- Is best known for the role of Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe on the super-popular Emmy-winning show Frasier (1993).
- Is one of only two actors to have appeared in the original Hannibal Lecter film, Manhunter (1986), as well as The Silence of the Lambs (1991). The other is Frankie Faison.
- In 1995, he and Candace Gingrich served as spokespersons for the National Coming Out Day Project. Butler appeared in public service announcements that included the gently humorous statement, "I'm not a straight man, but I play one on television".
- Butler disclosed his homosexuality on Entertainment Tonight (1981) in 1994 during his run as a swaggering heterosexual on Frasier (1993).
- Best known for his role as Robert "Bulldog" Briscoe in Frasier (1993). Initially, he was a recurring guest actor, but in 1996, he became a member of the main cast. His character was written out of the show in 1999, but returned to guest star in five episodes of the series' last three seasons.
- Openly gay, he starred in Terrence McNally's 1989 play "The Lisbon Traviata" and wrote a one-man off-Broadway play about his life, "The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me...", which derives its title from a comment Butler's father allegedly made when Dan came out to him. In the play, he plays 14 different gay characters.
- Father Andrew Butler is a pharmacist; mother Shirley is a homemaker.
- In high school, Butler pursued his penchant for the stage, winning leading roles in student plays. He also excelled in sports and was elected class president.
- Is a playwright.
- His life partner is Richard Waterhouse.
- Butler left both Purdue University and San Jose State College without degrees and migrated to San Francisco where he worked in regional theatre.
- Butler was among the public figures to speak out in 2000 against California's Proposition 22 (also known as the Knight Initiative) that sought to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
- Graduated from Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. While there, he received a drama award.
- Studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco from 1976 to 1978.
- Has been involved with the theatre since his youth in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He made his performing debut as a lad in a local production of "The Music Man" and eventually joined the Indiana-Purdue theatre group while in high school.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content