Dean Butler (actor)
Dean Butler | |
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![]() Butler preparing for an interview on New York's Fox 5. Circa April 30, 2014. | |
Born |
Dean Butler May 20, 1956 Prince George, British Columbia, Canada |
Occupation | Actor, producer, screenwriter |
Years active | 1976-2008 (actor); 2005-present (producer) |
Spouse(s) | Katherine Cannon (2001-present) |
Dean Butler (born May 20, 1956) is a Canadian-American movie and television actor[1] and producer of entertainment, sports and documentary programming.
Biography
Early life
Born in Prince George, British Columbia, and raised in Piedmont, California, Butler studied communication arts at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.[2]
Career
Butler's career as an actor started with a small part on the TV series The Streets of San Francisco. His first major role was in the 1978 TV movie Forever, based on Judy Blume's novel of the same title.[3]
Butler is best known for his portrayal of Almanzo Wilder on the NBC family drama Little House on the Prairie, which was based on the classic Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. He appeared in the final four seasons of the show, the spin-off show Little House: A New Beginning, and the three post-series TV movies.[4] After Little House ended, he played Jeff "Moondoggie" Griffin in the TV series The New Gidget and Buffy’s dad, Hank Summers, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.[5][6]
During the 1980s and 1990s, Butler was a guest star on various television series, including Murder, She Wrote, Who's the Boss?, The Love Boat, and JAG.[7][8] He co-starred with the late Gary Coleman in The Kid with the 200 I.Q..[9] He appeared in the movies Desert Hearts and The Final Goal.[10][11]
Onstage, Butler has performed in the shows of Stephen Sondheim. He appeared on Broadway in the original company of Into the Woods as Rapunzel's Prince, internationally as Tony in West Side Story and regionally in Company.[12][13][14]
Director/Producer
Butler now works largely behind the camera producing entertainment, sports, and documentary programming.[15] Butler produces Feherty for Golf Channel, starring David Feherty.[16] In addition, he is a West Coast correspondent for Broadway World, a provider of web content about the performing arts.[17]
Butler has directed, produced, written, and narrated bonus features for Little House on the Prairie DVD collections. He narrated a six-part documentary, The Little House Phenomenon.[18]
Butler has produced two documentaries, Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura, which drew their inspiration from the Little House books of Laura Ingalls Wilder.[19] Additionally, in 2012, Butler co-executive produced Pa's Fiddle: The Music of America for PBS.[20]
Personal life
Butler is married to actress Katherine Cannon, who played Felice Martin on the television series Beverly Hills 90210. They met when Cannon auditioned for the female lead in the Michael Landon series Father Murphy.[21] They live in Los Angeles, California.
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | Forever | Michael Wagner | TV film | |
1979–1983 | Little House on the Prairie | Almanzo Wilder | Main cast (65 episodes) | |
1981 | Here's Boomer | Gary | Episode: "Good Looking" | |
1982 | The Love Boat | Stan Barber | Episode: "Familiar Faces" | |
1983 | The Kid with the 200 I.Q. | Steve Bensfield | TV film | |
1983 | Fantasy Island | Carl Peters | Episode: "The Devil Stick/Touch and Go" | |
1983 | The Love Boat | Scott Pryor | Episode: "Kisses and Makeup" | |
1983 | Little House: Look Back to Yesterday | Almonzo Wilder | TV film | |
1984 | Little House: The Last Farewell | Almonzo Wilder | TV film | |
1984 | Fantasy Island | Harley Batten | Episode: "Sing Melancholy Baby/The Last Dogfight" | |
1984 | Who's the Boss? | Jason | Episode: "Mona Gets Pinned" | |
1984 | Little House: Bless All the Dear Children | Almonzo Wilder | TV film | |
1985 | Hotel | Michael Korsak | Episode: "Anniversary" | |
1985 | Gidget's Summer Reunion | Jeff "Moondoggie" Griffin | TV film | |
1985 | Desert Hearts | Darrell | Feature film | |
1986 | The Love Boat | Brent Harper | Episode: "Couples/Made for Each Other" | |
1986–1988 | The New Gidget | Jeff "Moondoggie" Griffin | Main cast (44 episodes) | |
1987 | Hotel | Gary Marsh | Episode: "All the King's Horses" | |
1989 | ABC Afterschool Specials | Matthew Green | Episode: "Private Affairs" | |
1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Howard Griffin | Episode: "The Fixer-Upper" | |
1991 | Shades of L.A. | Dr. Ted Kolfax | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part" | |
1991 | Without a Pass | Officer #1 (1965) | Feature film | |
1992 | Tequila and Bonetti | Frank Avalon | Episode: "Brooklyn and the Beast" | |
1994 | Juana la Cubana | Feature film | ||
1994 | Diagnosis: Murder | Sly | Episode: "Georgia on My Mind" | |
1995 | The Final Goal | Valentine | Feature film | |
1996 | Renegade | Cop | Episode: "Baby Makes Three" | |
1997–2002 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Hank Summers | Recurring role (5 episodes) | |
1997 | Fame L.A. | Producer | Episode: "Seize the Day" | |
2000 | Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family | FBI Agent | Episode: "The Line" | |
2000 | Ricky 6 | Vic Portelance | Feature film | |
2003 | JAG | Navy Appellate Court Judge #2 | Episode: "Lawyers, Guns and Money" | |
2008 | Chemical Wedding | Ceremony Man | Feature film (aka Crowley) |
References
- ↑ Buck, Jerry (July 12, 1982). "Dean Butler hits it big in new shot at 'Little House'". The Miami News. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Dean Butler profile". legacydocumentaries.com. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
- ↑ "Forever". IMDB. 1978-01-06. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Diefenbach, Mallory. "Actor Dean Butler dishes on 'Little House' prior to his WNY appearance". The Daily News. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "Dean Butler". Comet Over Hollywood. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Bloechi, Alyssa. "'Little House' actor visits Manitowoc Saturday". HTR Media. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "Murder, She Wrote". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "Good Neighbors/Captain's Portrait/Familiar Faces". IMDB. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "THE KID WITH THE 200 I.Q." BBFC. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Cohn, Paulette. "Dean Butler Reminisces on 'Little House' Days and Michael Landon (INTERVIEW)". Biography.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "The Final Goal". IMDB. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "Dean Butler – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Hancock, Melanie (2017-06-22). "Discover Laura". Discover Laura. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Jacobs, Tom. "Company". Variety. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Bloechi, Alyssa. "Almanzo shares love of 'Little House'". HTR Media. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "Dean Butler · Legacy Documentaries". Legacy Documentaries. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "Dean Butler Theatre Credits". Broadway World. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Soltes, John. "INTERVIEW: Dean Butler remembers 'Little House' as sixth season hits Blu-ray – Hollywood SOAPBOX". Hollywood Soap Box. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Scarnegie, Chelsea (2015-09-29). "DVD Review: 'The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder'". The Epoch Times. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ "PBS Now Airing "Pa's Fiddle: The Music of America"". Cybergrass. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Dalporto, Deva. "'Little House on the Prairie': Where Are They Now?". Biography.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.