BUTLER, Dan 1954–
(Dan E. Butler)

PERSONAL

Full name, Daniel E. Butler; born December 2, 1954, in Fort Wayne (some sources say Huntington), IN; son of Andrew (a pharmacist) and Shirley (a homemaker) Butler. Education: Attended Indiana University–Purdue University at Fort Wayne, San Jose State University, 1974–75, and American Conservatory Theatre. Avocational Interests: Writing screenplays, camping, bicycling (rode cross–country, from Providence, RI, to San Francisco, CA, in 1979), hiking, traveling.

Career: Actor, director, producer, and playwright. National Shakespeare Festival Company, San Diego, CA, member of company, 1977; Arizona Theatre Company, Phoenix, member of company, 1979–1980; Hartford Stage Company, Hartford, CT, member of company, 1979–1980; Trinity Square Repertory Company, Providence, RI, member of company, 1980–84; Actors Theatre of Louisville, Louisville, KY, guest artist, 1982–83; Road Theatre Company, Van Nuys, CA, associate artistic director, 1993–95; appeared in print ad for Milk Promotion Board's "Got Milk?" campaign, 1999; previously worked as a waiter.

Awards, Honors: Critic's Choice Award, best director, for The Walkers; National Irene Ryan Scholarship Award, 1975; Screen Actors Guild Award nomination (with others), outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series, 1997, 1998, both for Frasier; Drama Desk Award nomination and Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, both for The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

(Film debut; as Dan E. Butler) Jimmy Price, Manhunter (also known as Red Dragon: The Pursuit of Hannibal Lecter ), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1986.

SWAT Team (Medatomics Lab), The Manhattan Project (also known as Deadly Game ), Twentieth Century–Fox, 1986.

Walter, Longtime Companion, Samuel Goldwyn, 1989.

(As Dan E. Butler) Charlie, The Long Walk Home, Mira-max, 1990.

Roden, The Silence of the Lambs, Orion, 1991.

Bill Zachery, Captain Ron, Buena Vista, 1992.

(English version) Voice of Galaxy police officer, Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Oki (animated; also known as No Need for Tenchi, Tenchi Muyo! Ryo–oh–ki and This End Up! ), 1992.

Reporter, Dave, Warner Bros., 1993.

Ken Shubik, Rising Sun, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1993.

Wilson Chess, I Love Trouble, Buena Vista, 1994.

Garrity, The Fan, TriStar, 1996.

Host, The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender, 1997.

Admiral Shaffer, Enemy of the State, Buena Vista, 1998.

Sol Bianca: The Legacy (animated), Pioneer Entertainment, 1999.

Dr. Arthur Apsey, Fixing Frank, 2001.

Lloyd, The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest, Twentieth Century–Fox, 2002.

Television Appearances; Series:

Father Anthony, Frannie's Turn, CBS, 1992.

Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe, Frasier (also known as Dr. Frasier Crane ), NBC, 1993–1999, 2001–2004.

Voice of Mr. Simmons and various characters, Hey Arnold (animated), Nickelodeon, 1997–2002.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Edward Bass Matheson, Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the City (also known as More Tales of the City ), Showtime, 1998.

Flight Director Eugene Kranz, From the Earth to the Moon, HBO, 1998.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Jonathan, Country Gold, 1982.

New York reporter, The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, 1986.

Dennis Peterson, Everyday Heroes, 1990.

Stuyvesant, The Rape of Dr. Willis, CBS, 1991.

Assistant District Attorney Mendelson, From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One, NBC, 1992.

Sergeant Robert Goodman, No Time to Die (also known as Columbo and Columbo: No Time to Die ), ABC, 1992.

Harvey Young, The Assassination File (also known as Out in the Cold ), Starz!, 1996.

Eckles, Sniper 2 (also known as Sniper II ), 2002.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Voice of Drake, The Sissy Duckling, HBO and HBO Family, 1999.

Himself, My Favorite Frasier (short), 1999.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Appeared as Edward, The Single Guy.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Solinski, "Blind Trust," Leg Work, 1987.

Bike shop customer, "Accountant," Roseanne, ABC, 1990.

David, "A New Woman," Monsters, 1990.

Art, "Take My Bike, Please!," Roseanne, ABC, 1991.

Art, "Why Jackie Becomes a Trucker," Roseanne, ABC, 1991.

Jake Dorleac, "Southern Comforts—August 4, 1961," Quantum Leap, 1991.

Art, "Therapy," Roseanne, ABC, 1992.

Art, "Secrets," Roseanne, ABC, 1992.

Ed, "Incident on Main," Life Goes On, ABC, 1993.

Joe Henley, "Duty Free Rome," Picket Fences, CBS, 1993.

Walt Stevens, Washington Post reporter, "Bradley Gets Fired," The Powers That Be, 1993.

Mutta, "Mirror Image—August 8, 1953," Quantum Leap, NBC, 1993.

Jim Ausbury, "Die Hand Die Verletzt," The X–Files, Fox, 1995.

Kenneth Arabian, "Caroline and the Gay Art Show," Caroline in the City, NBC, 1995.

Kenneth Arabian, "Caroline and the Dearly Departer," Caroline in the City, NBC, 1996.

Bill Slatton, "Eve of Destruction," Just Shoot Me, NBC, 1997.

Voice of attorney, "Jumpin' Crack Bass," King of the Hill (animated), Fox, 1997.

Steth, "Visa Vis," Star Trek: Voyager, UPN, 1997.

Priest, "Religion," Tracey Takes On …, HBO, 1998.

Dr. Richards, "War Games," Suddenly Susan, NBC, 1998.

Dr. Ivar Cronenberger, "The Anatomy Lesson," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1998.

Lawyer, "Changes," Ally McBeal, Fox, 1999.

Arnold Hummer, "The Gift of Life," Crossing Jordan, NBC, 2002.

Coach Ambros, "New Frontier," American Dreams, NBC, 2002.

Coach Ambros, "The Fighting Irish," American Dreams, NBC, 2002.

Coach Ambros, "Cold Snap," American Dreams, NBC, 2002.

Coach Ambros, "Black and White," American Dreams, NBC, 2002.

David Wilkins, "The Source," Without a Trace, CBS, 2003.

Chuck Webb, "Bad Judgment," Miss Match, NBC, 2003.

Also appeared as voice of Slack Brizack, "Powergirl Surfers," Rocket Power (animated); voice of therapist, King of the Hill (animated), Fox.

Television Director; Episodic:

"Frasier Gotta Have It," Frasier (also known as Dr. Frasier Crane ), NBC, 1998.

Stage Appearances:

The Member of the Wedding, Hartford, CT, 1979–1980.

Understudy for the role of Sergeant Merwin J. Toomey, Biloxi Blues, New York City, 1980.

Austin, True West, Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1982.

D'Arcy, Bronchio, and schoolmaster, The Coarse Acting Show, Wonderhorse Theatre, New York City, 1982.

Lamb, The Hothouse, Playhouse Theatre, Providence, RI, then Playhouse Theatre, New York City, 1982.

Blue Window, Theatre Guinevere, 1984.

Bobby, Wrestlers, Hudson Guild Theatre, New York City, 1986.

Peter, Festival of One Act Plays, Manhattan Punch Line Theatre, New York City, 1988.

"Chute Roosters," Winterfest 8: Four New Plays in Repertory, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1988.

Much Ado about Nothing, New York Shakespeare Festival, New York City, 1988.

Langley, Domino, New York Theatre Workshop, New York City, 1988.

Emerald City, New York Theatre Workshop, 1989.

Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grille, WPA Theatre, New York City, 1990.

Mike, The Lisbon Traviata, Manhattan Theatre Club and Promenade Theatre, New York City, both 1990, then Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1990–1991.

The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me (solo show), Los Angeles, 1994, then New York City, 1995.

Sid Nercessian and Tobias Pfeiffer, Old Money, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, New York City, 2000–2001.

Owen O'Malley, On the Twentieth Century, UCLA Freud Playhouse, Los Angeles, 2002–2003 then Twentieth Century, American Airlines Theatre, New York City, 2004.

Stage Work:

Director of The Walkers, Road Theatre Company.

WRITINGS

Plays:

The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me (solo show), produced in Los Angeles, 1994, then New York City, 1995.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Advocate, September 20, 1994, pp. 42–45.

People Weekly, April 24, 1995, pp. 55–57.

TV Guide, July 1, 1995, pp. 22–25.