James Marsters facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Marsters
Comic Con Brussels, 2023
Born	James Wesley Marsters (1962-08-20) August 20, 1962 (age 62) Greenville, California, U.S.
Other names	David Gray Sam Majesters
Education	Allan Hancock College Juilliard School
Occupation	Actor musician singer comic book writer audiobook narrator
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Liane Davidson ​ ​ (m. 1989; div. 1997)​ Patricia Jasmin Rahman ​ ​ (m. 2011; div. 2021)​
Children	2

James Wesley Marsters (born August 20, 1962) is an American actor, musician, and singer. He is also a comic book writer and narrates audiobooks.

He is most famous for playing the British punk vampire Spike. This role was in the TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel. He has also played other well-known characters. These include the alien supervillain Brainiac on Smallville. He was also Captain John Hart on Torchwood.

James Marsters appeared in the movie P.S. I Love You. He played Victor Hesse in the TV show Hawaii Five-0. He was also Victor Stein in the Marvel series Runaways. He is the voice of Zamasu in the Dragon Ball cartoon series. He also voiced Lex Luthor in the movie Superman: Doomsday.

Early Life and Acting Start

Marsters was born in Greenville, California. His father was a minister and his mother was a social worker. He grew up in Modesto, California, with his brother and sister.

He dreamed of acting since he played Eeyore in a play in fourth grade. Marsters joined the theater group at Grace M. Davis High School. He acted in many plays there. After high school, he studied acting at Allan Hancock College. In 1982, he moved to New York City. He attended the Juilliard School for two years.

First Acting Jobs

Marsters moved to Chicago to start his acting career. His first professional role was in a play called The Tempest in 1987. He also worked with other theater groups in Chicago. He was nominated for an award for his role as Robespierre in a play called Incorruptible in 1989.

In 1990, he moved to Seattle. There, he helped start a new theater company. He acted in many different plays with this group.

In 1992, he got his first TV job on Northern Exposure. He played a bellboy and a church minister in two episodes. He also appeared in other TV shows like Andromeda. He was in independent films like Chance. In 1999, he had a small part in the movie House on Haunted Hill.

Becoming a Vampire Star

Spike in Buffy and Angel

James Marsters became very famous for playing Spike. Spike was a villain who later became a hero on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. For this role, Marsters used a London accent. His British co-star, Anthony Head, helped him learn it.

The show's creator, Joss Whedon, first planned for Spike to be in only a few episodes. Whedon didn't want another popular vampire on the show. But fans loved Spike so much that they kept him on the show. He became a main character.

After Buffy ended, Marsters continued playing Spike. He joined the spin-off show, Angel, for its last season. His return was supposed to be a surprise. However, the TV network announced it early to create excitement.

In 2004, after Angel finished, Marsters shaved his famous bleached hair. He did this live on TV for charity. There were plans for a Spike movie, but they didn't happen.

Marsters also helped write a comic book about Spike. It was called Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike and Dru. He also wrote a graphic novel called Spike: Into the Light.

Other Acting and Voice Roles

Marsters has narrated many audiobooks. He is the voice for The Dresden Files detective novels. Fans really wanted him to narrate one book, Ghost Story, so he came back to record it later.

In 2005, Marsters played Dr. Milton Fine on Smallville. This character was the famous Superman villain Brainiac. He returned to this role in later seasons. In 2007, he was in the movie P.S. I Love You. He also voiced Lex Luthor in the animated film Superman: Doomsday.

In 2008, he guest-starred in Torchwood. This show is a spin-off of Doctor Who. He played Captain John Hart, a time traveler. He also played Piccolo Daimao in the live-action movie Dragonball Evolution.

In 2009, Marsters played Buzz Aldrin in the TV film Moonshot. This film celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing. He also joined the show Caprica as a terrorist leader. He was in the sci-fi western High Plains Invaders.

Marsters has appeared in other TV shows like Supernatural and Warehouse 13. In 2018, he confirmed he voiced Zamasu in Dragon Ball Super. He used the name David Gray for this role. He did this for free because he wanted to make up for his role in the Dragon Ball: Evolution movie.

Music Career

James Marsters has played music for many years. He performed solo in clubs before starting a band. He often sang songs by famous artists like Tom Waits and Neil Young. He also sang in "Once More, with Feeling", a musical episode of Buffy.

James Marsters performing at the Union Chapel Concert in Islington, London on May 4, 2007

From 2003 to 2004, Marsters was the lead singer for the rock band Ghost of the Robot. Their first album, Mad Brilliant, came out in 2003. The band toured in Los Angeles and Europe. They released singles and an EP (Extended Play record). Some of their early songs were about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters.

Marsters started his solo music career in 2004. His first solo album, Civilized Man, was released in 2005. He wrote most of the songs on it. He toured the UK, and his concerts sold out.

In 2007, he released his second solo album, Like a Waterfall. It had twelve songs, all written by him. In 2010, Ghost of the Robot got back together. They have released more albums since then, including B-Sider and Murphy's Law. In 2023, they released Tin Man. This album includes a song called "Don't Worry Son," which Marsters wrote while working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Personal Life

James Marsters was married to Liane Davidson. They have one son, born in 1996. In 2002, he also started raising his niece as his daughter.

In 2011, he married Patricia Rahman. They later divorced in 2021.

Discography

As a solo artist:

• Civilized Man (2005)
• Like a Waterfall (2007)

With California-based rock band Ghost of the Robot:

• Mad Brilliant (2003)
• B-Sider (2011)
• Murphy's Law (2011)
• Bourgeois Faux Pas (2015)
• Pair of Bulls, Vol.1 (2018)
• Tin Man (2023)

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Audiobooks

Awards and Nominations