Gerard James "Gerry" Butler (born November 13, 1969) is a Scottish actor and singer.
Gerard Butler | |
|---|---|
 Butler in 2001 | |
| Born | Gerard James Butler |
| Other names | Gerry Butler |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
Early life
Born in Glasgow, Scotland to Margaret and Edward Butler, Gerard is the youngest of three children. He spent the first few years of his life in Montreal, Canada before returning to Paisley, Scotland after his parents' separation. He grew up with his mother, who remarried a few years later. He had no contact with his father until age 16. He studied law at Glasgow University, where he served as President of the school's Law Society, and worked as a trainee solicitor after graduation.[1]
Career
His first acting roles were in the stage plays Coriolanus and Trainspotting [2], after which he landed his first film role in Mrs. Brown (1997). That same year he appeared in Tomorrow Never Dies, with his first major role being the title character in Dracula 2000 (2000). The movie Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) in which Butler starred opposite Angelina Jolie was one that put him on the map, but his breakthrough came when he played the title role of Attila in the United States television serial Attila (TV miniseries) (2001). He also appeared in the United Kingdom television serial The Jury.
He began taking formal singing lessons before he was even cast for the title role in Joel Schumacher's film rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, training for hours a day from January of 2003 to June of 2004. He became very close to his co-star Emmy Rossum, whom he sees as a little sister.
While filming the movie Mrs. Brown in Scotland with Dame Judi Dench and Billy Connolly, he was enjoying a picnic with his mother near the River Tay when they heard the shouts of a young boy who had been swimming with a friend who was in trouble. Butler jumped into the river and consequently saved the young boy from drowning. He received a "Certificate of Bravery" from the Royal Humane Society. He felt he only did what anyone in the situation would have done.
Butler will soon be seen in the upcoming Warner Bros. feature 300, an adaptation of the Frank Miller graphic novel (also called 300) based on the heroism of 300 elite Spartan warriors at the ancient battle of Thermopylae in Greece where he portrays the Spartan King Leonidas. Filming took place from October 2005 - January 2006 in Montreal. "300" is due out in theaters, and on IMAX, in the US on March 9, 2007.
In 2005, rumours surfaced that he was to play James Bond in Casino Royale but the role later went to fellow British actor, Daniel Craig.
Trivia
- Butler has grey-green eyes that often appear blue on-screen.
- He prefers to be called "Gerry" rather than "Gerard" (IPA pronunciation: ['dʒɛɹ.ɜːd] ; not [dʒɛɹ'ɑːd]).
- Butler's home base is in London, although he does have a home in New York City.
- Gerard Butler is currently single
- Has a pug puppy named Lolita, whom he adopted.
- Joked that he prefers the masked side of his face to the normal side after performing in Phantom of the Opera
HE IS THE HOTTEST ON EARTH!
Partial filmography
- Priest (2008)
- PS, I Love You (2007)
- Therese Raquin (2007)
- Butterfly on a Wheel (2007)
- 300 (2007)
- Beowulf and Grendel (2006)
- The Game of Their Lives aka "The Miracle Match" (2005)
- The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
- Dear Frankie (2004)
- Timeline (2003)
- Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
- Reign of Fire (Movie) (2002)
- Shooters (2002)
- Dracula 2000 (2000)