 William the Bloody or "Spike" (as dubbed for his propensity for
torturing victims with railroad spikes) was originally a pure villain
introduced on Buffrialth paramour, Drusilla. Originally a
timid Victorian poet, William was turned by Dru in 1880. As a vampire, he
wreaked havoc and mayhem with Angel's clan throughout Europe. He also has
the notorious distinction of killing two Slayers - one during the Boxer
Rebellion in China and the other in 1977 in New York City.
Spike and Dru came to Sunnydale by way of Prague in search of a way to
restore Dru's frail health. After a brief reunion with Angelus and many
unsuccessful run-ins with Buffy, the couple fled to South America where
they eventually ended their relationship.
Spike returned to Sunnydale where he was essentially rendered harmless at
the hands of the secret, government demon hunting operation known as The
Initiative. Their scientists implanted a chip in his head, which made it
impossible for him to attack humans. In a slow evolution over three seasons, Spike became a
quasi-Scooby member reluctantly helping the good guys because of his love
for Buffy.
Yes, the self-proclaimed "Love's Bitch," who has always been led by his
heart fell in love with the Slayer. Initially refused by Buffy, they
eventually engaged in a dark, sexual relationship, which almost destroyed
them both. Distraught at their break up, Spike attempted to rape Buffy and
though unsuccessful, he was devastated by his actions. Spike then sought out to become what he once was and through a series of hellish
trials in Africa, he earned a soul.
Spike returned to Sunnydale with an extreme bout of insanity due to the
guilt of his demonic history. Slowly, he regained his sanity and earned
Buffy's forgiveness as well as a place at her side fighting The
First Evil. In an action of ultimate self-sacrifice, Spike finally
attained redemption as well as his purpose by sacrificing his life to
close the Sunnydale Hellmouth from the armies of The First. Wearing an
amulet provided by Angel, Spike burned to ash at the bottom of a crater -
now the last remains of Sunnydale.
After a heroic death, Spike ends up magically and mysteriously un-dusting via the amulet in Angel's office at Wolfram & Hart. Confused, livid and unstably non-corporeal, Spike is inexplicably bound to the law firm and his nemesis, Angel. After he tries in vain to get to Buffy in Europe, Spike has to settle with staying in LA and taking every available opportunity to irritate and challenge Angel. Soon after appearing, Spike confides to Fred that he is slipping into hell and seeks her help in stopping the accelerating process. It ends up that a vicious W&H spirit, named Pavayne, is actually trying to torture Spike. Fred and the gang thwart the ghoul and Spike remains non-corporeal, lurking the halls of the law firm, until another mail delivery suddenly bestows his corporeal status. Now on a level playing field with Angel, the two vampires engage in their age-old rivalry and compete for the Shanshu prophecy by racing to claim the Cup of Perpetual Torment. After a vicious battle, Angel and Spike’s incredibly brutal, twisted and complicated relationship is further revealed. After a lifetime of coming second to Angel, Spike bests Angel in battle and claims the Cup only to find it was a Sr. Partner ruse.
Both mollified and shaken to the core, Spike then meets Lindsey, going by the name of Doyle. The former lawyer uses Spike to set-up Angel for a huge confrontation that ultimately fails. Instead, the two souled vamps are faced with trying to keep Fred from dying when an Old One known as Illyria possesses her. They form an uneasy partnership and put aside their issues to find her cure - a quest that proves to be impossible. Devastated by the loss of Fred, they return to the law firm forever changed and they embark on a new path, as uneasy allies in the fight against the Senior Partners. Spike also takes the role of testing Illyria's power and abilities in this world - forging an interesting relationship with the out of place god. Meanhile, Angel & Spike make a last pit stop to Italy where they bicker and provoke one another as they both seek Buffy, only to find she has moved on with a demon, known as The Immortal, who has vexed their every turn for the past century. They call a truce over Buffy's heart and return home to LA to prepare for the final, brutal stand against The Circle of the Black Thorn. Spike is the first to volunteer to fight with Angel against the Partners, again accepting the mantle of hero in the battle against evil. He does his part by taking out the Fell and then meets Angel, Gunn and Illyria for their brave, last stand against the armies of hell.
James Marsters (Spike)
 James Wesley Marsters was born on August 20th, 1962 in Greenville,
California. His parents raised him and his siblings (a brother and
sister) in nearby Modesto.
A self described "theatre geek," James performed in high school plays and also
studied at Julliard (which he left before graduating), the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and the American Conservatory Theatre. While living in Chicago, he co-founded the New Mercury Theatre Company, which he then moved to a new home in Seattle.
After several years producing, directing and acting in productions there,
James finally decided to give Hollywood (and better wages) a try and
moved to Los Angeles.
Finding work in small parts on various television series, James landed
the role of a lifetime in 1997 as Spike the Vampire during the second
season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His turn as the charming but
gleefully violent boyfriend of vampiress Drusilla (played by Juliet
Landau) made such an impression that Joss Whedon decided to
extend his limited role for the entire season. James only made a single
appearance in season three but was made a series regular in the fourth
season. James then made a single appearance as Spike in the first season
of Angel, but he returned to the series as a full-time cast member for
the series fifth and final season.
Apart from acting, James has a very busy side job fronting the band,
"Ghost of the Robot" for which he sings, plays guitar and writes songs.
When they aren't touring during the off production months, James works on
various independent film projects or extensive Buffy-related
convention appearances. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles,
California.
Filmography:
NOTE:
Current info culminates as of December 2004
For updated Filmography on James refer to imdb.com
- "Angel" (1999/2004) TV Series .... Spike (2003-2004)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds (2003) (VG) (voice) .... Spike
- "Spider-Man: The Animated Series" (2003) TV Series (voice)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002) (VG) (voice) .... Spike
- Chance (2002) .... Simon
- House on Haunted Hill (1999) .... Channel 3 Cameraman
- Winding Roads (1998) .... Billy Johnson
- "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997/2003) TV Series .... Spike (1997-1998, 1999-2003)
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