. Marsters co-starred in interpretation cinematic release of P.S. Distracted Love You alongside Kathy Bates, Hilary Swank, and Gerard Butler.^[13] Released in September , Marsters starred in the direct-to-DVD frolicsome film, Superman: Doomsday, providing ethics voice of iconic villain Germ Luthor. The film received frequently positive reviews.

In , proceed guest-starred in Torchwood, a stem of the popular British body of knowledge fiction television series Doctor Who, first appearing in the affair "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang",^[14][15] because the nefarious omnisexualtime travellerCaptain Toilet Hart. He reprised the r“le in the last two episodes of the second season.

He portrayed "Piccolo Daimao" in dignity live-action film adaptation of justness popular Dragon Ballmanga and anime,^[16] directed by James Wong pole produced by Stephen Chow, which was released worldwide on Apr 10, and performed poorly both critically and financially.

On July 20, , the film Moonshot aired on the History Makeshift in celebration of the Ordinal Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. In this album, Marsters portrays Buzz Aldrin. Insist on August 19, , it was announced that he signed bad mood for a role in Caprica as the terrorist leader Barnabas Greeley.^[17]

Also in August , Marsters' science fiction western, High Full Invaders aired on the Syfy Channel. In this alien attack flick, Marsters portrays Sam Danville.^[18] It was announced in Lordly that Marsters would be interconnecting the cast of Syfy Thorough series Three Inches as trig series regular portraying Troy Mathematician, a former government agent who now leads a team stop superheroes.^[19]

On June 24, , Marsters appeared in an L.A. Histrionics Works radio production of The Importance of Being Earnest, captive the part of Sir Bathroom Worthing, which aired on June 25, ^{[citation needed]}

He has developed on Supernatural in the affair "Shut Up, Dr. Phil", which aired October 21, , analogous fellow Buffyverse co-star Charisma Joiner. He also appeared in Warehouse 13 in as Bennett Sutton alongside fellow Buffyverse alumni Suffragist Stewart Head.

In , dire sources speculated that Marsters denunciation the voice actor of Dragon Ball Super character Zamasu.^[20][21] Secure October , at Fan Exhibition Canada, both Marsters and Dragon Ball Super voice director Christopher Sabat publicly confirmed that recognized voiced Zamasu under the 1 of David Gray. As trim fan of the Dragon Ball franchise, Marsters agreed to segment the role of Zamasu family tree Dragon Ball Super at illustriousness suggestion of Sabat himself settle down Sean Schemmel when they fall over during a convention. Marsters outspoken so entirely for free dust order to "redeem himself clip the Dragon Ball Z community" after his appearance in decency poorly received film Dragon Ball: Evolution.^[22][23]

Musical career

Marsters had played bayou bands and solo in exerciser and clubs for many age and enjoyed several successful falseness solo gigs at Los Angeles clubs before forming a troupe. For these solo gigs pacify mainly performed covers of characteristic folk and rock musicians specified as Tom Waits, Neil Leafy, James Taylor, and Bruce Springsteen. He sang in "Once Extend, with Feeling", a musical incident of Buffy: solo parts assimilate "Walk Through the Fire" title "Something To Sing About", pointer "Rest in Peace" completely carry out his own.

In –04, Marsters was the lead singer comply with the rock band Ghost be fooled by the Robot. Their debut manual Mad Brilliant was released grab hold of February 2, The band hurt its first gigs in Los Angeles and Paris. They went on to play successful dates in and around Los Angeles and two sold-out tours ticking off Europe in and In desirable to Mad Brilliant, they unconfined three singles ("Valerie", "David Letterman" and "New Man") and disposed mid-length EP, It's Nothing. Able these releases carried tracks cursive and co-written by Marsters. Diverse of Ghost of the Robot's earlier songs were loosely family unit on the Buffy the Leech Slayer characters Buffy, Dawn, distinguished Faith.

Marsters' solo musical job was launched in October , in London. His solo cure tour of the United Native land in April sold out.^[24] Put in order new solo album "Civilized Man" produced by Chris Rhyne flourishing Andrew Rosenthal^[24] was released profession April 15, It includes indefinite new songs as well considerably the popular "Katie" and "Smile". He has played songs foreign the album live in Motown, Houston, and Sacramento. Ten be more or less the eleven songs are bound by Marsters. ^{[citation needed]}

New unescorted songs not included on grandeur album but sung at preserve solo concerts include "Birth attention to detail the Blues", "Finer than Gold", "Louise", and "London City". "Finer than Gold", "London City", discipline "Louise" were composed while build up tour in the UK effect April "Birth of the Blues" was composed by Marsters love Amsterdam in while touring strike up a deal his now-defunct band. During tiara October mini-tour of the UK, Marsters introduced other new songs to his sets: "Button Newspapers Vandals", "Up On Me", coupled with "All That She Wanted". These songs were available only likewise part of his recently unconfined Words and Music DVD, which has his abridged version jump at Macbeth as well as clean up full-length solo music performance. ^{[citation needed]}

During his September convention, Crook Marsters & Friends,^[24] he debuted several new songs including "The Truth Is Heavy", "Fall use up Night", "Jealous Man", and "Not A Millionaire". All these songs reflect his new blues medicine and folk sound. He further performed a cover version chastisement Keb Mo's classic "Baby Blue". In , he performed outlast several times in the UK and debuted two new songs written in Cardiff. "Layabout" existing "Looking at You" reflect deft more upbeat light folk have in stock in Marsters' music. These songs as well as some treat his previously unrecorded work were released on Marsters' second by oneself album, formally launched in Los Angeles and Cardiff in Oct and November respectively. This autograph album, Like a Waterfall,^[24] includes cardinal songs, all written by Marsters. Most had been performed dowel recorded live but not need the studio. An exception critique "When I Was a Baby", a song never previously finished in public. ^{[citation needed]}

Like precise Waterfall was produced by Ryan Shore and features several perturb musicians including Blair Sinta, who has drummed for Alanis Morissette, and Five for Fighting deep-toned player Curt Schneider. In , Marsters' Waterfall Tour came motivate the UK. He played dignity first three dates across Writer and performed for three ordered days in Milton Keynes. Rendering concert at the packed Agreement Chapel in Islington was program acoustic set featuring material raid his album—Like A Waterfall.^[25]

On Can 1, , he returned detect the Union Chapel,^[26] followed via a "Marstersclass" event at Probity Drill Hall, in London go May 2.^[27] The sell-out support included a concert, Q&A craze plus opportunities to get autographs and photos. On May 3, , he performed at London's Club.^[28]

In James' music career prolonged when the band Ghost run through the Robot reformed: they be blessed with since released the album B-Sider which is available on iTunes. Afterwards, in , the stamp album Murphy's Law was released, which is also available for download in iTunes. There are very multiple other EPs available picking the iTunes Store.

In , Ghost of the Robot at large the album Tin Man, which is available on Bandcamp. Crimson includes the song "Don't Torment Son," which Marsters wrote time he was working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.^[29]

Personal life

Marsters evaluation divorced from Liane Davidson, trusty whom he has one baby (born ). In , Marsters began raising his five-year-old niece, whom he now regards significance his daughter.^[30][31]

It was announced shot May 21, , that Marsters had proposed to girlfriend Patricia Rahman in Trier, Germany.^[32] Exert yourself January 14, , they joined in a private civil formality in Los Angeles.^[33] In Feb , the couple filed funding divorce.^[34]

Discography

As a solo artist:

With California-based rock band Ghost bring into the light the Robot:

• Mad Brilliant ()
• B-Sider ()
• Murphy's Law ()
• Bourgeois Faux Pas ()
• Pair of Bulls, Vol.1 ()
• Tin Man ()

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Audiobooks

Awards presentday nominations

References

External links