Gerard Butler

Gerard Butler Vital Stats

Birth Name: Gerard James Butler
Birth Date: November 13, 1969
Birth Place: Glasgow, Scotland
Height: 6’2”
Romantic Link: Not known

Gerard Butler Interesting Facts

Growing up, Gerard Butler sang in a band while he obtained his law degree at Glasgow University.

Gerard Butler’s father disappeared when he was only 2 years old and showed up again when he turned 16.

For his role in 300, Gerard Butler was working out 6 hours a day with two different personal trainers.

Gerard Butler Biography

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 3, 1969, to parents Edward and Margaret Butler, Gerard was just a baby when the Butlers, which included Gerard’s older brother, Brian, and sister, Lynn, moved to Montreal, Canada.

Unfortunately, Gerard’s parents separated soon afterwards, and his mother took the children to her hometown of Paisley, Scotland, when Gerard was only 2 years old.

Gerard Butler gets law degree

As a child, Gerard took an immediate interest in acting and made his first appearance on a stage at the age of 12 in Oliver. Gerard took the next steps to pursue his dream of becoming an actor by enrolling at the Scottish Youth Theater in Livingstone, but was discouraged by “career officers” and opted instead to go into law.
While his mother remarried, Gerard would remain estranged from his father until he was 16, at which point the two rekindled their relationship and became incredibly close. Sadly, Gerard’s father would pass away when he was into his 20s.

By this time, Gerard was already attending Glasgow University, majoring in law and serving as the president of the school’s law society, thanks to his good looks and outgoing personality.

Gerard Butler’s music band Speed

While he was a student, Gerard formed a band called Speed and served as the lead singer. After receiving his law degree, however, Gerard opted to revive his dream of becoming an actor (after he was fired from the law firm that hired him after only 1 week), and moved to London in 1995.

Without an agent’s help, by 1996, Gerard starred in 2 stage plays: Coriolanus and Trainspotting. His film debut came the next year in Mrs. Brown.

A small role in the 1997 Bond flick Tomorrow Never Dies, got him a touch of notice all over the world, but it was his role in the 2001 U.S. TV movie Attila, in which Gerard got the lead, that got him noticed.

Gerard Butler in Dracula 2000

Before the TV movie was released, casting for Wes Craven’s Dracula 2000 was underway, and Gerard was hell bent on getting the role. Eventually, he got the role and the release of the Dracula 2000 and the TV movie Attila garnered Gerard a fan base that had the Net buzzing.

In 2003, Gerard starred alongside Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, and it was obvious that Gerard had finally arrived in the U.S. market.


The next year, Gerard got the lead role in the film version of The Phantom of the Opera, although his mask may have kept fans from taking full notice. The film did well and Gerard’s singing was praised by critics and fans alike.

Gerard Butler in 300

Although Gerard worked steadily every year, it wasn’t until the much hyped 2007 film 300 was set for release that everyone and their mother would do a double-take to get a better look at the man with the solid 6-pack and voice of authority. Gerard Butler was cast as King Leonidas of the Spartans, and his grueling workout regimen left him with the body of a god.

The epic film became a blockbuster and thrust Gerard into the spotlight like never before. After that, movie offers came pouring in, and Gerard is doing his best to keep up.

Gerard in The Untouchables: Capone Rising

2007 sees Gerard starring in Butterfly on a Wheel and P.S., I Love You, 2008 will show him off in Rocknrolla and Nim’s Island, and Gerard is also set to star in 2009’s The Untouchables: Capone Rising and Game.

On the personal front, Gerard divides his time between London, New York and Los Angeles and was rumored to be dating model Naomi Campbell. Word has it that he's now single.

Resources:
IMDb.com - Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler News at WhosDatedWho.com