Post by Dianne on Dec 9, 2008 15:37:16 GMT -5
Thanks to Moonmistress
movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1803248911/bio
With his thick Scottish brogue and manly scruff, Gerard Butler rose to big screen fame as an appealing hero in stylish, battle-oriented epics. His first big break came with the title role in Joel Schumacher’s “Phantom of the Opera” (2004) in which Butler sang his heart out, but no one really listened. The ones who did considered him a second-rate Michael Crawford, so Butler’s supposed star-making vehicle stalled. But it became quickly apparent that he really drew in the movie crowds when donning a shield and little else, charging into battle as a seemingly invincible warrior. Woman swooned while men stood and cheered Butler on in the historic actioners “Beowulf and Grendel” (2005) and “300” (2007), where, in the latter, he essayed the sword-wielding King Leonidas of Sparta to an over $400 million worldwide box office take. Riding the crest of post-“300”fame – during which Entertainment Weekly named him fifth on their “Ultimate Male Hottie” list – Butler proved that even with a shirt on, he still possessed appeal while grounded in the here and now, following up with a starring role in the popular family fantasy adventure “Nim’s Island” (2008).
Born in Glasgow on Nov. 13, 1969, Butler moved to Montreal, Canada when he just six months old. Following the break-up of his parents two years later, his mom moved Butler and his two siblings back to Scotland, where they grew up in her home town of Paisley. The youngster was an avid moviegoer as a youth, developing the acting itch and joining the Scottish Youth Theatre, where one of his first stage roles was as a street urchin in “Oliver!” Though the seeds were sown early on, Butler veered down a very different avenue before becoming a professional actor, enrolling in the law program at Glasgow University, where he achieved exceptional grades, served a term as president of the school’s law society, and earned an honor’s degree. But he found himself uncertain about his career choice, so after graduation, moved to Los Angeles for a short time and appeared as an extra in “The Bodyguard” (1992), starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. After dipping his toe unsuccessfully in the Hollywood pool, he returned to Scotland and began a traineeship at a top law firm in Edinburgh. But the lure of Tinseltown still lingered.
Two years later, after seeing a stage performance of “Trainspotting” at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Butler concluded that he had made the wrong career move. He left law practice and pursued acting while working a series of odd jobs, including an obligatory stint as a waiter. During this time, he amassed a resume of stage roles in the lesser-known Shakespeare tragedy, “Coriolanus,” and as the lead in the same production of “Trainspotting” that had rekindled his desire to act. Butler transitioned to film with a supporting role in the historical drama “Mrs. Brown” (1997), starring Dame Judi Dench and Billy Connolly. A small role the 18th installment in the James Bond series, “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997) was followed with a steady stream of British film work in “Fast Food” (1998), “One More Kiss” (1999), and an adaptation of Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” (1999). Butler scored a leading role as the title character in Wes Craven’s “Dracula 2000” (2000), but despite the Craven tag, the movie flopped with audiences and critics alike. He followed up with “Harrison’s Flowers” (2002), a sobering drama set in war-torn Yugoslavia, co-starring Adrien Brody and Andie MacDowell.
With his starring role in the epic television miniseries, “Attila” (USA Network, 2001), Butler made such an impression that he was sought out by directors for similarly heroic actioners. The following year, he co-starred alongside Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey in “Reign of Fire” (2002), an international hit about a medieval fire-breathing dragon terrorizing the streets of futuristic London. He enjoyed an enviable position alongside Angelina Jolie in “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” (2003), before shifting gears to play a professor in the Michael Crichton adaptation “Timeline” (2003), which came and went without much notice. Joel Schumacher provided Butler with his leading man opportunity in 2004’s “The Phantom of the Opera” (2004), hopeful that the actor could bring the right blend of sensitivity to the commanding character. But the casting choice was not well-received, with Butler being a tad too handsome to inspire fear. Even more off-putting was the fact that, while not a bad singer, Butler had only a passable singing voice for a role that required power, control and passion, thus not making anyone forget the definitive vocals of the famed stage Phantom, Michael Crawford.
Despite the anti-climactic outcome of what should have been the star-making role of his career, Butler continued to broaden his range with a starring role as a stranger who becomes the World’s Greatest Dad to a nine-year-old deaf boy in “Dear Frankie” (2005), a manipulative Miramax drama. But better projects laid ahead, as Butler returned to battle – this time on the big screen – in “Beowulf & Grendel” (2006), starring as the legendary Norse warrior who faces off with the mystical monster, Grendel, in the adaptation of the literary landmark. Butler earned his share of positive notice for imbuing the foul-mouthed, swashbuckling role with a hint of the historic poem’s human themes.
For his testosterone-fueled efforts, he was rewarded with a starring role as Spartan King Leonidas in “300” (2007), Frank Miller’s lavish comic book take on the famous Battle of Thermopylae between 300 Spartan warriors and the massive army of Persia’s King Xerxes. The extremely violent production drew huge audiences for its bold, sepia-toned visual style and enormously staged battle sequences. Butler’s abs alone were ticket-worthy, with the actor sheepishly being asked his workout regime in nearly every interview with the media during the film’s publicity blitz. After breaking box office records for the month of March, the unlikely hit went on to earn over $400 million in international box office sales.
Now a certified blockbuster star and certified “hottie” by every magazine and website in the world, Butler and longtime manager Alan Siegel launched their own production shingle, Evil Twins, in 2008. Their first project hoped to showcase the successful action fantasy star in another light, with Butler playing closer to home as an assistant district attorney in the thriller “Law Abiding Citizen.” Meanwhile, the actor reigned in his curse-riddled battleground training in the considerably tamer family adventure “Nim’s Island” (2008), appearing in a dual role that showed his potential as a sensitive dad, as well as a seafaring adventurer. Later in the year, he was slated to star in the latest stylized heist from British director Guy Ritchie, “Rocknrolla” (2008).
Also Credited As: Gerard James ButlerBorn: Gerard James Butler on November 13, 1969 in Glasgow, ScotlandJob Titles: LawyerFamily
Brother: Brian Butler. Older
Father: Edward Butler. Left the family when Gerard was 2 and later reunited with son when Gerard was 16; died of cancer when Gerard was 22
Mother: Margaret Butler.
Sister: Lynn Butler. Older
Education
Glasgow University, lawyer/solicitor
Milestones
--- Cast as Ewan MacGregor's character Renton in the stage adaptation of the movie "Trainspotting"
--- Received first stage role in the play "Coriolanus" after actor Stephen Berkoff approached him in a London coffee shop
1997 Had a small role in the James Bond Movie "Tomorrow Never Dies"
1997 Made his movie debut as Billy Connolly's younger brother in the "Mrs. Brown"
1998 Appeared in Russell Mulchary's "Tale of the Mummy"
2000 Cast in the lead role of Wes Craven's "Dracula 2000"
2001 Cast in the breakthrough role of Attila the Hun in the USA movie "Attila"
2002 Appeared opposite Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey in "Reign of Fire"
2003 Cast as assistant professor Andre Marek in the big screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel "Timeline"
2003 Starred alongside Angelina Jolie as a British marine turned mercenary in "Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life"
2004 Starred in the adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "The Phantom of the Opera," portraying the title character
2005 Starred in "The Game of Their Lives" based on the true story of the 1950 US soccer team who, against all odds, beat England in the small town of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2007 Cast as the Spartan King Leonidas in Zack Snyder's "300," an adaptation of the Frank Miller graphic novel
2007 Co-starred in "P.S. I Love You" with Hilary Swank
2008 Portrayed Abigail Breslin's father in the adventure-fantasy film "Nim's Island"
2008 He Protrayed head tough guy, One Two, in Rock-n-Rolla a guy Richie film.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1803248911/bio
With his thick Scottish brogue and manly scruff, Gerard Butler rose to big screen fame as an appealing hero in stylish, battle-oriented epics. His first big break came with the title role in Joel Schumacher’s “Phantom of the Opera” (2004) in which Butler sang his heart out, but no one really listened. The ones who did considered him a second-rate Michael Crawford, so Butler’s supposed star-making vehicle stalled. But it became quickly apparent that he really drew in the movie crowds when donning a shield and little else, charging into battle as a seemingly invincible warrior. Woman swooned while men stood and cheered Butler on in the historic actioners “Beowulf and Grendel” (2005) and “300” (2007), where, in the latter, he essayed the sword-wielding King Leonidas of Sparta to an over $400 million worldwide box office take. Riding the crest of post-“300”fame – during which Entertainment Weekly named him fifth on their “Ultimate Male Hottie” list – Butler proved that even with a shirt on, he still possessed appeal while grounded in the here and now, following up with a starring role in the popular family fantasy adventure “Nim’s Island” (2008).
Born in Glasgow on Nov. 13, 1969, Butler moved to Montreal, Canada when he just six months old. Following the break-up of his parents two years later, his mom moved Butler and his two siblings back to Scotland, where they grew up in her home town of Paisley. The youngster was an avid moviegoer as a youth, developing the acting itch and joining the Scottish Youth Theatre, where one of his first stage roles was as a street urchin in “Oliver!” Though the seeds were sown early on, Butler veered down a very different avenue before becoming a professional actor, enrolling in the law program at Glasgow University, where he achieved exceptional grades, served a term as president of the school’s law society, and earned an honor’s degree. But he found himself uncertain about his career choice, so after graduation, moved to Los Angeles for a short time and appeared as an extra in “The Bodyguard” (1992), starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. After dipping his toe unsuccessfully in the Hollywood pool, he returned to Scotland and began a traineeship at a top law firm in Edinburgh. But the lure of Tinseltown still lingered.
Two years later, after seeing a stage performance of “Trainspotting” at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Butler concluded that he had made the wrong career move. He left law practice and pursued acting while working a series of odd jobs, including an obligatory stint as a waiter. During this time, he amassed a resume of stage roles in the lesser-known Shakespeare tragedy, “Coriolanus,” and as the lead in the same production of “Trainspotting” that had rekindled his desire to act. Butler transitioned to film with a supporting role in the historical drama “Mrs. Brown” (1997), starring Dame Judi Dench and Billy Connolly. A small role the 18th installment in the James Bond series, “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997) was followed with a steady stream of British film work in “Fast Food” (1998), “One More Kiss” (1999), and an adaptation of Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” (1999). Butler scored a leading role as the title character in Wes Craven’s “Dracula 2000” (2000), but despite the Craven tag, the movie flopped with audiences and critics alike. He followed up with “Harrison’s Flowers” (2002), a sobering drama set in war-torn Yugoslavia, co-starring Adrien Brody and Andie MacDowell.
With his starring role in the epic television miniseries, “Attila” (USA Network, 2001), Butler made such an impression that he was sought out by directors for similarly heroic actioners. The following year, he co-starred alongside Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey in “Reign of Fire” (2002), an international hit about a medieval fire-breathing dragon terrorizing the streets of futuristic London. He enjoyed an enviable position alongside Angelina Jolie in “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” (2003), before shifting gears to play a professor in the Michael Crichton adaptation “Timeline” (2003), which came and went without much notice. Joel Schumacher provided Butler with his leading man opportunity in 2004’s “The Phantom of the Opera” (2004), hopeful that the actor could bring the right blend of sensitivity to the commanding character. But the casting choice was not well-received, with Butler being a tad too handsome to inspire fear. Even more off-putting was the fact that, while not a bad singer, Butler had only a passable singing voice for a role that required power, control and passion, thus not making anyone forget the definitive vocals of the famed stage Phantom, Michael Crawford.
Despite the anti-climactic outcome of what should have been the star-making role of his career, Butler continued to broaden his range with a starring role as a stranger who becomes the World’s Greatest Dad to a nine-year-old deaf boy in “Dear Frankie” (2005), a manipulative Miramax drama. But better projects laid ahead, as Butler returned to battle – this time on the big screen – in “Beowulf & Grendel” (2006), starring as the legendary Norse warrior who faces off with the mystical monster, Grendel, in the adaptation of the literary landmark. Butler earned his share of positive notice for imbuing the foul-mouthed, swashbuckling role with a hint of the historic poem’s human themes.
For his testosterone-fueled efforts, he was rewarded with a starring role as Spartan King Leonidas in “300” (2007), Frank Miller’s lavish comic book take on the famous Battle of Thermopylae between 300 Spartan warriors and the massive army of Persia’s King Xerxes. The extremely violent production drew huge audiences for its bold, sepia-toned visual style and enormously staged battle sequences. Butler’s abs alone were ticket-worthy, with the actor sheepishly being asked his workout regime in nearly every interview with the media during the film’s publicity blitz. After breaking box office records for the month of March, the unlikely hit went on to earn over $400 million in international box office sales.
Now a certified blockbuster star and certified “hottie” by every magazine and website in the world, Butler and longtime manager Alan Siegel launched their own production shingle, Evil Twins, in 2008. Their first project hoped to showcase the successful action fantasy star in another light, with Butler playing closer to home as an assistant district attorney in the thriller “Law Abiding Citizen.” Meanwhile, the actor reigned in his curse-riddled battleground training in the considerably tamer family adventure “Nim’s Island” (2008), appearing in a dual role that showed his potential as a sensitive dad, as well as a seafaring adventurer. Later in the year, he was slated to star in the latest stylized heist from British director Guy Ritchie, “Rocknrolla” (2008).
Also Credited As: Gerard James ButlerBorn: Gerard James Butler on November 13, 1969 in Glasgow, ScotlandJob Titles: LawyerFamily
Brother: Brian Butler. Older
Father: Edward Butler. Left the family when Gerard was 2 and later reunited with son when Gerard was 16; died of cancer when Gerard was 22
Mother: Margaret Butler.
Sister: Lynn Butler. Older
Education
Glasgow University, lawyer/solicitor
Milestones
--- Cast as Ewan MacGregor's character Renton in the stage adaptation of the movie "Trainspotting"
--- Received first stage role in the play "Coriolanus" after actor Stephen Berkoff approached him in a London coffee shop
1997 Had a small role in the James Bond Movie "Tomorrow Never Dies"
1997 Made his movie debut as Billy Connolly's younger brother in the "Mrs. Brown"
1998 Appeared in Russell Mulchary's "Tale of the Mummy"
2000 Cast in the lead role of Wes Craven's "Dracula 2000"
2001 Cast in the breakthrough role of Attila the Hun in the USA movie "Attila"
2002 Appeared opposite Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey in "Reign of Fire"
2003 Cast as assistant professor Andre Marek in the big screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel "Timeline"
2003 Starred alongside Angelina Jolie as a British marine turned mercenary in "Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life"
2004 Starred in the adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "The Phantom of the Opera," portraying the title character
2005 Starred in "The Game of Their Lives" based on the true story of the 1950 US soccer team who, against all odds, beat England in the small town of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2007 Cast as the Spartan King Leonidas in Zack Snyder's "300," an adaptation of the Frank Miller graphic novel
2007 Co-starred in "P.S. I Love You" with Hilary Swank
2008 Portrayed Abigail Breslin's father in the adventure-fantasy film "Nim's Island"
2008 He Protrayed head tough guy, One Two, in Rock-n-Rolla a guy Richie film.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I seem to remember him saying that he quit law because his mentors looked like ass. 
)....u´ve got little probs with the law...and have to go to an lawyer...Gerard Butler........jezz....I would jump over that table and grab him at his tie and...and... 
censored! 
and depressed. This one man told me, "So I bet you think you are going to go to school, pass the bar, land a high paying job with a top firm and start rolling in the big bucks. Well it ain't that simple. I started making the bread 5 years ago. Don't I look happy?"
Marek...fur...need to say more? 
Cute story! Great changes...and 
O yeah...FUR!!! love the long hair, the beard, the role....great! love how he plays kings...
Yellow towel!! I like the character it was an different one...
One of my alltime Faves he plays it sexy with such a passion....pure seduction I would die happy if he bite me
........LOL ......good one 
