Some of Spacey's earlier roles include the made-for-television film The Murder of Mary Phagan and the Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder-starring comedy See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989). Spacey earned an avid fan following after playing the criminally insane arms dealer Mel Profitt on the television series Wiseguy. He quickly developed a reputation as a character actor, and was cast in bigger roles, including one-half of the bickering Connecticut couple in the dark comedy The Ref (1994), a malicious Hollywood studio boss in the satire Swimming with Sharks, and the put-upon office manager in the all-star ensemble film Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), gaining him positive notices by critics.

In 1995, Spacey played a serial killer in Se7en who murders people he thinks guilty of the seven deadly sins, and the enigmatic criminal Verbal Kint in The Usual Suspects. His role in The Usual Suspects launched him to A-list status and won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 1996, he played an egomaniacal district attorney in A Time to Kill, and founded Trigger Street Productions in 1997 with the purpose of producing and developing entertainment across various media.

Spacey won universal praise and a Best Actor Oscar for his role as a depressed suburban father who re-evaluates his life in 1999's American Beauty; the same year, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During the several years following American Beauty's release, Spacey appeared in films that he believes "hadn't done as well critically or in terms of box office". He played a physically and emotionally scarred grade school teacher in Pay It Forward, a patient in a mental institution who may or may not be an alien in K-Pax, and singer Bobby Darin in Beyond the Sea. Beyond The Sea was a lifelong dream project for Spacey, who took on co-writing, directing, and starring duties in the biography/musical about Darin's life, career, and relationship with late actress Sandra Dee. Spacey provided his own vocals on the Beyond the Sea soundtrack and appeared in several tribute concerts around the time of the film's release. He received mostly positive reviews for his singing, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. However, some reviewers criticized the age disparity between Spacey and Darin, noting that Spacey was too old to convincingly portray him. Spacey has noted that despite the criticism, he is still proud of the film.

In February 2003, Spacey announced that he was moving to London, England, to become the artistic director of the Old Vic, one of the city's oldest theatres. Spacey directed the new Old Vic Theatre Company, which stages shows eight months out of the year, starting in 2004. Spacey starred in two shows a season, in addition to directorial duties. During the 2004-05 season, Spacey directed a performance of the play Cloaca by Maria Goos, and performed in productions of National Anthems by Dennis McIntyre, as well in The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry. During the 2005-06 season, Spacey performed in the title role of Richard II (directed by Trevor Nunn). He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by London South Bank University in November 2005. Spacey has noted that he is "having the time of ^* life" working at the Old Vic, and explained that at this point in his career, he feels that he is "trying to do things now that are much bigger than myself and outside of myself".

Spacey hosted the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 20, 2006. He participated in six sketches, including playing the roles of a detective, a falconer, and Neil Young. He also starred in a sketch with Andy Samberg, spoofing The Usual Suspects.

Spacey's most recent film role is as the villainous Lex Luthor in the Bryan Singer-directed superhero film, Superman Returns. The film opened on June 28, 2006. Spacey also appears in Edison Force (originally titled Edison), co-starring Morgan Freeman and Justin Timberlake; Edison Force will receive a direct-to-video release on July 18, 2006.

Personal life

In August of 2004, while living in London, Spacey reported to local police that he had been mugged by a young man in a park at approximately 4:30 A.M. Several hours later, he withdrew the statement and apologized to the police, explaining that he had been conned into giving his mobile phone to a youth who had then run away with it, and that his bruises were the result of tripping over his dog while giving chase. The police accepted Spacey's new version of events and did not press charges.

Spacey is a personal friend of former President Bill Clinton, having met Clinton before his presidency began. Spacey has described Clinton as "one of the shining lights" of the political process. According to Federal Election Commission data, Spacey has contributed $42,000 to Democratic candidates and committees.

Selected filmography

Discography

Albums

Singles

Live performances

• Mind Games - "Come Together: A Night For John Lennon's Words & Music" - 02.Oct.2001 - Radio City Music Hall

References

Footnotes

Web sites

1959 births | Actors who portrayed Lex Luthor | American expatriates in the United Kingdom | American film actors | American film directors | American stage actors | American theatre directors | Best Actor Oscar | Best Supporting Actor Oscar | British theatre directors | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Living people | New Jersey actors | People associated with London South Bank University | English-language film directors

Кевин Спейси | Kevin Spacey | Kevin Spacey | Kevin Spacey | Kevin Spacey | קווין ספייסי | Kevin Spacey | ケヴィン・スペイシー | Kevin Spacey | Kevin Spacey | Kevin Spacey | Kevin Spacey | Kevin Spacey