"It is an honour for me to have been invited to follow such illustrious names and take up this role at Oxford," Kevin Spacey said after accepting the appointment.
"The university is steeped in tradition and has a great heritage in the arts and I look forward to working with the students and staff," he said.
Born in 1959 in South Orange, New Jersey, USA, Spacey was appointed as the Artistic Director of The Old Vic Theatre Company in London in 2003, where he directed its inaugural production 'Cloaca'.
Subsequently he has appeared in 'National Anthems', 'The Philadelphia Story', 'Richard II', 'A Moon for the Misbegotten' and 'Speed-the-Plow'.
His previous theatre roles include 'The Iceman Cometh', 'Lost in Yonkers', 'Long Days Journey into Night' and 'The Seagull'.
His screen credits include 'Superman Returns', 'Beyond the Sea', 'The Usual Suspects', 'American Beauty', 'LA Confidential' and 'Recount'.
The Chair of Contemporary Theatre, founded through a grant from the Mackintosh Foundation at St Catherine's College, aims to promote interest in, and the study and practice of, contemporary theatre.
The Visiting Professorship has previously been held by actors, writers, directors, and producers including Stephen Sondheim, Alan Ayckbourn, Richard Eyre, Diana Rigg and Sir Tim Rice.
