Victoria Spader is an American set designer who is best known as the first wife of actor James Spader. The couple married in 1987 and had two sons, Sebastian and Elijah Spader, before divorcing in 2004.
Victoria, who is also known as Victoria Kheel, worked behind the scenes in the film industry. Unlike her former husband, she has kept a low public profile, especially since their divorce.
Victoria Spader’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Victoria Kheel |
| Also known as | Victoria Spader, Victoria Kheel Spader |
| Reported date of birth | June 1, 1959 |
| Reported birthplace | Rochester, New York, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Set designer / set decorator |
| Known for | Being James Spader’s first wife |
| Parents | Reported as Lee Kheel and Julian Kheel |
| Former husband | James Spader |
| Marriage | 1987–2004 |
| Children | Sebastian Spader and Elijah Spader |
| Reported height | 5 ft 4 in |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Early Life and Parents
Victoria Spader was reportedly born as Victoria Kheel on June 1, 1959, in Rochester, New York. Her birth details are widely reported by biography websites but are not well documented by primary public sources.
Her parents are reported to be Lee Kheel and Julian Kheel. Her mother has been described as an actress, while her father reportedly worked as an audio mixer.
This gave Victoria a family connection to entertainment and production before she started her own work behind the scenes.
There is little reliable public information about her childhood or siblings.
Education
Victoria’s educational background has not been publicly documented in detail.
There is no reliable information available about the schools or colleges she attended or the qualifications she earned.
Victoria Spader’s Career
Victoria Spader worked in the entertainment industry as a set designer and set decorator.
She is associated with the 1988 film Jack’s Back. The movie starred James Spader and was written and directed by Rowdy Herrington.
Victoria was already working in the industry around the period when she and James were building their lives together.
Unlike James, she worked mainly behind the camera. Public information about her complete list of film credits and later professional work is limited.
Some online profiles describe Victoria as an actress, but the available information mainly identifies her with set and production work rather than acting.
How Did Victoria Meet James Spader?
Victoria Spader reportedly met James Spader during the 1980s at a yoga studio.
At the time, James was still trying to establish himself as an actor and reportedly taught yoga as one of the jobs he used to support himself.
The two began a relationship and eventually married in 1987.
Details about their exact first meeting and the length of their relationship before marriage have not been widely documented.
Victoria and James Spader’s Marriage

Victoria Spader and James were married for about 17 years.
During their marriage, they became parents to two sons. Their first child, Sebastian Spader, was born in 1989. Their second son, Elijah Spader, followed in 1992.
Victoria also appeared with James at public events during their marriage. They were photographed together at the Stargate premiere at Mann’s Chinese Theatre in 1994.
James reportedly filed for divorce in April 2003. Their divorce was completed in 2004.
The former couple did not publicly explain the specific reason their marriage ended.
Who Is James Spader?
James Spader is an American actor known for a long career in film and television.
His major film roles include Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Stargate and Secretary. He later became well known on television for playing attorney Alan Shore in The Practice and Boston Legal.
He also played Raymond Reddington in the NBC crime series The Blacklist. The series ran from 2013 to 2023.
James also provided the performance and voice for Ultron in Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.
His television work has earned him multiple Primetime Emmy Awards.
Victoria was married to James before some of the best-known roles of his later career.
Their Older Son, Sebastian Spader
Victoria and James welcomed their first son, Sebastian Spader, in 1989.
Sebastian attended Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles and later studied at New York University.
He initially entered the entertainment industry and worked in camera and editorial departments. James has said that his eldest son also interned on one of his television productions.
Sebastian later worked as a producer before changing careers and entering real estate in the Los Angeles area.
Photography is another major interest for him. He published a photography book titled Wondering.
In a 2016 interview, Sebastian explained that he had spent about four years taking photographs without initially planning to publish them. After reviewing the images, he noticed common themes and arranged them into a book.
He has also traveled internationally, including visits to Spain, Portugal and Mongolia.
Their Younger Son, Elijah Spader
Victoria Spader and James’s second son, Elijah Spader, was born in 1992.
As a child, Elijah participated in school plays. James said in a 2009 interview that his son was good at performing.
Elijah later studied at L.A. Film School from 2019 to 2021.
Rather than focusing mainly on acting, he moved into sound production. His professional experience includes work as a mix technician and mix engineer.
According to his reported professional profile, he began working as a mix technician at Sony Pictures Entertainment in November 2019.
His credits include work on Barry and The Blacklist. In July 2023, Elijah shared that he had worked on the final seasons of his father’s series.
Elijah is also a guitarist and creates art, including clay characters.
He previously hosted a podcast called The Dumbest Guys in the Room with Mirell Cohen. The project ended in 2017.
Elijah Spader’s Marriage
Elijah married his longtime partner, Samantha Ladenheim, on June 30, 2024.
Their wedding took place in Tuscany, Italy.
The couple has also traveled together to places including Hawaii and Peru.
Does Victoria Spader Have Other Children?
Victoria Spader has two publicly known children, Sebastian and Elijah.
James Spader has a third son, Nathaneal Spader, but Victoria is not his mother.
James welcomed Nathaneal in 2008 with his longtime partner Leslie Stefanson. Nathaneal is therefore the paternal half-brother of Sebastian and Elijah.
James Spader’s Relationship With Leslie Stefanson
After his marriage to Victoria ended, James continued his relationship with actress and sculptor Leslie Stefanson.
They reportedly began dating in 2002 and had worked together on the movie Alien Hunter.
Their son Nathaneal was born in 2008.
Leslie later moved away from acting and focused on her work as an artist and sculptor.
What Happened to Victoria Spader After the Divorce?
Victoria largely moved away from public attention following her divorce from James.
There have been few widely reported interviews, appearances, or major public updates about her life.
Her current profession, residence, and relationship status are not reliably documented in the available information.
There is also no reliable evidence that she remarried after her divorce from James Spader.
Victoria Spader’s Net Worth
Victoria Spader’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some celebrity biography websites estimate that she is worth more than $2 million and connect that figure to her work as a set designer. However, there is no reliable financial documentation supporting this estimate.
The $2 million figure should therefore be treated as an online estimate rather than a confirmed amount.
Is Victoria Spader on Social Media?
Victoria does not appear to maintain a widely known verified public social media presence.
Photos of her can be found on social platforms and entertainment websites, but this does not mean the accounts posting those images belong to her.
Her limited social media presence is consistent with the private life she has maintained since her divorce.
Facts About Victoria Spader
- Her birth name is reported as Victoria Kheel.
- She is also known as Victoria Spader and Victoria Kheel Spader.
- She reportedly was born on June 1, 1959.
- Rochester, New York, is reported as her birthplace.
- Her parents are reported as Lee Kheel and Julian Kheel.
- She worked behind the scenes in the film industry.
- She is associated with the film Jack’s Back.
- Victoria married James Spader in 1987.
- They have two sons, Sebastian and Elijah.
- Sebastian was born in 1989.
- Elijah was born in 1992.
- James filed for divorce in 2003.
- Their divorce was completed in 2004.
- The reason for their divorce has not been publicly confirmed.
- Sebastian has worked in film production, photography and real estate.
- Elijah works in sound production and has credits including The Blacklist.
- Elijah married Samantha Ladenheim in Italy in 2024.
- Victoria has kept much of her life private since her divorce.
- Her personal net worth is not reliably known.
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