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Gerard Butler Profile |
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Birth Date: November 13, 1969
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Birth Place: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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Birth Name: Gerard James Butler
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Height: 6'2"
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Gerard Butler Wallpapers |
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Biography |
Gerard James Butler (born November 13, 1969) is a Scottish
actor.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland to Margaret and Edward Butler
(both having mainly Irish ancestry), Gerard is the youngest
of three children. He spent the first few years of his life
in Montreal 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 he was age 16. He studied law at Glasgow
University, where he served as President of the school's Law
Society, and worked as a solicitor after graduation. He
spent the majority of his time as a lawyer feeling depressed
and drinking. After being fired from his job he began
acting. He has since sobered up and has not touched a drop
of alcohol for over 8 years.
His early film roles included Tomorrow Never Dies (1997),
with his first major role being the title character in
Dracula 2000 (2000). His breakthrough came when he played
the title role in the U.S. mini-series Attila the Hun. He
also appeared in the U.K. miniseries The Jury.
Luckily, he already knew a bit about singing before signing
on for the title role in Joel Schumacher's film rendition of
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. While
working as a lawyer, he sang with a rock band called Speed.
But he began taking formal singing lessons before he was
even cast as the Phantom, training for hours a day from
January of 2003 to June of 2004.
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.
He prefers to be called "Gerry" rather than "Gerard,"
(pronounced as GER-ard (rhymes with "Jerad"); not Ger-ARD)
Gerry's home base is in London, although he does spend time
in Los Angeles and New York City.
Among Butler's film credits are Mrs. Brown, The Cherry
Orchard, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,
Timeline, Reign of Fire, and The Phantom of the Opera, in
which he sings the title role. He played the eponymous
character in 2001 telemovie Attila. Recent roles include
Dear Frankie, The Game of Their Lives and Beowulf & Grendel.
Beowulf & Grendel will have its world premiere at the
Toronto International Film Fesitval on September 14, 2005.
Butler recently completed filming "300," an adaptation of
the Frank Miller graphic novel based on the heroism of 300
elite Spartan warriors at the ancient battle of Thermopylae
in Greece where he portrays Spartan King Leonidis. Filming
began took place from October 2005 - January 2006 in
Montreal.
He is currently filming Butterfly on a Wheel, co-starring
alongside Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello, in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada. |
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Other
Information |
Has dark brown/black hair.
Born in Glasgow but raised primarily in Paisley, Scotland.
Scottish, but of Irish decent.
First stage role was in Coriolanus.
First movie role was in Mrs. Brown (1997).
Poked in the eye with a wooden stake during rehearsals for
the play Coriolanus.
On the first day of shooting his film debut in Mrs. Brown
(1997) he had to bound naked into a freezing sea and as a
result developed hypothermia.
While filming Mrs. Brown (1997), saved a young boy from
drowning in the river Tay and recieved a "Certificate Of
Bravery" from The Royal Humane Society.
Graduated from Glasgow University with a law degree
Did not see his father from the age of 2 until he turned 16.
His eyes are grey/green in color but often appear blue on
screen.
Rumored to be the next James Bond (after Pierce Brosnan).
[April 2001]
Was confirmed for a role in Mindhunters (2004), but chose to
drop out of it because of his prior commitment to Timeline
(2003). The filming schedules of the two films overlapped.
Jonny Lee Miller with whom Butler co-starred in Dracula 2000
(2000) stepped in to take his Mindhunter role.
Was a presenter at the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards with
fellow Scotsman Billy Boyd.
Was at one time the lead singer for a Scottish rock band
named Speed, although music eventually became his second
love after acting.
Has done 5 films in which his character's name is in the
title: Dracula 2000 (2000), Attila (2001/I) (TV), The
Phantom of the Opera (2004), Beowulf & Grendel (2005), and
_Burns (2006)_ .
Cried whilst talking about the Phantom's loneliness to The
Phantom of the Opera (2004) director Joel Schumacher.
Had the "rock and roll" voice that Andrew Lloyd Webber
always wanted to play the Phantom.
Jokes about preferring the mask side of his face to the
regular side of his face.
Sung in a rock band whilst training to be a lawyer.
He has quickly gained a reputation as one of the nicest
actors around, as he always takes time to socialize with
fans and hangs out with crew members as much as co-stars on
film sets.
When he auditioned for the role of Aslan the Lion in the
Walden Media/Disney production of The Lion, The Witch, and
the Wardrobe, he asked, "this is going to be like the BBC
puppet Aslan, right? Because if so I'm leaving right now."
He has a law degree from Glasgow University, but gave up on
this career choice after being fired from a law firm just
one week before he was qualified to practice law.
Shares his birthday with Steve Zahn, Jimmy Kimmel, and Joe
Mantegna.
Was chosen as the most attractive man of 2005 by Hello!
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decades. Add to that a man with heart, who is humble,
caring and not full of himself and you get the whole package.
Gerry you deserve it all!!!
Debbie