James Marsden

James Marsden

Actor
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Life Story

James Paul Marsden, or better known as just James Marsden, was born on September 18, 1973, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Kathleen (Scholz) and James Luther Marsden. His father, a distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences & Industry at Kansas State University, and his mother, a nutritionist, divorced when he was nine years old. James grew up with his four other siblings, sisters, Jennifer and Elizabeth, and brothers, Jeff and Robert. He has English, German, and Scottish ancestry. During his teen years, he attended Putnam City North High School which was located in Oklahoma City. After graduating in 1991, he attended Oklahoma State University and studied Broadcast Journalism. While in university, he became a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

While vacationing with his family in Hawaii, he met actor Kirk Cameron, and his actress sister, Candace Cameron Bure. They eventually invited James to visit them in Los Angeles. After studying in Oklahoma State for over a year and appearing in his college production, "Bye Bye Birdie", he left school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his interest in acting. James got his first job on the pilot episode of The Nanny (1993) as Eddie, who was Margaret Sheffield's boyfriend. He then became part of the Canadian television series, Boogies Diner (1994), which aired for one season. After that series ended, he got a brief role as the original Griffin on Fox's Party of Five (1994). His first big break came when he became the lead on the short-lived ABC series, Second Noah (1996). Although the show didn't last long, the young actor received enough exposure from the public and even managed to win the hearts of fellow teenage girls. In 1996, he attended an audition for a movie titled Primal Fear (1996) but unfortunately lost that role to Edward Norton. Two years later, he was offered a lead role in 54 (1998), which he turned down. The role later went to another actor, Ryan Phillippe.

James' star power increased when he starred in David Nutter's Disturbing Behavior (1998), alongside Katie Holmes and Nick Stahl, which had mixed reviews, but mostly positive ones. His role in the television series as Glenn Foy in Ally McBeal (1997), is probably one of his biggest achievement to date. He became one of the main cast members during the first half of season 5, where he showcased his singing abilities. It was in that show where he was able to grab the attention of audiences from different backgrounds. The 5' 10" star later played Lon Hammon Jr. in the romantic movie, The Notebook (2004), which was based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks of the same name. His movies, Lies and Alibis (2006) and 10th & Wolf (2006) was also released around the world to audiences in the year 2006. One of his most memorable roles to fans is his role as Cyclops in the X-Men (2000) movie franchise. The movie was well accepted by audiences and critics, which eventually made James one of the hottest stars since it was released. He was among the actors who starred in all three of the X-Men movies. James had the honor of working alongside Patrick Stewart, Famke Janssen and Hugh Jackman in the film. However, not many people know that he actually had to wear lifts for most of his scenes in the X-men movies, because his character Cyclops is supposed to be 6" 3" compared to a 5' 3" Wolverine. In reality, he is actually under 6' 0", shorter than Famke Janssen who plays his love interest, Jean Grey, and even shorter than Hugh Jackman who played Wolverine.

 

Family

Lisa Linde (22 July 2000 - 23 September 2011) ( 2 children)

Trivia

He has two sisters: Jennifer - age 24 and Elizabeth - age 12, as at 2004. Jennifer lives in Studio City, California and Elizabeth in Manhattan, Kansas.
Attended Oklahoma State University
Son Jack Holden Marsden was born on February 1, 2001, in Los Angeles weighing 7 lbs., 14 oz.
In 1991, while vacationing with his family in Hawaii, he met actor Kirk Cameron and his actress sister Candace Cameron Bure; the Camerons invited Marsden to visit in L.A. and thus began his career.
Lost out to Edward Norton for a role in Primal Fear (1996).
Turned down the lead role in 54 (1998). Ryan Phillippe later got the role.
Graduated from Putnam City North High School (located in Oklahoma City) class of 1991.
Joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity while at Oklahoma State.
His father is a Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences & Industry at Kansas State University.
He wore lifts for most of his scenes in the X-Men movies, because his character Cyclops is supposed to be 6' 3" compared to a 5' 3" Wolverine. In actuality, Marsden is under 6 feet tall, slightly shorter than Famke Janssen (as his love interest, (Jean Grey) and approximately 4 inches inches shorter than Hugh Jackman (who played Wolverine).
An accomplished singer.
Daughter, Mary James Marsden, born on 10 August 2005.
Has worked 4 times with actress Rebecca Romijn: X-Men (2000), X2: X-Men United (2003), Lies and Alibis (2006), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
Also has two brothers, Jeff and Robbie.
Is commonly confused as being the brother of actor Jason Marsden. Although the two are not related, they are actually good friends and their respective wives have been friends since they were six.
Son-in-law of Dennis Linde.
Third child, son William Luca Costa-Marsden, born 14 December 2012. Mother is model Rose Costa.
His ancestry is mostly English and German, with some Scottish, and distant French.
He starred in two musicals in 2007: Hairspray (2007) and Enchanted (2007).
Considered for the role of Johnny Rico in Starship Troopers (1997).

 

Personal Quotes 

If you're an attractive guy, everyone thinks you're successful just because of the way you look. I hate that.
If you're lucky enough to pick what you do, that's the greatest career you can have. Ultimately, that's my goal: to have choices. - Interview with Men's Health, May 2007.
If expectations are low, you can only impress people. But if expectations are there for you to be the leading guy, and you've been paid X amount of money, you're on a tightrope and all of a sudden you're looking down. If it was up to me now, I would just stay on the up-and-coming list until I'm like 90.
(On starting out in L.A. and his fame level now) A little job here, a little job there, and after six months in L.A., I was paying for my rent and my meals. Very slowly, the tiniest of snowballs snowballed from there. At some point, the snowball got to be a nice size, and I wanted it to stay that way. That's sort of now. I don't want it to keep rolling. Or rather, I want it to keep rolling, but I don't want it to keep getting bigger.
My wife, kids and I still fly coach -- not first-class. I think I have a certain responsibility to let my children know I am not special because of what I do, but who I am as a person.
Early in your career, you feel like there is a formula, a path you have to take. You have to do this movie because this person directed it and you have to be associated with these people. In some ways, I have thrown that out. I decided I should go after the roles I like, that I am inspired by and then if I am having a good time, chances are that people will like watching you. (Interview, November, 2011)
(2007) I did dress in drag for an audition once-to play Penélope Cruz's drag queen best friend in Woman on Top (2000). I went to Twentieth Century Fox dressed from head to toe in high heels and a dress. I just went for it. My wife dressed me - I thought I'd throw that in there.
(2007, on Hairspray (2007)) I would finish a day on "Hairspray" and I wouldn't want to go home. I would want to stay there and watch the numbers that I wasn't in. I know it sounds cheesy but it was a real labor of love. I'm so stage-starved that it comes easily for me. I got along tremendously with the cast and with [director] Adam Shankman, who was certainly in his wheelhouse because he comes from something like 25 years of choreography and he was in his element. We were all having fun because he was - and it was great to see John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken just go camp. The movie's not all camp - they wanted to bring a real tone to it - but, obviously, it's colorful and has all those fireworks. It rides on the spectacle.

 
Filmography

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