James Marsden

While preparing for his role as TV show host Corny Collins in Hairspray, James watched old videos of Frank Sinatra. He says he wanted to model himself in part after Sinatra while portraying this character.

James worked with his X-Men costar Rebecca Romijn again in the movie The Alibi.

Right before shooting a particularly emotional scene for X-Men: The Last Stand, James was talking about his kids with a crew member, and started to tear up, so the tears in the movie are real.

Some of James' favorite movie characters are Luke from Cool Hand Luke, played by Paul Newman, Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones, R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest played by Jack Nicholson and George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life played by Jimmy Stewart.

James' favorite movies are Jaws, The Exorcist, The Godfather and In America.

James has worked with director Bryan Singer on three movies, X-Men, X2: X-Men United, and Superman Returns.

Two weeks after he moved to L.A., James went to an audition for Days of Our Lives, and was offered a long-term contract. He turned it down, but says that being offered that contract gave him a lot of confidence to go out and act in other projects.

James says that he can't stand watching himself act because he finds technical mistakes that he makes every time.

James is a big fan of singer Harry Connick.

While filming Hairspray, James was really nervous because Michelle Pfeiffer and John Travolta were in the movie, and James was a big fan of both of them.

James is mistaken for fellow actor Jason Marsden a lot. Being mistaken for each other has led the two to become friends.

James got the role of Corny Collins in Hairspray when the movie's director, Adam Shankman, saw him singing on an episode of Ally McBeal. Before he saw that episode, James wasn't being considered for the role.

James acted in the plays Bye, Bye Birdie, and Good News while he was in high school.

In 2001, James won the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for "Favorite Supporting Actor - Science Fiction" for his role in X-Men. Originally James Cavaziel was offered the role. James had tried out for the role six times, and when James Cavaziel turned down the part, James got it.

In 1994, James appeared in the movie, No Dessert, Dad, Till You Mow the Lawn, as Tyler Cochran.

In 2007, James and the cast of Hairspray won the award for "Ensemble of the Year" at the Hollywood Film Awards.

James is an accomplished singer. He also enjoys photography. He has said that he would love to direct a movie one day.

James' father is a Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences & Industry at Kansas State University.

James turned down the lead role in the movie, 54. Ryan Phillippe later got the role.

James lost out to Edward Norton for a role in the movie, Primal Fear.

In 1991, while vacationing with his family in Hawaii, James met actor Kirk Cameron and his actress sister Candace Cameron; the Camerons invited Marsden to visit them in L.A. and thus began his career.

James graduated from Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City in 1991. During high school, he was on the football team but didn't play because everyone made the team. He was the smallest person, weighing only 100 pounds.

James attended Oklahoma State University and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He intended to major in broadcast journalism, but quit college after a year.

James has two sisters named Jennifer and Elizabeth, and two brothers named Robbie and Jeff.

James is married to Lisa Linde. They were married on July 22, 2000 and have 2 children. Jack, born in 2001 and Mary, born in 2005.

James' nickname is Bello Jimmy and J.P.

James is 5'10½".

James was convinced by his mother to enroll in a drama class as a high school sophomore. She wanted him to try and overcome his shyness.