Gerard Butler
Acting Born Nov 13, 1969 Paisley, Scotland, UK 143 credits
Biography
Gerard James Butler is a Scottish actor and film producer born on November 13, 1969, in Paisley, Scotland. He was raised in his hometown of Paisley, though he spent a portion of his early childhood in Montreal, Quebec. Born to parents Margaret and Edward Butler, he comes from a family of Irish origin. Before pursuing a career in the performing arts, Butler studied law. He has established a long-standing career in the entertainment industry, accumulating over 100 known credits as an actor. He is recognized for his work across various film and television productions, maintaining a significant presence in international cinema since the mid-1990s.
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Career overview
Gerard Butler transitioned from his legal studies to acting during the mid-1990s. His early career featured minor roles in several notable productions, including the 1997 film Mrs Brown, the James Bond entry Tomorrow Never Dies, and the 1998 film Tale of the Mummy. By the turn of the millennium, he began securing more prominent roles, such as portraying Count Dracula in the 2000 gothic horror film Dracula 2000. In 2001, he took on the title role in the miniseries Attila. His filmography continued to expand in the early 2000s with appearances in Reign of Fire in 2002 and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life in 2003, followed by a starring role in the science fiction film Timeline that same year. In 2004, he played the character of Erik, The Phantom, in the musical adaptation The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Joel Schumacher. Throughout his career, Butler has demonstrated versatility by working across different genres, ranging from historical dramas and action films to musicals. His professional trajectory includes roles in major projects such as the 2006 film 300. As a producer and actor, he remains a consistent figure in the film industry with a substantial body of work spanning several decades.
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Frequent co-stars
Jay Baruchel
5 shared titles
Craig Ferguson
5 shared titles
America Ferrera
5 shared titles
Christopher Mintz-Plasse
5 shared titles
Jonah Hill
4 shared titles
Kristen Wiig
4 shared titles
T.J. Miller
3 shared titles
Kieron Elliott
3 shared titles
Andrew Pleavin
3 shared titles
Morgan Freeman
3 shared titles
Career timeline
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Greenland 2: MigrationGreenland 2: Migration · ProducerIn the Hand of DanteEveryone Is Lying to You for MoneyStreet Smart · Executive Producer
How to Train Your DragonDen of Thieves 2: PanteraDen of Thieves 2: Pantera · ProducerSoaring to Life: The Making of How to Train Your Dragon
Paris Has Fallen · Executive ProducerARK: The Animated SeriesARK: The Animated Series · Executive ProducerThe Night Before Christmas in WonderlandThe Night Before Christmas in Wonderland · Executive Producer
KandaharKandahar · ProducerPlanePlane · ProducerThe Bricklayer · Producer
SherriLast Seen AliveLast Seen Alive · Producer
CopshopCopshop · Producer
La semaine des 4 JulieGreenlandGreenland · ProducerLove Reaches Everywhere
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden WorldAngel Has FallenAngel Has Fallen · ProducerHow to Train Your Dragon: HomecomingThe Vanishing
Hunter KillerHunter Killer · ProducerDen of ThievesDen of Thieves · ProducerPatriot Act with Hasan Minhaj
SteveGeostorm
Gods of EgyptLondon Has FallenLondon Has Fallen · ProducerA Family ManA Family Man · Producer
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertSeptembers of Shiraz · Producer
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonLate Night with Seth MeyersHow to Train Your Dragon 2
Olympus Has FallenOlympus Has Fallen · ProducerMovie 43The FrameDiscovering Mavericks
Playing for KeepsPlaying for Keeps · ProducerChasing MavericksChasing Mavericks · Executive ProducerFinal Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
Machine Gun PreacherMachine Gun Preacher · Executive ProducerDragons: Gift of the Night FuryCoriolanusSaturday Night Live: The Best of '09/'10
How to Train Your DragonThe Bounty HunterLegend of the BoneKnapper Dragon
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenThe Jay Leno ShowLaw Abiding CitizenLaw Abiding Citizen · ProducerThe Ugly Truth
RocknRollaNim's Island
The Graham Norton Show300P.S. I Love YouWrath of GodsButterfly on a Wheel
The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonBeowulf & GrendelThe Game of Their LivesTrailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula
The Phantom of the OperaDear Frankie
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Jimmy Kimmel Live!The Ellen DeGeneres ShowLara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of LifeTimeline
Reign of FireThe JuryHypaSpaceShooters
AttilaAttilaJewel of the SaharaPlease!
Dracula 2000Harrison's Flowers
Lucy Sullivan Is Getting MarriedThe Cherry OrchardOne More Kiss
The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock StarRussell Mulcahy’s Tale of the MummyLittle White LiesFast Food
Leute heuteTomorrow Never DiesAn Unsuitable Job for a WomanMrs Brown
Full filmography
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2027) as Stoick
- Greenland 2: Migration (2026) as John Garrity
- Greenland 2: Migration (2026) Producer
- In the Hand of Dante (2026) as Louie / Pope Bonifacio
- Everyone Is Lying to You for Money (2026) as Self
- Street Smart (2026) Executive Producer
- How to Train Your Dragon (2025) as Stoick
- Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025) as Nicholas 'Big Nick' O'Brien
- Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025) Producer
- Soaring to Life: The Making of How to Train Your Dragon (2025) as Self
- Paris Has Fallen (2024) Executive Producer
- ARK: The Animated Series (2024) as Gaius Marcellus Nerva (voice)
- ARK: The Animated Series (2024) Executive Producer
- The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland (2024) as St. Nick (voice)
- The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland (2024) Executive Producer
- Kandahar (2023) as Tom Harris
- Kandahar (2023) Producer
- Plane (2023) as Brodie Torrance
- Plane (2023) Producer
- The Bricklayer (2023) Producer
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- Last Seen Alive (2022) as Will Spann
- Last Seen Alive (2022) Producer
- Copshop (2021) as Bob Viddick
- Copshop (2021) Producer
- La semaine des 4 Julie (2020) as Self
- Greenland (2020) as John Garrity
- Greenland (2020) Producer
- Love Reaches Everywhere (2020)
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) as Stoick (voice)
- Angel Has Fallen (2019) as Mike Banning
- Angel Has Fallen (2019) Producer
- How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019) as Stoick (voice)
- The Vanishing (2019) as James
- The Vanishing (2019) Producer
- Them That Follow (2019) Producer
- Hunter Killer (2018) as Captain Joe Glass
- Hunter Killer (2018) Producer
- Den of Thieves (2018) as 'Big Nick' O'Brien
- Den of Thieves (2018) Producer
- Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Steve (2017) as Self
- Geostorm (2017) as Jake Lawson
- Gods of Egypt (2016) as Set
- London Has Fallen (2016) as Mike Banning
- London Has Fallen (2016) Producer
- A Family Man (2016) as Dane Jensen
- A Family Man (2016) Producer
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self
- Septembers of Shiraz (2015) Producer
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) as Stoick (voice)
- Olympus Has Fallen (2013) as Mike Banning
- Olympus Has Fallen (2013) Producer
- Movie 43 (2013) as Leprechaun 1 & 2 (segment "Happy Birthday")
- The Frame (2013) as King Leonidas
- Discovering Mavericks (2013) as Self
- Playing for Keeps (2012) as George
- Playing for Keeps (2012) Producer
- Chasing Mavericks (2012) as Frosty Hesson
- Chasing Mavericks (2012) Executive Producer
- Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012) as (archive footage)
- Machine Gun Preacher (2011) as Sam Childers
- Machine Gun Preacher (2011) Executive Producer
- Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (2011) as Stoick the Vast (voice)
- Coriolanus (2011) as Tullus Aufidius
- Saturday Night Live: The Best of '09/'10 (2011)
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010) as Stoick (voice)
- The Bounty Hunter (2010) as Milo Boyd
- Legend of the BoneKnapper Dragon (2010) as Stoick (voice)
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Jay Leno Show (2009) as Self
- Law Abiding Citizen (2009) as Clyde Alexander Shelton
- Law Abiding Citizen (2009) Producer
- The Ugly Truth (2009) as Mike Chadway
- Gamer (2009) as Kable
- Tales of the Black Freighter (2009) as The Mariner (voice)
- Live from Studio Five (2009) as Self
- RocknRolla (2008) as One-Two
- Nim's Island (2008) as Jack Rusoe / Alex Rover
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- 300 (2007) as King Leonidas
- P.S. I Love You (2007) as Gerry
- Wrath of Gods (2007) as Self
- Butterfly on a Wheel (2007) as Neil Randall
- Guilty Hearts (2007) as Peter
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Beowulf & Grendel (2005) as Beowulf
- The Game of Their Lives (2005) as Frank Borghi
- Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula (2005) as Prefect Cassius Chaerea
- The Phantom of the Opera (2004) as The Phantom
- Dear Frankie (2004) as The Stranger
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Mean Tweets
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003) as Terry Sheridan
- Timeline (2003) as Andre Marek
- Reign of Fire (2002) as Creedy
- The Jury (2002) as Johnnie Donne
- HypaSpace (2002) as Self
- Shooters (2002) as Jackie Junior
- Attila (2001) as Attila the Hun
- Attila (2001) as Atila the Hun
- Jewel of the Sahara (2001) as Captain Charles Belamy
- Please! (2001) as Peter (as Gerry Butler)
- Dracula 2000 (2000) as Dracula
- Harrison's Flowers (2000) as Chris Kumac
- Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married (1999) as Gus
- The Cherry Orchard (1999) as Yasha
- One More Kiss (1999) as Sam
- The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star (1998) as Marty Claymore
- Russell Mulcahy’s Tale of the Mummy (1998) as Burke
- Little White Lies (1998) as Peter
- Fast Food (1998) as Jacko
- Leute heute (1997) as Self
- Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) as HMS Devonshire Leading Seaman
- An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1997) as Tim Bolton
- Mrs Brown (1997) as Archie Brown
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- GMTV (1993) as Self
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self
- Jeopardy! (1984) as Self - Clue Presenter
- Goldene Kamera (1984) as Self
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Empire City as Rhett Westermark
- Empire City Producer
- Apollo Has Fallen Executive Producer
- Naya: Legend of the Golden Dolphin as King Kula (voice)
- Night Has Fallen as Mike Banning
- Night Has Fallen Producer
- Hair of the Dog as Mr. P
- All-Star Weekend as Russian Gymnast Fan
- Den of Thieves 3 as Nicholas 'Big Nick' O'Brien
- Den of Thieves 3 Producer
- The Nest
- The Nest Producer
- A Darker Shade of Magic Producer
- Just Watch Me as Riley Wolfe
- Just Watch Me Producer
- Remote Control as Michael Rafter
- Remote Control Producer