Norbert Leo Butz
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Norbert Leo Butz has enjoyed a varied acting career, branching into theater, television, and film. Making his first big audition in 1993 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (as simply Norbert Butz), he opted to add his middle name as to avoid confusion with his father. After earning his MFA from the Festival, Butz cut his teeth on Broadway, landing a swing role (and, later, the more permanent part of HIV-positive songwriter Roger Davis) in the acclaimed show "Rent." Other theater roles followed, including a stint as Prince Fiyero in "Wicked" (from 2003 to 2004), during which he met his future wife, actress Michelle Federer. Butz gained film experience in low-profile projects like the 2002 thriller "New World Order" and the music-filled drama "West of Here." In 2007, he made his feature film breakthrough as Steve Carell's wisecracking brother Clay in the comedy "Dan in Real Life." In the late 2000s, he also plunged head-first into TV acting, securing one-off roles on the courtroom drama "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2001-11) and the investigative smash "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000-15). Back on the film front, Butz's success has continued with roles in the 2010 CIA thriller "Fair Game" (with star Naomi Watts) and the faith crisis drama "Higher Ground" (2011). Butz's greatest success has been on stage, however, earning three Best Lead Actor Tony Award nominations and winning twice.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Life Events
1996
Was an understudy for the roles of Mark and Roger in "Rent" before eventually assuming the role of Roger in 1997 and leaving the show in December 1998
1999
Played the Emcee on tour in "Cabaret"
2000
Provided the vocals for lead actor Edoardo Ballerini in the film "Looking for an Echo"
2000
Made his feature debut as a pawnbroker in "Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five"
2000
Returned to "Rent" in the role of Roger
2000
Made his TV acting debut in NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
2001
Originated the role of Jamie in the off-Broadway musical "The Last Five Years"
2001
Cast opposite Kate Levering and Craig Bierko in the Broadway musical "Thou Shalt Not"
2002
Appeared in the Sundance-screened independent film "Noon Blue Apples"
2002
Co-starred in the film "West of Here"
2002
Reprised the role of Jamie in the off-Broadway musical "The Last Five Years"
2003
Originated the role of Fiyero in the award-winning Broadway musical "Wicked"
2005
Won a Tony for his role as Freddy in the Broadway musical adaptation of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"
2007
Appeared opposite Steve Carell and Dane Cook in the film "Dan in Real Life"
2008
Stepped in to replace Jeremy Piven in David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" when Piven had to drop out due to health problems
2008
Appeared as Captain Richard King in the miniseries adaptation of the Lonesome Dove prequel, "Comanche Moon" (CBS)
2009
Originated the role of Carl Hanratty in the new musical "Catch Me If You Can" at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA
2011
Won his second Tony when he reprised the role of Carl Hanratty in the Broadway production of "Catch Me if You Can"
Family
Companions
