Dan Butler
About
Biography
Biography
Born in in 1954 in Indiana, Dan Butler studied drama at Indiana University. While there, he won the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, which was sponsored by the prestigious Kennedy Center. His onscreen acting career began in 1982, in a supporting role on an episode of "Remington Steele" (NBC, 1982-87), and continued with supporting roles throughout the '80s and early '90s in both film and television, with parts in dramas like "Longtime Companion" (1989) and "Silence of the Lambs" (1991), as well as a multi-episode arc on the sitcom "Roseanne" (ABC, 1988-1997). In 1993, Butler first appeared in his breakout role as sports DJ Bob 'Bulldog' Briscoe, on the hit sitcom "Frasier" (NBC, 1993-2004). The brash, macho, womanizing character was in stark contrast to the openly gay Butler, who was nominated for the 1995 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show, for his play "The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me," where he plays ten different characters trying to understand what 'gay' means. Butler was also the voice of Mr. Simmons on the long running animated series "Hey Arnold!" (Nickelodeon, 1996-2004). After those two shows had run their course, Butler continued to appear regularly in supporting roles in films like "Crazy Stupid Love" (2011) and shows such as "Blue Bloods" (CBS, 2010-) and "Banshee" (Showtime, 2013-16) before co-starring on the horror series "The Mist" (Spike, 2017).
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1972
Joined Indiana-Purdue, Fort Wayne, IN, theatre group while in high school (date approximate)
1973
Received an Irene Ryan scholarship to study acting
1976
Performed in regional theatre in San Francisco
1980
Relocated to NYC; won role in "Biloxi Blues" on Broadway
1982
Primetime TV debut, small role in "Country Gold", a CBS TV-movie
1986
Film debut, "Manhunter", based on Thomas Harris' novel that concerns Dr Hannibal Lechter (billed as Dan E Butler)
1989
Starred in off-Broadway production of Terrence McNally's "The Lisbon Traviata"
1990
Travelled to L.A. for West Coast production of "The Lisbon Traviata"
1991
Appeared in "The Silence of the Lambs", based on Thomas Harris novel that concerns Dr Hannibal Lechter
1991
Played recurring role on "Roseanne" (ABC)
1992
Co-starred in unsold pilot, "Sex and Saints" for CBS
1993
Joined cast of "Frasier" as Bob 'Bulldog' Briscoe
1994
Starred in one-man show, "The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me" in L.A.
1995
Appeared off-Broadway in one-man show "The Only Thing Worse ..."; later toured in show
2000
Had featured role in the Off-Broadway production of Wendy Wasserstein's play "Old Money"
2001
Starred as a psychologist who trafficks in reparative therapy in the indie "Fixing Frank"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
