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Oklahoma-born James Marsden first caught audience's attention with a few short stints on television before taking the big leap to major film stardom. With his strong, appealing boy-next-door looks, Marsden is one of the most promising of the current crop of up and coming young leading men currently earning their way in Hollywood.
   Following a brief period at Oklahoma State University, Marsden quickly dropped out of school to pursue his acting career in Los Angeles. Marsden's early career saw him modeling for Versace as well as a brief part on Party of Five as the original Griffin (played ever since by Jeremy London). But it was his role on the ABC series Second Noah that earned him scores of young female fans, and Marsden saw his stock rise as a burgeoning teen heartthrob.
   The series did not last very long, and the young actor found himself missing out on several high-profile films (Starship Troopers and 54) before landing the leading male role in the directing debut of The X-Files director David Nutter, Disturbing Behavior. Marsden played the new kid in a strange town where adults brainwashed their children into being perfect. Also starring Katie Holmes, Disturbing Behavior carried high hopes with it as it entered -- and ultimately crashed -- at the box office.
Reasons for the film's failure have ranged from studio tampering with the director's final edit (which has been restored on DVD) to an oversaturation of teen horror films in the marketplace. Either way, Marsden managed to walk away from the project relatively unharmed. Following a strong turn as a psychotic college student in the otherwise forgettable Gossip, Marsden finally hit it big with his role in Bryan Singer's highly anticipated summer blockbuster, X-Men, based on the popular comic book.
   Marsden starred as Scott Summers, better known as Cyclops, a young man with deadly, piercing vision. He was one of a small band of genetic mutants, human beings with awesome, if sometimes harmful, powers, who struggle for survival and dignity in a world that fails to understand them. X-Men benefited from a very large comic fan base, and scored one of the biggest openings of 2000. With a sleek look, an outstanding cast, and a very relatable message about accepting others for who they are, X-Men went on to become one of the most successful films of the summer.
X-Men provided a major career boost for all involved, including Marsden. Thanks to a gross north of $150 million, a sequel has already been guaranteed, with most of the original cast returning. With that surefire hit in the works, Marsden has turned his attention to a variety of smaller projects including one in which he will play the founder of Greenpeace. Benefiting from a definite acting talent to support his matinee idol looks, James Marsden should be lighting up screens for many years to come.

Next up for James Marsden -- Marsden stars with Mena Suvari and Marley Shelton in Sugar and Spice, in which a teenager gets pregnant by the school quarterback and ultimately turns to a life of crime in order to sustain the lifestyle she desires. Marsden then takes the lead in Ocean Warrior, a film about Paul Watson, the founder of Greenpeace.
Born: September 18, 1973

Campfire Tales (1996)
Public Enemies (1996)
Disturbing Behavior (1998)
Gossip (2000)
X-Men (2000)
Sugar and Spice (2001)
Ocean Warrior (2001)