Gerard Butler Biography

Gerard James Butler (born November 13, 1969) is a Scottish actor of Irish extraction.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland to Margaret and Edward Butler, Gerard is the youngest of three children. His mother, a devout Catholic, sent him to a number of Catholic schools during his youth. He spent the first few years of his life in Toronto before returning to Paisley, Scotland after his father left the family. 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 studying acting. He has since sobered up and has not touched a drop of alcohol for over 8 years.
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His early film roles included Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), with his first major role being the title character in Dracula 2000 (2000). He next appeared in the 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 in school, 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," primarily because Americans pronounce "Gerard" incorrectly. (pronounced as GER-ard (rhymes with "Herrod"); 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.

In August 2005 it was announced that Butler has signed on to star in "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. Filming began in October in Montreal.

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GERARD BUTLER BIOGRAPHY