"Gossip Cop" calendar: "Prince Charming" James Marsden. Gossip Cop calendar: Prince Charming James Marsden James Marsden with ex-wife Rose Costa
Today marks the 39th birthday of the famous actor, Cyclops from the film “X-Men” and “Prince Charming” from “Enchanted” - James Marsden. Congratulations!
James Paul Marsden was born on September 18, 1973 in the American town of Stillwater, Oklahoma, in the family of a university professor and nutritionist. The parents of the future actor raised four more children in addition to him - daughters Jennifer and Elizabeth, as well as sons Jeff and Robert. In 1991, the couple decided to divorce.
It seems hard to imagine now, but James was not popular with girls at school. He recalled:
I grew up in Oklahoma and was a fairly plump, stocky guy until I was 13 or 14, but then I lost weight and stretched out. But at my school, the girls loved athletic football players - that's how they imagined Prince Charming. But I was not like that, and only recently began to perceive myself as I am. And so, I'm quite happy.
After graduation, Marsden entered the University of Oklahoma to study television and radio journalism. One day, while vacationing with his family in Hawaii, he met actor Kirk Cameron and his sister Candace Cameron Blue. They invited James to visit their home in Los Angeles, and he gladly accepted the invitation, since he had long dreamed of visiting the “city of angels” and starting an acting career. In addition, he already had a role in the student theater production Bye Bye Birdie. After visiting Hollywood, Marsden decided to stay there forever.
Later in an interview, James admitted that the decision to move to Los Angeles was difficult for him:
When I was about 19 years old, I was surrounded by people who had a clear idea of what they wanted from life. And I had no idea. I did not know what my purpose on this Earth was until I became acquainted with dramatic art. However, the idea of moving to Hollywood and becoming an actor seemed simply unrealistic to me. But I knew I didn't want to go into business or work in marketing like most of my friends. I understood that it would be difficult to succeed as an actor, but I firmly decided: “You know what? I will do it!” Thanks to my parents who supported me and everything worked out.
The bright appearance of the young man attracted model scouts (for some time he worked as a fashion model, including for Versace) and Hollywood movie bosses: at the next casting he was offered a small role in the TV series “Nanny” (1993), and then “Blossom” and several others . In the credits, his name was indicated as Jimmy Marsden, apparently by analogy with the diminutive name of another famous handsome man -.
James worked as a model
"Nanny"
True, if Depp remained Johnny forever, Marsden later preferred to be called James. The charming brunette with mesmerizing blue eyes immediately won the hearts of many American girls, so it is not surprising that the invitation to star in a feature film was not long in coming.
For the first time in one of the main roles, the actor starred in a low-budget film with the whimsical title “Dad, you won’t get dessert until you mow the lawn.” However, this could hardly be called a serious role - James endlessly continued to “wander” through different series and television shows.
In 1997, he played in the TV movie “The Godmother” along with Nastassja Kinski, and a year later in the thriller “Indecent Behavior” as a difficult teenager, Steve Clark, sent to re-education in a small town. There he meets other young outcasts Gavin (Tobias Mehler) and Rachel () and begins to fight with them against the imposed social order.
"Godmother"
"Indecent behavior"
The success of this film opened the way for James Marsden to lead roles, and in 2000 the talented actor again got the leading role in Davis Guggenheim's dramatic thriller Gossip. The main characters, student journalists, decided to conduct an experiment and find out how gossip spreads and what details it can acquire. They had no idea how this would turn out.
"Gossip"
In 2000, Marsden received a role that made him very popular: in the cult film adaptation of the X-Men comics, he played one of the heroes endowed with a special gift named Cyclops. He has the ability to shoot laser beams from his eyes, which forces him to wear special glasses at any time of the day or night. In 2003, James starred in the sequel to the film X-Men 2, and in 2006 in X-Men: The Last Stand.
"X-Men"
"X-Men: The Last Stand"
In 2001, Marsden starred in the comedy Sugar and Pepper as a high school football player, and then in the film Route 60 in a brilliant duet with Gary Oldman. The main character, Neil Oliver, embarks on a perilous journey along the mysterious Highway 60 in search of the girl from his dreams.
"Sugar and Pepper"
"Highway 60"
James then starred in Nick Cassavetes' melodrama "The Notebook", the comedy "Alibi" (where he played a client of an agency that creates alibis for unfaithful spouses) and the crime drama "The Intersection of 10th and Wolf." In this film, he played a guy named Tommy, the son of the leader of a criminal gang. He decides to give up his criminal past and goes to serve in the army. However, when, due to a conflict with the command, he faces a military tribunal, FBI agents, in exchange for freedom, offer him to return to the criminal business and become a secret informant.
"The Intersection of 10th and Wolf"
"Diary of member"
"Alibi"
In 2006, he starred in a supporting role in the film Superman Returns, followed by the musical Hairspray and the romantic comedy Enchanted. Marsden coped with the role of Prince Charming from a fairy tale (“narcissus”, by the way), going for his beloved to modern New York.
"Hair fixation spray"
"Enchanted"
In 2008, he played in the comedy “27 Weddings” as a guy who doesn’t really believe in marriage. This was followed by roles in the comedy "Sex Drive" and the thriller "The Package", where his partner on the set was. They played young spouses who unexpectedly receive a strange gift - a box with a button. The mysterious stranger who brought them this gift declares that with just pressing the button they will receive a million dollars, but at that very moment a stranger will die somewhere.
"27 Weddings"
"Sexdrive"
"Package"
In 2011, Marsden starred in the animated comedy "Riot of the Big Ears" and the comedy "Death at a Funeral."
Last year, the film "Straw Dogs" was released, where Marsden played the main role along with Kate Bosworth. Screenwriter David Sumner and his wife Amy move to the quiet town in the southern United States where she grew up. There, in peace and quiet, he plans to write another script. But some residents turn out to be very unfriendly. David will have to stand up for his family and moral principles.
The popular American actor James Marsden comes from Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA, where he was born on September 18, 1973 in the family of a university professor. The future actor’s mother worked as a nutritionist. In addition to James, the family included two more sisters and two brothers. At the age of nine, the boy experienced his parents' divorce.
In high school, James took part in school plays, he liked to act on stage, and the young man continued this hobby while studying at the university. His choice fell on the Department of Radio and Television Journalism at the University of Oklahoma. While playing leading roles in student plays, James Marsden gradually realized that he wanted to work on television not as a journalist, but as an actor. This was the reason that after two years of study he left the university and went to Los Angeles.
Creative path
Thanks to his attractive appearance, James Marsden quickly received his first roles in television series. From 1993 to 2000, he played mainly in supporting roles in TV series. He also starred in the leading roles of several films, among them only the film “Indecent Behavior,” released in 1998, did not fail at the box office, the rest were not a box office success.
From the very beginning of his career, James Marsden made attempts to break into the big screen, but they were not crowned with success. For example, during the audition for the thriller “Primal Fear,” Edward Norton was preferred over James, and at the casting of the film “Studio 54,” Marsden also met with failure.
James Marsden at a photo shoot:
James Marsden's patience and perseverance in achieving his goal were rewarded in 2000, when the blockbuster "X-Men" was released, where the actor played the role of Cyclops. He got this role by luck - the actor approved for it abandoned filming at the last moment. James did an excellent job, also starring in two sequels to this film, released in 2003, 2006 and 2014. Participation in this project brought James Marsden worldwide fame.
James Marsden in the movie "X-Men"
In 2001, James Marsden reinforced his success by playing the lead role in the film Route 60, which received high marks from film critics and audiences. This film has become a cult favorite for many teenagers and young people, and the handsome main character is the idol of young fans.
James Marsden in the movie "27 Weddings"
James Marsden in The Best of Me
Perhaps the role in “Route 60” is the most significant work in James Marsden’s career to date. Although he is in demand among directors and appears in films and TV series with enviable regularity, he has not yet been able to repeat the success of his star role. But he showed the audience new facets of his talent. Playing in comedy melodramas, James Marsden revealed himself as a comic actor. The most successful comedies with his participation are “Hairspray”, “27 Weddings”, “Death at a Funeral”. The comedy series Modern Family was awarded a Golden Globe award in 2012.
James Marsden starring in the film "The Loft"
The drama with his participation, “The Notebook,” was also highly praised by film critics and viewers. One of the actor’s last successful works was his role in the TV series “Westworld,” which was released in 2016. and immediately won the audience's sympathy.
Personal life
Since 2000 James Marsden was married to American actress Lisa Linde, whose father is a famous singer and composer. The couple had two children, a son, Jack (2001) and a daughter, Mary (2005). In 2011, at the initiative of the wife, the marriage was dissolved.
James Marsden with ex-wife Rose Costa
In 2012, James Marsden was in a relationship with model Rose Costa, and their son William was born that same year. But by the time he was born, the relationship had already broken down.
Read biographies of other Hollywood actors
James Marsden is a versatile but humble actor who has won the hearts of viewers of Route 60, X-Men, The Notebook, and the TV series Westworld.Childhood
James Marsden was born on September 18, 1973 in the USA, Oklahoma. The boy grew up in a large family (the actor has two brothers and two sisters) and was raised by parents who had neither direct nor indirect connections to the stage: his mother worked as a nutritionist, and his father was a professor at the University of Kansas. In 1986, when the future actor was 9 years old, his parents divorced. Contrary to custom, the boy and his brothers and sisters remained to live with their father.
While still in high school, James became interested in theater after participating in a number of amateur productions. He did it quite well, as the actor’s classmates and teachers noted. And although after graduating from school the guy entered the Department of Radio and Television Journalism at the University of Oklahoma, he continued to show his interest in acting in university productions, where he, as an experienced actor, was often entrusted with the main roles.
A selection of James Marsden's school photos
It was then that James realized that he did not want to work as a journalist, that his calling was to be an actor. The actor once confessed: in those years, he understood that he was not smart enough for more serious work, for example, in journalism or finance.
Actor career
Realizing that he had nothing to catch in Oklahoma, Marsden went to Los Angeles in the hope that luck would turn his way there. At the age of 19, James managed to get into the modeling business. Once he had the opportunity to work at a fashion show for Donatella Versace.
Despite his rather critical attitude towards himself and his abilities, Marsden tirelessly auditioned for all kinds of castings. As the actor himself later admitted, he came there in the guise of a charming “school boy,” and sometimes it worked.
At the age of 20, he made his television debut in the comedy series “The Nanny,” then in the sitcom “Blossom.” It’s clear that the roles were secondary. At the age of 21, the actor was invited to star in the comedy film “Mow the Lawn!” Also at the beginning of his career, the actor played in the TV series “The Five of Us”, “Ally McBeal” and – his first major success – in the full-length psychological thriller “Gossip”.
The fact that the actor began acting in TV series just two months after moving to Los Angeles, Marsden calls pure luck, a game of chance. Despite the successful start, he had no confidence that he would last on stage at the beginning of his career.
In 2000, Marsden's first significant milestone awaited him - he received the role of Cyclops in the film adaptation of the famous Marvel comics "X-Men". His character, who could shoot lasers from his eyes, became one of the mutants under the leadership of Professor Xavier, fighting for the right to peacefully coexist with people.
Such famous actors as Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, former Bond actress Famke Janssen and many other celebrities worked on the same set with James - the first part of the franchise was incredibly large-scale for those times and grossed about $300 million at the box office.
And in 2001, James Marsden played perhaps his most memorable role - in the famous comedy "Route 60", playing the main role - a guy named Neil Oliver, who one day met a mysterious stranger who invited him on a journey full of mysteries along the mystical Route 60. not indicated on any map of America. His partner on the set was Gary Oldman, and their brilliant acting tandem brought the film a place in the annals of American cinema history.
Fragment from the film “Route 60”
Also memorable was the role of James Marsden in the melodrama “The Notebook” with Ryan Goslin and Rachel McAdams. The actor played the role of BBC pilot Lon Hammond, who proposes to the main character, who had to make a difficult choice - to marry a wealthy and respected man or listen to her heart.
Among the following notable works of James are the films “Two Guns”, “The Best of Me”, “The Butler”, “Frank the Robot”, etc. By the way, in “The Butler” Marsden played the role of the future US President John F. Kennedy. For the sake of this role, the actor had to gain weight, since Marsden is quite thin compared to John. As the actor himself admits, in order to gain 5 kg, he had to temporarily stop working out in the gym and eat a large number of sandwiches at night.
In 2011, the world saw him in the title role in the remake of the 1971 film Straw Dogs. An action-packed thriller, full of violence and psychological tension, introduced the viewer to the wild customs of the American outback. James' on-screen partner this time was the beautiful Kate Bosworth.
And in 2014, our hero appeared before the audience of the melodrama “The Best of Me” together with Michelle Monaghan. According to the plot, their characters were in love in their youth, but due to the difference in social status they were forced to break off the relationship. But when they met 20 years later, they remembered the past and tried to mend their ruined lives.
Personal life of James Marsden
In 2000, the actor married actress Lisa Linda. The couple were married for 11 years, after which they separated on Lisa’s initiative. From his first wife, James has a son, Jack, and a daughter, Mary.
In 2012, the actor began dating Brazilian model Rose Costa, but their relationship lasted no more than a couple of months.
Rose had a son, William Luca, with Marsden. James, who has maintained warm, friendly relations with her ex, helps her ex in every possible way with his upbringing.