Jump to content

Brett Butler (actress): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
5,415,765 edits
Alter: template type. Add: magazine. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Whoop whoop pull up | #UCB_webform 3442/3850
SporkBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
1,244,985 edits
m Remove template per TfD outcome
 
(41 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American actress}}
{{Short description|American actress (born 1958)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
Line 8: Line 8:
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|1|30}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|1|30}}
| birth_place = [[Montgomery, Alabama]], US
| birth_place = [[Montgomery, Alabama]], US
| alma_mater = [[University of Georgia]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|writer|comedian}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|writer|comedian}}
| years_active = 1987–present
| years_active = 1987–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Charles Michael Wilson|1978|1981|reason=divorced}}<br />{{marriage|Ken Zieger|1987|1999|reason=divorced}}
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Charles Michael Wilson|1978|1981|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Ken Zieger|1987|1999|reason=divorced}}
}}
}}
}}
'''Brett Butler''' (born January 30, 1958) is an American actress, writer, and stand-up comedian. She is best known for playing the title role in the ABC comedy series ''[[Grace Under Fire]]'' (1993–1998), for which she received two [[Golden Globe Awards]] nominations.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/article/1996/11/22/brett-butler-censored/| magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| first=Kristen| last=Baldwin| title=Brett Butler, Censored| date=November 22, 1996| access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/article/1994/10/07/brett-butler-more-power-her/| magazine=Entertainment Weekly| first=Lisa| last=Schwarzbaum| title=Brett Butler: More Power To Her| date=October 7, 1994| access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>
'''Brett Butler''' (born January 30, 1958) is an American actress, writer, and stand-up comedian. She is best known for playing the title role in the ABC comedy series ''[[Grace Under Fire]]'' (1993–1998), for which she received two [[Golden Globe Awards]] nominations.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/article/1996/11/22/brett-butler-censored/| magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| first=Kristen| last=Baldwin| title=Brett Butler, Censored| date=November 22, 1996| access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/article/1994/10/07/brett-butler-more-power-her/| magazine=Entertainment Weekly| first=Lisa| last=Schwarzbaum| title=Brett Butler: More Power To Her| date=October 7, 1994| access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>
Line 16: Line 20:
==Life and career==
==Life and career==
===Early life ===
===Early life ===
Butler was born Brett Anderson in [[Montgomery, Alabama]], the eldest of five sisters. She was four years old when her father, Roland Decatur Anderson Jr., an oil company executive, moved the family to [[Houston, Texas]]. Her mother Carol left Roland, an abusive alcoholic, and moved with their children to [[Miami, Florida]]. Her mother battled [[Depression (mood)|depression]], and the family was sometimes so poor that they ate [[Tootsie Rolls]] for dinner.<ref name=peoples/> Butler briefly attended the [[University of Georgia]].<ref name=peoples/> Before experiencing success as a stand-up comic, she worked as a [[cocktail waitress]].<ref name=autogenerated1/><ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/article/1994/12/30/entertainer-11-brett-butler/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly| first=Lisa| last=Schwarzbaum| title=Entertainer 11: Brett Butler| date=December 30, 1994| access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>
Butler was born Brett Anderson in [[Montgomery, Alabama]], the eldest of five sisters.<ref>"Stork— St. Margaret's Hospital", ''The Montgomery (AL) Advertiser'', February 6, 1958, p.10 ("Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Anderson Jr., of Tuskegee, a daughter, Brett, Jan. 30")</ref> She was four years old when her father, Roland Decatur Anderson Jr., an oil company executive, moved the family to [[Houston, Texas]]. Her mother Carol left Roland, an abusive alcoholic, and moved with their children to [[Miami, Florida]]. Her mother battled [[Depression (mood)|depression]], and the family was sometimes so poor that they ate [[Tootsie Rolls]] for dinner.<ref name=peoples/> Butler briefly attended the [[University of Georgia]].<ref name=peoples/> Before experiencing success as a stand-up comic, she worked as a [[cocktail waitress]].<ref name=autogenerated1/><ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/article/1994/12/30/entertainer-11-brett-butler/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly| first=Lisa| last=Schwarzbaum| title=Entertainer 11: Brett Butler| date=December 30, 1994| access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>


In 1978, at the age of 20, Butler married her first husband, Charles Michael Wilson, three months after their meeting. Wilson was abusive and in 1981 she left him. Since then, he has both admitted and adamantly denied battering Butler, while claiming that she too was violent.<ref name=peoples/> Butler returned to her mother in Miami and began performing in comedy clubs. She moved to New York City in 1984, and was arrested for possession of marijuana.<ref name=peoples>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-out-of-the-fire-vol-45-no-16/|title=Out of the Fire|website=PEOPLE.com}}</ref> In New York, she met her second husband, Ken Zieger, and they were married in 1987.<ref name=peoples/>
In 1978, at the age of 20, Butler married her first husband, Charles Michael Wilson, three months after their meeting. Wilson was abusive and in 1981 she left him. Since then, he has both admitted and adamantly denied battering Butler, while claiming that she too was violent.<ref name=peoples/> Butler returned to her mother in Miami and began performing in comedy clubs, settling on the stage name "Brett Butler" as a play on the southern U.S. ''[[Gone With the Wind (novel)|Gone With the Wind]]'' character of [[Rhett Butler]]. She moved to New York City in 1984, and was arrested for possession of marijuana.<ref name=peoples>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-out-of-the-fire-vol-45-no-16/|title=Out of the Fire|website=PEOPLE.com}}</ref> In New York, she met her second husband, Ken Zieger, and they were married in 1987.<ref name=peoples/>


In 1987, Butler made her television debut on ''[[The Tonight Show]]''. Also that year, she performed on [[Dolly Parton]]'s ill-fated variety series, ''[[Dolly (TV series)|Dolly]]''. Parton hired Butler as a writer for the remainder of the show's season, but the series was subsequently cancelled after one season of lackluster ratings.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/gallery/turkeys-50-remarkable-pop-culture-flops/| title=Turkeys! 50 Remarkable Pop-Culture Flops| date=August 1, 2016| magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>''
In 1987, Butler made her television debut on ''[[The Tonight Show]]''. Also that year, she performed on [[Dolly Parton]]'s short-lived variety series, ''[[Dolly (1987 TV series)|Dolly]]''. Parton hired Butler as a writer for the remainder of the show's season, but the series was cancelled after one season of lackluster ratings.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/gallery/turkeys-50-remarkable-pop-culture-flops/| title=Turkeys! 50 Remarkable Pop-Culture Flops| date=August 1, 2016| magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>


===''Grace Under Fire'' and beyond===
===''Grace Under Fire'' and beyond===
Line 28: Line 32:
Butler published her memoir, ''[[Knee Deep in Paradise]]'', in 1996. The book was started before attaining her celebrity status, and candidly addresses much of this time, ending the autobiography before ''Grace Under Fire''{{'}}s debut.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7868-6136-1 |title=Knee Deep in Paradise |work=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=April 29, 1996 |access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Lisa |last=Schwarzbaum |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1996/04/19/knee-deep-paradise |title=Knee Deep in Paradise |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 19, 1996 |access-date=November 6, 2015}}</ref>
Butler published her memoir, ''[[Knee Deep in Paradise]]'', in 1996. The book was started before attaining her celebrity status, and candidly addresses much of this time, ending the autobiography before ''Grace Under Fire''{{'}}s debut.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7868-6136-1 |title=Knee Deep in Paradise |work=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=April 29, 1996 |access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Lisa |last=Schwarzbaum |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1996/04/19/knee-deep-paradise |title=Knee Deep in Paradise |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 19, 1996 |access-date=November 6, 2015}}</ref>


Behind the scenes, Butler battled a recurring drug addiction and spent time in rehab.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Flint |first=Joe |url=https://ew.com/article/1997/09/12/sad-fall-grace-under-fire/ |title=Sad fall for ''Grace Under Fire'' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 12, 1997 |access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref> In February 1998, due to her erratic behavior stemming from substance abuse, she was dismissed from the show and ABC cancelled the series.<ref>{{cite web|author=Miller, D. Patrick|url=http://www.fearlessbooks.com/fsBButler.htm|title=Fame, Fire and Surrender|work=fearlessbooks.com|year=2003|access-date=April 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Lanzendorfer| first=Joy| url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/08.18.04/butler-0434.html| title=Funny Lady| work=North Bay Bohemian| date=August 18, 2004| access-date=April 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Brett Butler's Problems Halt 'Grace Under Fire'| work=Orlando Sentinel| url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1998-01-18/news/9801180613_1_branson-monty-python-british-tycoon-richard| access-date=November 9, 2011}}</ref> After ''Grace'' was cancelled in 1998, Butler moved from Los Angeles to a farm in Rome, Georgia. In the following years she made selected screen appearances in films ''[[Bruno (2000 film)|Bruno]]'' (2000) and ''[[Mrs. Harris]]'' (2005), and guest-starred on an episode of the NBC sitcom ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'' in 2005. In 2008, Butler headlined at an arts fundraiser and spoke freely with a reporter about her depression, past drug addiction, television work, and current life on the farm. She also expressed interest in writing another book.<ref name=santafe>[http://www.santafe.com/article/spitfire/ "Spitfire: Comic Brett Butler set to take the stage in Santa Fe"] Santafe.com October 23, 2008 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114095402/http://www.santafe.com/article/spitfire |date=January 14, 2015 }}</ref>
Behind the scenes, Butler battled a recurring drug addiction and spent time in rehab.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Flint |first=Joe |url=https://ew.com/article/1997/09/12/sad-fall-grace-under-fire/ |title=Sad fall for ''Grace Under Fire'' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 12, 1997 |access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref> In February 1998, due to her erratic behavior stemming from substance abuse, she was dismissed from the show and ABC cancelled the series.<ref>{{cite web|author=Miller, D. Patrick|url=http://www.fearlessbooks.com/fsBButler.htm|title=Fame, Fire and Surrender|work=fearlessbooks.com|year=2003|access-date=April 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Lanzendorfer| first=Joy| url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/08.18.04/butler-0434.html| title=Funny Lady| work=North Bay Bohemian| date=August 18, 2004| access-date=April 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Brett Butler's Problems Halt 'Grace Under Fire'| work=Orlando Sentinel| url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/01/18/brett-butlers-problems-halt-grace-under-fire/| access-date=November 9, 2011}}</ref> After ''Grace'' was cancelled in 1998, Butler moved from Los Angeles to a farm in Rome, Georgia. In the following years she made selected screen appearances in films ''[[Bruno (2000 film)|Bruno]]'' (2000) and ''[[Mrs. Harris]]'' (2005), and guest-starred on an episode of the NBC sitcom ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'' in 2005. In 2008, Butler headlined at an arts fundraiser and spoke freely with a reporter about her depression, past drug addiction, television work, and current life on the farm. She also expressed interest in writing another book.<ref name=santafe>[http://www.santafe.com/article/spitfire/ "Spitfire: Comic Brett Butler set to take the stage in Santa Fe"] Santafe.com October 23, 2008 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114095402/http://www.santafe.com/article/spitfire |date=January 14, 2015 }}</ref>


===Return to acting===
===Return to acting===
In October 2011, Butler appeared on ''[[The Rosie Show]]'' and reported being sober since 1998.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Brett Butler and Frank DeCaro |series=The Rosie Show |date=October 26, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXgC-pwGLzc#t=33 |network=OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network |season=1 |number=13 |last=O'Donnell |first=Rosie (host)}}</ref> According to an ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' interview at around the same time, Butler, unable to maintain the costs of her farm, had lived in a homeless shelter, though in a 2021 ''[[The Hollywood Reporter|Hollywood Reporter]]'' profile, Butler denied that she was ever homeless, and said she was paid to fabricate this claim for the show.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/grace-under-fire-star-brett-263299|title=Former 'Grace Under Fire' Star Brett Butler Reveals: I'm Homeless (Video)| newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]| date=November 17, 2011| access-date=November 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name = THR>{{cite news|url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/brett-butler-speaks-out-on-financial-struggles-1234998647/|title = Why Brett Butler Is Broke: 'Grace Under Fire' Star on Struggles and Survival|work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last = Abramovitch|first = Seth|date = August 19, 2021|accessdate = August 28, 2021}}</ref> By this time Butler was attempting to make a career comeback and was working on developing a reality TV show about her self-professed psychic abilities and performing at the Downtown Comedy Club in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.businessinsider.com/famous-people-who-became-homeless-2012-7?op=1| title=9 Famous People Who Became Homeless| first1=Vivian| last1=Giang| first2=Danielle| last2=Schlanger| date=July 17, 2012| access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>
In October 2011, Butler appeared on ''[[The Rosie Show]]'' and reported being sober since 1998.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Brett Butler and Frank DeCaro |series=The Rosie Show |date=October 26, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXgC-pwGLzc#t=33 |network=OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network |season=1 |number=13 |last=O'Donnell |first=Rosie (host)}}</ref> According to an ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' interview at around the same time, Butler, unable to maintain the costs of her farm, had lived in a homeless shelter, though in a 2021 ''[[The Hollywood Reporter|Hollywood Reporter]]'' profile, Butler denied that she was ever homeless, and said she was paid to fabricate this claim for the show.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/grace-under-fire-star-brett-263299|title=Former 'Grace Under Fire' Star Brett Butler Reveals: I'm Homeless (Video)| newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]| date=November 17, 2011| access-date=November 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name = THR>{{cite news|url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/brett-butler-speaks-out-on-financial-struggles-1234998647/|title = Why Brett Butler Is Broke: 'Grace Under Fire' Star on Struggles and Survival|work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last = Abramovitch|first = Seth|date = August 19, 2021|accessdate = August 28, 2021}}</ref> By this time Butler was attempting to make a career comeback and was working on developing a reality TV show about her self-professed psychic abilities and performing at the Downtown Comedy Club in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.businessinsider.com/famous-people-who-became-homeless-2012-7?op=1| title=9 Famous People Who Became Homeless| first1=Vivian| last1=Giang| first2=Danielle| last2=Schlanger| date=July 17, 2012| access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>


In June 2012, Butler appeared in a recurring role on the [[CBS]] daytime soap opera ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' playing ex-psychiatrist [[List of The Young and the Restless characters (1990s)#Tim Reid|Tim Reid]]'s girlfriend.<ref>{{cite journal| url=http://soapcentral.com/yr/news/2012/0508-butler.php| title=Y&R hires Brett Butler for latest stunt casting| last=Kroll| first=Dan| date=May 8, 2012| journal=[[SoapCentral]]| access-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref> She returned for two episodes in March 2015.<ref>{{cite news| title=It Never Ends...Brett Butler to Appear on The Young and the Restless| url=https://daytimeconfidential.com/2012/05/08/it-never-endsbrett-butler-to-appear-on-the-young-and-the-restless| date=March 17, 2015| last=Giddens| first=Jamey| journal=Daytime Confidential}}</ref> Later in 2012, she began appearing in a recurring role as the bartender at the restaurant that Charlie Goodson ([[Charlie Sheen]]) frequents in the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] comedy series ''[[Anger Management (TV series)|Anger Management]]''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/arts/television/brett-butler-on-charlie-sheens-anger-management.html| title=Brett Butler on Charlie Sheen's 'Anger Management'| last=Rhodes| first=Joe| date=January 27, 2013| work=The New York Times| access-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref> Butler appeared in a total of 38 episodes from 2012 to 2014. In 2016, she played herself in the comedy-drama film ''[[The Comedian (2016 film)|The Comedian]]'' starring [[Robert De Niro]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-the-comedian-mov-rev-0130-20170202-column.html|title = 'The Comedian' review: Laughs the only thing missing for de Niro's insult comic|website = [[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>
In June 2012, Butler appeared in a recurring role on the [[CBS]] daytime soap opera ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' playing ex-psychiatrist [[List of The Young and the Restless characters (1990s)#Tim Reid|Tim Reid]]'s girlfriend.<ref>{{cite journal| url=http://soapcentral.com/yr/news/2012/0508-butler.php| title=Y&R hires Brett Butler for latest stunt casting| last=Kroll| first=Dan| date=May 8, 2012| journal=[[SoapCentral]]| access-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref> She returned for two episodes in March 2015.<ref>{{cite news| title=It Never Ends...Brett Butler to Appear on The Young and the Restless| url=https://daytimeconfidential.com/2012/05/08/it-never-endsbrett-butler-to-appear-on-the-young-and-the-restless| date=March 17, 2015| last=Giddens| first=Jamey| journal=Daytime Confidential}}</ref> Later in 2012, she began appearing in a recurring role as the bartender at the restaurant that Charlie Goodson ([[Charlie Sheen]]) frequents in the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] comedy series ''[[Anger Management (TV series)|Anger Management]]''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/arts/television/brett-butler-on-charlie-sheens-anger-management.html| title=Brett Butler on Charlie Sheen's 'Anger Management'| last=Rhodes| first=Joe| date=January 27, 2013| work=The New York Times| access-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref> Butler appeared in a total of 38 episodes from 2012 to 2014. In 2016, she played herself in the comedy-drama film ''[[The Comedian (2016 film)|The Comedian]]'' starring [[Robert De Niro]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-the-comedian-mov-rev-0130-20170202-column.html|title = 'The Comedian' review: Laughs the only thing missing for de Niro's insult comic|website = [[Chicago Tribune]]| date=February 2, 2017 }}</ref>


Later, Butler began appearing in dramatic roles. She guest-starred in two episodes of HBO drama series ''[[The Leftovers (TV series)|The Leftovers]]'', and had a recurring role as Michaela's ([[Aja Naomi King]]) adoptive mother Trishelle in the ABC legal thriller ''[[How to Get Away with Murder]]'' in 2016.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/how-to-get-away-with-murder-aja-naomi-king-michaela-asher-mom/|work=TV Guide| title=How to Get Away with Murder's Aja Naomi King on That "Fishy" House Fire Reveal}}</ref> From 2018 to 2019, she played Tammy Rose Sutton in the AMC horror series, ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1028511/The-Walking-Dead-season-9-cast-who-is-actress-Brett-Butler-who-plays-Tammy-Rose-TWD|title=The Walking Dead season 9: Who is Brett Butler? Who plays Tammy Rose?|first=Molli|last=Mitchell|date=February 11, 2019|website=Express.co.uk}}</ref> Also in 2019, she took a recurring role as Sandy Jackson, the mother of [[Reese Witherspoon]]'s character in the [[Apple TV+]] drama series, ''[[The Morning Show (American TV series)|The Morning Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/morning-show-apple-cast-character-guide/|title=The Morning Show Cast & Character Guide|date=November 3, 2019|website=ScreenRant}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-11-01/review-the-morning-show-apple-tv-plus|title = Review: Watch 'The Morning Show' to the end. It's better than you've heard|last = Lloyd|first = Robert|date = November 1, 2019|accessdate = August 28, 2021|work = [[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
Later, Butler began appearing in dramatic roles. She guest-starred in two episodes of HBO drama series ''[[The Leftovers (TV series)|The Leftovers]]'', and had a recurring role as Michaela's ([[Aja Naomi King]]) adoptive mother Trishelle in the ABC legal thriller ''[[How to Get Away with Murder]]'' in 2016.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/how-to-get-away-with-murder-aja-naomi-king-michaela-asher-mom/|work=TV Guide| title=How to Get Away with Murder's Aja Naomi King on That "Fishy" House Fire Reveal}}</ref> From 2018 to 2019, she played Tammy Rose Sutton in the AMC horror series, ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1028511/The-Walking-Dead-season-9-cast-who-is-actress-Brett-Butler-who-plays-Tammy-Rose-TWD|title=The Walking Dead season 9: Who is Brett Butler? Who plays Tammy Rose?|first=Molli|last=Mitchell|date=February 11, 2019|website=Express.co.uk}}</ref> Also in 2019, she took a recurring role as Sandy Jackson, the mother of [[Reese Witherspoon]]'s character in the [[Apple TV+]] drama series, ''[[The Morning Show (American TV series)|The Morning Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/morning-show-apple-cast-character-guide/|title=The Morning Show Cast & Character Guide|date=November 3, 2019|website=ScreenRant}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-11-01/review-the-morning-show-apple-tv-plus|title = Review: Watch 'The Morning Show' to the end. It's better than you've heard|last = Lloyd|first = Robert|date = November 1, 2019|accessdate = August 28, 2021|work = [[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
Line 95: Line 99:
|-
|-
| 1988
| 1988
| ''[[Dolly (TV series)|Dolly]]''
| ''[[Dolly (1987 TV series)|Dolly]]''
| Rhonda
| Rhonda
| Episode: "1.15"
| Episode: "1.15"
Line 158: Line 162:
| ''[[The Leftovers (TV series)|The Leftovers]]''
| ''[[The Leftovers (TV series)|The Leftovers]]''
| Sandy
| Sandy
| Episodes: "No Room at the Inn" + "Don't Be Ridiculous"
| Episodes: "[[No Room at the Inn (The Leftovers)|No Room at the Inn]]" + "Don't Be Ridiculous"
|-
|-
| 2016
| 2016
Line 174: Line 178:
| Sandy Jackson
| Sandy Jackson
| 3 episodes
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Fantasy Island (2021 TV series)|Fantasy Island]]''
| Marcia
| 1 episode (Season 2, Episode 4: “Mystery in Miami”)
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 183: Line 192:
* {{IMDb name|id=0124843|name=Brett Butler}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0124843|name=Brett Butler}}
* {{iobdb name|9283}}
* {{iobdb name|9283}}
* {{Amg name|301236|Brett Butler}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
Line 195: Line 203:
[[Category:Actresses from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Actresses from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Actresses from Montgomery, Alabama]]
[[Category:Actresses from Montgomery, Alabama]]
⚫
[[Category:Actresses from Texas]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American memoirists]]
[[Category:American memoirists]]
Line 201: Line 208:
[[Category:American women comedians]]
[[Category:American women comedians]]
[[Category:American women memoirists]]
[[Category:American women memoirists]]
[[Category:Comedians from Alabama]]
[[Category:Comedians from Montgomery, Alabama]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Houston]]
[[Category:Actresses from Houston]]
[[Category:People from Rome, Georgia]]
[[Category:People from Rome, Georgia]]
[[Category:Comedians from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
⚫
[[Category:Comedians from Houston]]

Latest revision as of 15:33, 22 December 2024

Brett Butler
Butler in 2015
Born
Brett Anderson

(1958-01-30) January 30, 1958 (age 66)
Montgomery, Alabama, US
Alma materUniversity of Georgia
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
  • comedian
Years active1987–present
Spouses
Charles Michael Wilson
​
​
(m. 1978; div. 1981)​
Ken Zieger
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 1999)​

Brett Butler (born January 30, 1958) is an American actress, writer, and stand-up comedian. She is best known for playing the title role in the ABC comedy series Grace Under Fire (1993–1998), for which she received two Golden Globe Awards nominations.[1][2]

Life and career

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Butler was born Brett Anderson in Montgomery, Alabama, the eldest of five sisters.[3] She was four years old when her father, Roland Decatur Anderson Jr., an oil company executive, moved the family to Houston, Texas. Her mother Carol left Roland, an abusive alcoholic, and moved with their children to Miami, Florida. Her mother battled depression, and the family was sometimes so poor that they ate Tootsie Rolls for dinner.[4] Butler briefly attended the University of Georgia.[4] Before experiencing success as a stand-up comic, she worked as a cocktail waitress.[2][5]

In 1978, at the age of 20, Butler married her first husband, Charles Michael Wilson, three months after their meeting. Wilson was abusive and in 1981 she left him. Since then, he has both admitted and adamantly denied battering Butler, while claiming that she too was violent.[4] Butler returned to her mother in Miami and began performing in comedy clubs, settling on the stage name "Brett Butler" as a play on the southern U.S. Gone With the Wind character of Rhett Butler. She moved to New York City in 1984, and was arrested for possession of marijuana.[4] In New York, she met her second husband, Ken Zieger, and they were married in 1987.[4]

In 1987, Butler made her television debut on The Tonight Show. Also that year, she performed on Dolly Parton's short-lived variety series, Dolly. Parton hired Butler as a writer for the remainder of the show's season, but the series was cancelled after one season of lackluster ratings.[6]

Grace Under Fire and beyond

[edit]
Butler at the 1994 Emmy Awards

In 1993, Butler starred in the ABC comedy series Grace Under Fire, created by Chuck Lorre.[7] Butler starred as Grace Kelly, a divorced single mother and recovering alcoholic. The show begins after the main character divorces her abusive alcoholic husband of eight years in an attempt to start life anew and prevent her children from making the same mistakes she did. For her performance, Butler received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1995 and 1997, and won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Performer in 1994.[8][9] She reprised her role of Grace Kelly in The Drew Carey Show and Ellen in 1997.

Butler published her memoir, Knee Deep in Paradise, in 1996. The book was started before attaining her celebrity status, and candidly addresses much of this time, ending the autobiography before Grace Under Fire's debut.[10][11]

Behind the scenes, Butler battled a recurring drug addiction and spent time in rehab.[12] In February 1998, due to her erratic behavior stemming from substance abuse, she was dismissed from the show and ABC cancelled the series.[13][14][15] After Grace was cancelled in 1998, Butler moved from Los Angeles to a farm in Rome, Georgia. In the following years she made selected screen appearances in films Bruno (2000) and Mrs. Harris (2005), and guest-starred on an episode of the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl in 2005. In 2008, Butler headlined at an arts fundraiser and spoke freely with a reporter about her depression, past drug addiction, television work, and current life on the farm. She also expressed interest in writing another book.[16]

Return to acting

[edit]

In October 2011, Butler appeared on The Rosie Show and reported being sober since 1998.[17] According to an Entertainment Tonight interview at around the same time, Butler, unable to maintain the costs of her farm, had lived in a homeless shelter, though in a 2021 Hollywood Reporter profile, Butler denied that she was ever homeless, and said she was paid to fabricate this claim for the show.[18][19] By this time Butler was attempting to make a career comeback and was working on developing a reality TV show about her self-professed psychic abilities and performing at the Downtown Comedy Club in Los Angeles.[20]

In June 2012, Butler appeared in a recurring role on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless playing ex-psychiatrist Tim Reid's girlfriend.[21] She returned for two episodes in March 2015.[22] Later in 2012, she began appearing in a recurring role as the bartender at the restaurant that Charlie Goodson (Charlie Sheen) frequents in the FX comedy series Anger Management.[23] Butler appeared in a total of 38 episodes from 2012 to 2014. In 2016, she played herself in the comedy-drama film The Comedian starring Robert De Niro.[24]

Later, Butler began appearing in dramatic roles. She guest-starred in two episodes of HBO drama series The Leftovers, and had a recurring role as Michaela's (Aja Naomi King) adoptive mother Trishelle in the ABC legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder in 2016.[25] From 2018 to 2019, she played Tammy Rose Sutton in the AMC horror series, The Walking Dead.[26] Also in 2019, she took a recurring role as Sandy Jackson, the mother of Reese Witherspoon's character in the Apple TV+ drama series, The Morning Show.[27][28]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Child Ain't Right Herself Showtime Stand-Up Comedy special
1994 Totally Bill Hicks Herself
2000 Bruno Sister Della Rosa
2000 Militia Bobbi
2005 Mrs. Harris Tarnowner Ex No. 1 Television film
2005 Vampire Bats Shelly Beaudraux
2009 Brett Butler Presents the Southern Belles of Comedy Herself
2016 The Comedian Herself
2018 Friday's Child Ms. LeField

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Dolly Rhonda Episode: "1.15"
1993–1998 Grace Under Fire Grace Kelly 112 episodes, also executive producer
People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Series
Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1995, 1997)
Nominated—Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series (1994, 1996–97)
1995 Women of the House Bre Episode: "Women in Film"
1995 The Larry Sanders Show Brett Butler Episode: "I Was a Teenage Lesbian"
1997 The Drew Carey Show Grace Kelly Episode: "Drew Gets Married"
1997 Ellen Grace Kelly Episode: "Secrets & Ellen"
1997 Coach Barbara Episode: "Viva Las Ratings"
2005 My Name Is Earl Connie Darville Episode: "White Lie Christmas"
2006 Moochers Host
2012 Archer Trish Episode: "Space Race – Part 2"
2012 The Young and the Restless Beth Hortense 9 episodes
2012–2014 Anger Management[19] Brett 38 episodes
2015–2017 The Leftovers Sandy Episodes: "No Room at the Inn" + "Don't Be Ridiculous"
2016 How to Get Away with Murder[29] Trishelle Pratt Episode 35: "It's About Frank"
Episode 36: "Is Someone Really Dead?"
Episode 39: "Who's Dead?"[30]
2018–2019 The Walking Dead[19] Tammy Rose Sutton 6 episodes
2019 The Morning Show[19] Sandy Jackson 3 episodes
2023 Fantasy Island Marcia 1 episode (Season 2, Episode 4: “Mystery in Miami”)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Baldwin, Kristen (November 22, 1996). "Brett Butler, Censored". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Schwarzbaum, Lisa (October 7, 1994). "Brett Butler: More Power To Her". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "Stork— St. Margaret's Hospital", The Montgomery (AL) Advertiser, February 6, 1958, p.10 ("Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Anderson Jr., of Tuskegee, a daughter, Brett, Jan. 30")
  4. ^ a b c d e "Out of the Fire". PEOPLE.com.
  5. ^ Schwarzbaum, Lisa (December 30, 1994). "Entertainer 11: Brett Butler". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Turkeys! 50 Remarkable Pop-Culture Flops". Entertainment Weekly. August 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "Three Stars Are Born". Newsweek. October 24, 1993.
  8. ^ "Brett Butler". IMDb.
  9. ^ "Brett Butler". www.goldenglobes.com.
  10. ^ "Knee Deep in Paradise". Publishers Weekly. April 29, 1996. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  11. ^ Schwarzbaum, Lisa (April 19, 1996). "Knee Deep in Paradise". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  12. ^ Flint, Joe (September 12, 1997). "Sad fall for Grace Under Fire". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  13. ^ Miller, D. Patrick (2003). "Fame, Fire and Surrender". fearlessbooks.com. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  14. ^ Lanzendorfer, Joy (August 18, 2004). "Funny Lady". North Bay Bohemian. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  15. ^ "Brett Butler's Problems Halt 'Grace Under Fire'". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  16. ^ "Spitfire: Comic Brett Butler set to take the stage in Santa Fe" Santafe.com October 23, 2008 Archived January 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ O'Donnell, Rosie (host) (October 26, 2011). "Brett Butler and Frank DeCaro". The Rosie Show. Season 1. Episode 13. OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.
  18. ^ "Former 'Grace Under Fire' Star Brett Butler Reveals: I'm Homeless (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. November 17, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  19. ^ a b c d Abramovitch, Seth (August 19, 2021). "Why Brett Butler Is Broke: 'Grace Under Fire' Star on Struggles and Survival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  20. ^ Giang, Vivian; Schlanger, Danielle (July 17, 2012). "9 Famous People Who Became Homeless". Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  21. ^ Kroll, Dan (May 8, 2012). "Y&R hires Brett Butler for latest stunt casting". SoapCentral. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  22. ^ Giddens, Jamey (March 17, 2015). "It Never Ends...Brett Butler to Appear on The Young and the Restless". Daytime Confidential.
  23. ^ Rhodes, Joe (January 27, 2013). "Brett Butler on Charlie Sheen's 'Anger Management'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  24. ^ "'The Comedian' review: Laughs the only thing missing for de Niro's insult comic". Chicago Tribune. February 2, 2017.
  25. ^ "How to Get Away with Murder's Aja Naomi King on That "Fishy" House Fire Reveal". TV Guide.
  26. ^ Mitchell, Molli (February 11, 2019). "The Walking Dead season 9: Who is Brett Butler? Who plays Tammy Rose?". Express.co.uk.
  27. ^ "The Morning Show Cast & Character Guide". ScreenRant. November 3, 2019.
  28. ^ Lloyd, Robert (November 1, 2019). "Review: Watch 'The Morning Show' to the end. It's better than you've heard". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "How To Get Away With Murder: Guest Stars". TV Guide.
  30. ^ "Brett Butler Credits". TV Guide.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Brett_Butler_(actress)&oldid=1264599456"