But then again, even a blood-sucking demon has to come from somewhere.

"Spike" is said vampire on the cult hit "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He is played by James Marsters, a Modesto native.

Marsters has been sinking his teeth into the role since the show's 1997-98 season. As his first public appearance back in Modesto, Marsters will emcee the State Theatre's 65th anniversary party Saturday. He'll read "The Night Before Christmas" and be available to sign autographs after the show.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Marsters in a phone interview from the "Buffy" set in Los Angeles. "Modesto has always been good to me. It was a great place to grow up."

Marsters' TV alter ego is a real baddie, nicknamed because of his penchant for torturing victims with railroad spikes. His character sports an English accent, trademark bleached- blond hair and a black leather trench coat.

In real-life, the L.A.-based actor isn't nearly as menacing. The Davis High School graduate - who didn't want his age listed - began his acting career as Eeyore in a fourth-grade production of "Winnie the Pooh." He hasn't stopped acting since.

After high school, Marsters went to the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, then the acclaimed Julliard in New York. He left before graduating to work in theater. Before his break on "Buffy," he worked on stage in New York, Chicago and Seattle.

Marsters decided to go to Hollywood to make a little money before retreating again to the theater. But shortly after moving to L.A. in 1997, he auditioned for the "Buffy" role. It was an opportunity he couldn't resist.

Originally, the role was supposed to be a three- to five-episode guest spot with him getting killed off in the end. But Spike stuck around and his presence has grown considerably. Now Marsters' name appears in the opening credits alongside the series' stars like Sarah Michelle Gellar.

"It is the fantasy of every unemployed actor that when they get a guest spot (the producers) will make you a regular," he said.

Marsters enjoys his character because of Spike's unabashed delight in being evil. Spike and his former partner-in-crime Drusilla (Juliet Landau) have been called the vampire world's Sid and Nancy.

They were made and mentored by Angel (David Boreanaz), the vampire with a soul who now has his own spinoff show. The two made their first appearance on the show's "School Hard" episode when they rolled into town by running over Sunnydale's "Welcome" sign.

Despite the long hours - 12- to 20-hour days, five days a week - Marsters said filming "Buffy" is a pleasure.

"In college they told me I'd run into a bunch of whiny people (in L.A.)," he said, "but I've been fortunate. There are no spoiled stars around here. Sarah is a complete professional and a wonderful person. People are so happy to come to work each day and are proud of the work they do."

Playing Spike also has earned him considerable recognition among fans, including many teen-age girls. Marsters has eight dedicated fan clubs on Yahoo! and at least 500 sites pop up when you search his name. They have names like "The James Marsters Fan Club," "Spiked and Skewered" and "Spikettes." His official Web site is www.james-marsters.com.

Organizers at the State have already been contacted by fans dying to meet the bad-boy heartthrob.

"The word has gotten out without a lot of publicity," said Liane Davidson, State Executive Director and Marsters' former wife. "We have teen-age girls and their mothers buying tickets."

For Marsters, coming back to Modesto is an opportunity to support a cause close to his heart - local theater. "I feel very passionately about the State Theatre. What will be coming to the State in the future will be world-class theater."

As far as Marsters' future on "Buffy," he said he will stay on until at least next season when series creator Joss Whedon leaves. After that, he hopes to go back to theater. Down the line he also wants to produce and star in a movie of Shakespeare's "MacBeth." Then he'll get into directing.

"I'm very ambitious," he said. "I want everything. Oscars, Tonys - everything."