Anecdotes

Is commonly confused as being the brother of actor Jason Marsden. Although the two are not related, they are actually good friends and their respective wives have been friends since they were six.

An accomplished singer.

He wore lifts for most of his scenes in the X-Men movies, because his character Cyclops is supposed to be 6' 3" compared to a 5' 3" Wolverine. In actuality, Marsden is under 6 feet tall, slightly shorter than Famke Janssen (as his love interest, (Jean Grey) and approximately 4 inches inches shorter than Hugh Jackman (who played Wolverine).

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

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

Third child, son William Luca Costa-Marsden, was born on 14 December 2012. Mother is model Rose Costa.

He starred in two musicals in 2007: Hairspray (2007) and Il était une fois... (2007).

Attended Oklahoma State University

Lost out to Edward Norton for a role in Peur primale (1996).

Turned down the lead role in Studio 54 (1998). Ryan Phillippe later got the role.

Also has two brothers, Jeff and Robbie.

Father, with ex-wife Lisa Linde, of son Jack Holden Marsden, born on February 1, 2001, in Los Angeles, weighing 7 lbs., 14 oz.

Father, with ex-wife Lisa Linde, of daughter Mary James Marsden, born on 10 August 2005.

His ancestry is mostly English and German, with some Scottish, and distant French.

(January 6, 2021) On the Late Late Show with James Corden he announced that he moved to Austin, Texas in 2020.

He has two sisters: Jennifer - age 24 and Elizabeth - age 12, as at 2004. Jennifer lives in Studio City, California and Elizabeth in Manhattan, Kansas.

Graduated from Putnam City North High School (located in Oklahoma City) class of 1991.

He has a father also named James Marsden but with a different middle name.

Considered for the role of Johnny Rico in Starship Troopers (1997).

Wore a class of 1992 high school t-shirt in the movie The 24th Day, but he actually graduated in 1991.

Has worked 4 times with actress Rebecca Romijn: X-Men (2000), X-Men 2 (2003), The Alibi (2006), and X-Men : L'Affrontement final (2006).

Joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity while at Oklahoma State.

Has worked 4 times with Director Bryan Singer: X-Men (2000), X-Men 2 (2003), Superman Returns (2006), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014).

Ex-son-in-law of Dennis Linde.

Marsden's good friend Brian Peck was the best man in his wedding in 2000 to actress Lisa Linde.