Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer SFX
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy trailer
Crime Shows Good news Mindhunter and Monster fans, a new crime series based on real events is coming to streaming, and it’s first trailer is positively horrifying
Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride
Movies The 32 greatest action movie quotes of all time
Tom Holland in The Devil All the Time
Thriller Movies The 25 best Netflix thrillers to watch right now
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and David Corenswet as Superman
DC Movies Lex Luthor actor Nicholas Hoult says it wasn't "about trying to do something different" with his iconic Superman villain: "It's nice that they've got such legacy"
Dexter: Resurrection
Drama Shows Dexter: Resurrection star David Dastmalchian says it’s an "honor" to play eccentric villain roles like Mr. 3 in Netflix's live-action One Piece: "They [all] inhabit me differently"
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in Superman
DC Movies James Gunn says Superman's most shocking death was originally even darker: "Lex looks down and sees the blood is about to get on his shoes"
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
DC Movies The many lives of Lex Luthor: The comic book history of Superman's arch enemy
Father Jud in the back seat of Benoit Blanc's car talking to Benoit
Netflix New Knives Out 3 plot details tease what could be a matter of death and life for Benoit Blanc
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and David Corenswet as Superman
DC Movies James Gunn says Lex Luthor created one of Superman's strangest characters when he was 12, and I really wish their backstory was in the movie
Hot Toys Galactus figure
Superhero Movies Galactus actor Ralph Ineson teased Lex Luthor star Nicholas Hoult about who is the better comic-book movie villain "It’s hardly fair. You’re a cosmic entity; I’m just a guy"
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in Superman
DC Movies DC fans have a theory about how Lex Luthor will escape prison after the events of Superman and well, they've convinced me
Superman
DC Movies Every comic book character in Superman, listed in order of appearance in James Gunn's new movie
Nicolas Cage as Longlegs in Longlegs/Osgood Perkins and Nicolas Cage standing side-by-side at a Longlegs event
Horror Movies Longlegs and The Monkey director Osgood Perkins' next horror is revealed to be a coming-of-age movie
Linda (Rose Byrne) looking troubled in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Drama Movies Conan O'Brien, Rose Byrne, and A$AP Rocky take the lead in A24's stressfully hectic drama If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
An Infected in 28 Years Later
Horror Movies "Nothing could've prepared me": Horror fans react to Sinner star Jack O'Connell's brief appearance in zombie sequel 28 Days Later
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Sci-Fi Movies

The Evolution Of Kevin Spacey

Features
By Joshua Winning published 4 June 2010

John Doe. Verbal. Lex. Gerty.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Working Girl (1988)

Working Girl (1988)

Having made his cinematic debut playing a subway thief in Heartburn , and starring opposite the legendary Jack Lemmon in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night , Spacey landed in this ‘80s comedy.

He barely fits onto the screen what with all the giant hair ‘dos – most notably star Melanie Griffith and Joan Cusack’s out-of-control barnets.

Spacey plays the funny-named Bob Speck, whom Griffith’s Tess is set up with.

Slick Spacey? Pretty darn slick. This is the beginning of something beautiful.

Page 1 of 21
Page 1 of 21
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Spacey gets his name on the poster and co-stars with the likes of Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon (again) and Ed Harris.

Spacey played John Williamson, a boring office manager who is ridiculed behind his back. According to Wikipedia, Spacey saw his character as “the catalyst for events, since people are either struggling for or against him”.

It was a commercial flop, taking just over $10m in the States.

Slick Spacey? He’s wearing shirts, but the glasses are geek all over.

Page 2 of 21
Page 2 of 21
The Ref (1994)

The Ref (1994)

It’s black comedy time, as Spacey has a pop at that terminal turkey of a movie genre: the Christmas film. It involves an argumentative couple, a nightmare mother-in-law, a blackmailing son, and a retired cat burglar.

“You know what I'm going to get you next Christmas, Mom?” Spacey’s Lloyd says sweetly. “A big wooden cross, so that every time you feel unappreciated for your sacrifices, you can climb on up and nail yourself to it.” Nice.

Slick Spacey? Not really, it’s all about wrapping up warm for winter.

Page 3 of 21
Page 3 of 21
The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Usual Suspects (1995)

Spacey’s profile soared after his defining turn in this headfuck from director Bryan Singer. He got an Oscar for his efforts. Spacey loved working with Singer: “I think I’m a better actor when I’m directed than when I’m not.”

Adds he: “Chris McQuarrie's script was complex and admirable, but it was confusing. I know it was confusing because there were actors who actually thought the movie was going to end differently. Gabriel Byrne thought he was Keyser Soze!”

Slick Spacey? Some dreadful shirts and a dodgy ‘do work against him.

Page 4 of 21
Page 4 of 21
Swimming With Sharks (1995)

Swimming With Sharks (1995)

“Ignore all that second-hand journalism about who I based my character on,” Spacey told us, flapping away suggestions that he based meanie Buddy Ackerman on Don Simpson. “I didn't even meet those people until after the movie was done.”

Spacey gives another fine performance as a power producer whose young apprentice turns the tables on him. “I'm very proud because we shot the movie in 18 days - Bam! Bam! Bam!” Spacey enthuses. “It's become a classic for people who want to be in the movies."

Slick Spacey? The tie and cardy’s a bit dated.

Page 5 of 21
Page 5 of 21
Se7en (1996)

Se7en (1996)

Spacey famously refused to sign on to David Fincher’s tense, dark thriller if his name was going to be splashed all over the posters. He argued that if people were waiting for him to appear on-screen, they would figure out that he was the one behind the murders.

It turned out to be a deal breaker. After much umm-ing and aah-ing, the studio finally relented and agreed not to use him in any of the film’s marketing. And… it worked - Spacey gives a terrifying performance as killer John Doe.

Slick Spacey? Um, have you seen the state of his apartment?!

Page 6 of 21
Page 6 of 21
A Time To Kill (1997)

A Time To Kill (1997)

John Grisham’s courtroom drama is turned into a movie directed by Joel Schumacher. Spacey plays a ruthless prosecutor, while the rest of the accomplished cast included Charles S Dutton as a sheriff, Donald Sutherland as an attorney and Sandra Bullock as an ambitious young law student.

The story involves Matthew McConaughey’s lawyer defending two youths who are accused of raping a 10-year-old and instigating the resurgence of the KKK.

Slick Spacey? Dapper as anything – no rulings against this ensemble.

Page 7 of 21
Page 7 of 21
L.A. Confidential (1997)

L.A. Confidential (1997)

“Spacey is so deft,” says Confidential author James Ellroy. “He is so controlled, is so subtle, is so good at suggesting a character's inner life with a minimal of outward action.

He glides. There is something amorphous about the guy. I met him a couple of times. There's a mask that's up when you meet him personally, and I imagine that this helps him when he immerses himself in a character.”

Ellroy clearly approved of Spacey’s casting in this neo noir classic.

Slick Spacey? Fifties fabulousness.

Page 8 of 21
Page 8 of 21
Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil (1997)

Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil (1997)

Spacey delivers a stunning performance in Clint Eastwood’s adaptation of John Berendt’s novel. Spacey plays Jim Williams, a part-closeted homosexual antique’s dealer who is on trial for the murder of the young man who was his lover.

Powerhouse performances abound here, not least from Spacey and John Cusack.

Slick Spacey? He’s blonde! And sports a moustache! Still, pretty classy fella.

Page 9 of 21
Page 9 of 21
The Negotiator (1998)

The Negotiator (1998)

Spacey pulled a switcheroo with the roles on this nerve-jangler. Originally set to star opposite Sly Stallone, when Stallone ditched the part Spacey decided he wanted it instead. His original part went to Samuel L. Jackson instead.

The pair play Chicago Police negotiators. When one of them is accused of corruption and murder, he takes hostages in a government office in order to buy himself time to uncover the truth behind the accusations.

Slick Spacey? It’s pretty hard to tell under that police outfit…

Page 10 of 21
Page 10 of 21
American Beauty (1999)

American Beauty (1999)

“I think it's pure emotional terrain for everyone,” says Spacey of the film that got him his second Oscar.

On working with Sam Mendes he admits: “At first I was anxious. As an actor you're always nervous as to what a director will do.

“But we saw eye to eye immediately and he was never afraid to go for broke. He wanted the tone of the movie absolutely consistent in style, content and approach and that's what theatre teaches.”

Slick Spacey? He’s pretty much a mess emotionally and physically throughout. Awesome.

Page 11 of 21
Page 11 of 21
Pay It Forward (2000)

Pay It Forward (2000)

Says Spacey: “I wanted to bring a teacher to life who is similar to the teachers I had, who had a kind of wry sense of humor, who were self-deprecating, who prodded and nudged you in gentle ways, rather than force you to stand at the back of the room or go to detention.”

He played opposite rising star Haley Joel Osment and Helen Hunt in this gentle dramedy about a young boy who tries to improve the world after his teacher helps him out.

Slick Spacey? Not sure you’d call chinos and a polo slick…

Page 12 of 21
Page 12 of 21
K-PAX (2001)

K-PAX (2001)

Is he an alien? Is he a nutjob? Spacey goes all… spacey as Prot, who claims to be originally from another planet. He’s also a patient at a mental hospital. Enter doctor Mark Powell (Jeff Bridges), who attempts to help Prot see the truth – only to question the truth himself.

Another role switcheroo for Spacey, who was originally signed to play the psychiatrist to Will Smith’s Prot. When Smith departed, Spacey jumped into the role.

Slick Spacey? Shades are the slickest thing around, especially when they’re being worn by Mr Kevin Spacey.

Page 13 of 21
Page 13 of 21
The Shipping News (2001)

The Shipping News (2001)

“Movies are strange experiences,” Spacey muses. “You never ever, ever, ever, ever get to play the whole part — you play little bits, little snippets, but you never get to play the whole thing like you do in the theatre.”

A subdued, haunting drama, this effort from Lasse Hallström casts Spacey as a journalist who returns to his family’s fishing town home in order to rebuild his life.

Slick Spacey? Just slickers here.

Page 14 of 21
Page 14 of 21
Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002)

Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002)

A canny cameo in Mike Myers’ megabucks threequel proved Spacey could poke fun at himself and showed off his comedy capabilities.

He pitches up over the flick’s opening credits as Dr. Evil, clutching a hairless cat and gurning for all his worth. Annoyingly, Danny DeVito nearly steals the entire show with his genius, foul-mouthed Mini Me. Still pretty amazing stuff.

Slick Spacey? Just about, after a quick go over with the turtle wax.

Page 15 of 21
Page 15 of 21
The Life Of David Gale (2003)

The Life Of David Gale (2003)

From the ridiculous to the sublime, Spacey plays the titular David, on death row accused of killing an activist.

“I just thought it was a pretty amazing story,” Spacey says. “I thought that within it explored and improved a lot of ideas that were interesting and provocative and difficult to grapple with. It gave me an opportunity to sort of explore the things I haven't really had a whole lot of a chance to explore in film on certain levels.”

Slick Spacey? He’s on death row; threads probably aren’t exactly a priority.

Page 16 of 21
Page 16 of 21
Beyond The Sea (2004)

Beyond The Sea (2004)

“I did some of the stuff live,” Spacey says of his turn as crooner Bobby Darin. “The first ‘Mack’ is live. It’s not hard for me at all. I’ve always been very good at looping. I won’t leave a looping stage until it’s exact, until I know that that’s going to look at least like I actually said that.”

He also directed this, his sophomore directing gig and his first time behind the camera in almost a decade.

Slick Spacey? Any slicker and he’d slide right off the stage.

Page 17 of 21
Page 17 of 21
Superman Returns (2006)

Superman Returns (2006)

Spacey re-teams with Bryan Singer to bring Lex Luthor smarming into the new millennium. It’s a role that had been a long time coming – Spacey met with Tim Burton a whole 11 years previously when Burton was on board as director.

“I can’t say that Superman had a great influence on me as an artist,” Spacey purrs, “but it was great fun. I knew going into this project with Bryan that he and the writers really have an enormous respect for the genre and for the fan base for the Donner films.”

Slick Spacey? More baldness, but DANG look at that boat!

Page 18 of 21
Page 18 of 21
The Men Who Stare At Goats (2009)

The Men Who Stare At Goats (2009)

Spacey steals the show as a mean-spirited, credit-poaching super-soldier who may or may not have psychic abilities.

Just don’t call Larry Hooper a villain. “In my experience in film where I have played characters on the darker side or have been characterized as villainous or evil,” says Spacey, “I always just go, ‘Well, it’s lazy because people aren’t that way. People do good things and they do bad things.'”

Slick Spacey? We’re digging the goatee. Not sure about the army threads, though.

Page 19 of 21
Page 19 of 21
Moon (2009)

Moon (2009)

“I needed Kevin Spacey,” says director Duncan Jones. “And I needed him because of HAL. Everyone is going to think of HAL when they see Gerty. And you think we’re going to tell the same story, [but] we take you somewhere else and that’s what his voice did for us.”

Spacey plays the computerised voice of a flicky, expressive emoticon, lending his larynx to Sam Rockwell’s spaceship. It’s dry, creepy and marvellous.

Slick Spacey? He’s a disembodied voice. But that spaceship’s pretty natty.

Page 20 of 21
Page 20 of 21
Shrink (2010)

Shrink (2010)

Spacey plays top LA psychologist Henry Carter, who turns to pot after a personal tragedy. Soon he starts to question his ability to look after his patients.

So was it tough being in a film that pivots mostly on two characters talking? “As compared to? Explosions, and cars flying through the air?” laughs Spacey. “I think it's an actor's dream, and I also think it's an audience's dream; there's nothing quite like being able to go to a play or the cinema and watch people exchange as human beings, I think.”

Slick Spacey? Pretty shabby if we’re being honest. Shabby chic?

Page 21 of 21
Page 21 of 21
Joshua Winning
Social Links Navigation

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.  

See more Movies Features
Read more
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy trailer
Good news Mindhunter and Monster fans, a new crime series based on real events is coming to streaming, and it’s first trailer is positively horrifying
Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride
The 32 greatest action movie quotes of all time
Tom Holland in The Devil All the Time
The 25 best Netflix thrillers to watch right now
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and David Corenswet as Superman
Lex Luthor actor Nicholas Hoult says it wasn't "about trying to do something different" with his iconic Superman villain: "It's nice that they've got such legacy"
Dexter: Resurrection
Dexter: Resurrection star David Dastmalchian says it’s an "honor" to play eccentric villain roles like Mr. 3 in Netflix's live-action One Piece: "They [all] inhabit me differently"
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in Superman
James Gunn says Superman's most shocking death was originally even darker: "Lex looks down and sees the blood is about to get on his shoes"
Latest in Sci-Fi Movies
A facehugger on a human during the movie, Alien Romulus.
Alien: Romulus director says the sequel script is done, but a "new filmmaker" will take the reigns as he steps back to produce alongside Ridley Scott: "We just want to find a director that really wants to go for the jugular"
Celia Imrie as Brave Five in The Phantom Menace
Star Wars' only female starfighter pilot in The Phantom Menace says she was "told off" by George Lucas for wearing lipstick
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo star Alden Ehrenreich hasn't completely ruled out a Star Wars return, but it sounds like it would take a lot to convince him: "It would have to really, really be the right version of it"
Ice Cube stares intensely at a computer monitor in War of the Worlds
War of the Worlds producer defends the Ice Cube-led movie despite being one of the worst reviewed films of all time: "We made a really good movie for the money we had"
Jacob Elordi as the monster in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein
Frankenstein review: "A classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation"
Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott turned down $20 million to make Terminator 3: "I couldn't do it. It's not my thing"
Latest in Features
Word Play screenshot of a typical match in the roguelike spelling game
Word Play is a spelling roguelike that feels like the final boss of Wordle and it made me feel like an angry genius
A Meta Quest 3 headset next to two pairs of wireless earbuds
Using Bluetooth earbuds with the Meta Quest 3 still sucks, but here's why that isn't a dealbreaker
Roy Scheider as Martin Brody in Jaws
Jaws may be 50 years old, but Steven Spielberg's shark thriller is still a blockbuster in a league of its own
Hollow Knight Silksong
2 hours in, and Hollow Knight Silksong is already making me feel like I'm playing Dark Souls for the first time again
Elden Ring Nightreign screenshot of two players interacting
I love Elden Ring Nightreign but I'm not sure if it's good for my mental health
David Corenswet as Superman kneels by a broken robot in the new Superman movie.
Superman, Fantastic Four, and the rest of 2025's big superhero stories are bringing the death of cynicism and the rebirth of sincerity
  1. The Vantage box on a white wooden surface, against a plain wall
    1
    This enormous exploration board game won't be for everyone, but it's a masterclass in narrative and sandbox gameplay
  2. 2
    Hollow Knight Silksong review in progress: "Worth the wait and then some, this isn't just more Hollow Knight but an evolved, spindly beast all its own – even if it's fiddly at times"
  3. 3
    Cronos: The New Dawn review: "An unabashed mash-up of survival horror greatest hits, from Dead Space to Silent Hill, with plenty of its own gory ideas"
  4. 4
    This gorgeously weird monster board game warms my Halloween-loving heart, and it's a delight
  5. 5
    Lost Soul Aside review: "We (don't) have Final Fantasy Versus 13 at home"
  1. Vera Farmiga as 'Lorraine' in The Conjuring: Last Rites
    1
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  2. 2
    Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle review: "Roars past Mugen Train as Demon Slayer's best adventure yet"
  3. 3
    The Long Walk review: "One of the best Stephen King adaptations ever made"
  4. 4
    Frankenstein review: "A classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation"
  5. 5
    Weapons review: "A twisted fairytale that bests Barbarian"
  1. Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, Luis Guzman as Gomez Addams, and Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams in Wednesday season 2 part 2
    1
    Wednesday season 2 part 2 review: "Ortega shines, but it's a zombie who steals the entire show"
  2. 2
    Peacemaker season 2 review: "Darker and sadder than the first year, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids."
  3. 3
    Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: "Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots"
  4. 4
    Alien: Earth review: "Arguably the franchise's strongest outing since James Cameron's Aliens"
  5. 5
    King of the Hill season 14 review: "Hank Hill himself has evolved into a much more open and accepting person"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...