Calgary Expo: Former vampire, alien James Marsters knows both sides of celebrity encounter

Actor James Marsters speaks with fans at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto Friday October 22, 2021. (Joshua Freeman /CP24)

Some years ago, during Ye Olde Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, a buddy and his wife drove down from That Other Place in Alberta to blitz the celebrity guest hall for photos with their hero-folk.

Big on their list was James Marsters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, etc.

His line was mighty but they got him.

Marsters placed an arm familiarly around each of their shoulders, hauling them both in close.

They might, in fact, have been sitting on his knees. (Expo is Geek Christmas.)

He gave the Spike smirk straight off the show and lobbed a nod to the human behind the camera.

Click.

If he was having a grand time with this, it’s because they were.

Marsters knows how to convention, you understand.

“I feel I’m in the position to give someone a smile and a little lift in their day,” Marsters says as he readies for his next stretch of days in Cowtown for Expo.

“But I’m also positioned to give someone a down experience if I’m not really present for them.”

It’s at least his third visit to the local show but he suspects the number to be four or five.

Toss zeroes on the back end of that and you get something closer to his total attendance at various shows.

And not all of them for being Spike or Brainiac.

“I started going to conventions back when I was 13 and I used to dress as Spock,” Marsters says.

“I’m a fanboy.

“At a convention, everyone’s beautiful, everyone’s safe and you can be whatever you want to be, and that’s kind of as close to heaven as I’ve found.”

Now, he hopes to leave those coming to see him with the same thing he once sought from others.

“There are actors or singers or politicians even that I’ve followed and feel like I’ve gotten to know through their work,” Marsters says.

“If I’m honest, I often fantasize about becoming best friends with that person.

“I know probably if I met them that wouldn’t happen, but I want them to see me and I want to see them. I want to form a human connection to the extent possible in the time we have together.”

Marsters’ll be at the BMO Centre on Saturday and Sunday.

He has photo ops scheduled for Saturday and Sunday and a panel scheduled for Sunday.

He’s one of dozens of guests of the show, which runs Thursday through Sunday.

“These creators and celebrity guests show up because they value the fans. They want to connect, exchange stories and have fun,” said Andrew Moyes, Fan Expo HQ vice-president.

“The event is all about community, and that exchange is a big part of that—once-in-a-lifetime chances to meet our heroes, right here in Calgary.”

More information about the show can be found at fanexpohq.com/calgaryexpo/.