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'{{short description|American actress}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{infobox person |name=Brett Butler |image = Brett2016.jpg |caption = Brett Butler 2015 |birth_name = Brett Anderson |birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1958|1|30}} |birth_place=[[Montgomery, Alabama]], US |occupation=Actress, writer, comedian |yearsactive = 1988–present |website = | spouse = Charles Michael Wilson (m. 1978, div. 1981)<br>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 the playing title role in the ABC comedy series ''[[Grace Under Fire]]'' (1993-98), for which she received two [[Golden Globe Awards]] nominations.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://ew.com/article/1996/11/22/brett-butler-censored/| work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| first=Kristen| last=Baldwin| title=Brett Butler, Censored| date=November 22, 1996| accessdate=October 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news| url=https://ew.com/article/1994/10/07/brett-butler-more-power-her/| work=Entertainment Weekly| first=Lisa| last=Schwarzbaum| title=Brett Butler: More Power To Her| date=October 7, 1994| accessdate=October 21, 2019}}</ref> ==Life and career== ===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 who was abusive alcoholic and moved with children to Miami. Her mother battled 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 news| url=https://ew.com/article/1994/12/30/entertainer-11-brett-butler/|work=Entertainment Weekly| first=Lisa| last=Schwarzbaum| title=Entertainer 11: Brett Butler| date=December 30, 1994| accessdate=October 21, 2019}}</ref> In 1978, at the age of 20, Butler married her first husband, Charles Michael Wilson three months after the 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/> She returned to her mother in Huston, and began performing on 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 City, she would meet her second husband, Ken Zieger, whey married in 1987.<ref name=peoples/> In 1987, Butler made her television debut in ''[[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 news| url=https://ew.com/gallery/turkeys-50-remarkable-pop-culture-flops/| title=Turkeys! 50 Remarkable Pop-Culture Flops| date=August 1, 2016| work=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>'' ===''Grace Under Fire'' and beyond=== [[File:BrettButler.jpg|left|thumb|Butler at the 1994 Emmy Awards]] In 1993, Butler went to star in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] comedy series ''[[Grace Under Fire]]'' created by [[Chuck Lorre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/three-stars-are-born-194228|title=Three Stars Are Born|first=Newsweek Staff On 10/24/93 at 8:00 PM|last=EDT|date=October 24, 1993|website=Newsweek}}</ref> 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 Awards]] nominations for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy|Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy]] in 1995 and 1997, and won [[People's Choice Awards]] for Favorite Female Performer in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0124843/awards|title=Brett Butler|website=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/brett-butler|title=Brett Butler|website=www.goldenglobes.com}}</ref> She reprised her role of Grace Kelly in ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]'' and ''[[Ellen (TV series)|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 television 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 |accessdate=November 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Lisa |last=Schwarzbaum |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1996/04/19/knee-deep-paradise |title=Knee Deep in Paradise |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 19, 1996 |accessdate=November 6, 2015}}</ref> Behind the scenes, Butler battled a recurring drug addiction and spent time in rehab.<ref>{{cite web |last=Flint |first=Joe |url=https://ew.com/article/1997/09/12/sad-fall-grace-under-fire/ |title=Sad fall for ''Grace Under Fire'' |website=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 12, 1997 |accessdate=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|accessdate=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| accessdate=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| accessdate=November 9, 2011}}</ref> After ''Grace'' was cancelled in 1998, Butler moved from Los Angeles to a farm in Rome, Georgia, where she lived with 15 pets. The following years she made selected screen appearances in films ''[[Bruno (2000 film)|Bruno]]'' (2000) and ''[[Mrs. Harris]]'' (2005), and guest-starred on episode of 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 a 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=== 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> A 2011 ''Hollywood Reporter'' article said that when the money ran out she turned to a homeless shelter for cover.<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| accessdate=November 6, 2015}}</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| accessdate=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 [[The Young and the Restless characters (1990s)|Tim Reid]]'s girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web| 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> She appeared total in 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>https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-the-comedian-mov-rev-0130-20170202-column.html</ref> In recent years, 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, [[Reese Witherspoon]]' character mother 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>https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-11-01/review-the-morning-show-apple-tv-plus</ref> ==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 1993 | ''The Child Ain't Right'' | Herself | Showtime Stand-Up Comedy special |- |1994 |''[[Totally Bill Hicks]]'' |Herself |- | 2000 | ''[[Bruno (2000 film)|Bruno]]'' | Sister Della Rosa | |- | 2000 | ''[[Militia (film)|Militia]]'' | Bobbi | |- | 2005 | ''[[Mrs. Harris]]'' | Tarnowner Ex No. 1 | Television film |- | 2005 | ''[[Vampire Bats (film)|Vampire Bats]]'' | Shelly Beaudraux | |- |2009 |''Brett Butler Presents the Southern Belles of Comedy'' |Herself | |- | 2016 | ''[[The Comedian (2016 film)|The Comedian]]'' | Herself | |- | 2018 | ''[[Age Out|Friday's Child]]'' | Ms. LeField | |} ===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 1988 | ''[[Dolly (TV series)|Dolly]]'' | Rhonda | Episode: "1.15" |- | 1993–1998 | ''[[Grace Under Fire]]'' | Grace Kelly | 112 episodes, also executive producer<br>[[People's Choice Awards|People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Series]]<br>[[Viewers for Quality Television|Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series]]<br>Nominated—[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy]] <small>(1995, 1997)</small><br>Nominated—[[Viewers for Quality Television|Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series]] <small>(1994, 1996–97)</small> |- | 1995 | ''[[Women of the House]]'' | Brett Butler | 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 (TV series)|Ellen]]'' | Grace Kelly | Episode: "Secrets & Ellen" |- | 1997 | ''[[Coach (TV series)|Coach]]'' | Barbara | Episode: "Viva Las Ratings" |- |- | 2005 | ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'' | Connie Darville | Episode: "White Lie Christmas" |- | 2006 | ''Moochers'' | Host | |- | 2012 | ''[[Archer (2009 TV series)|Archer]]'' | Trish | Episode: "Space Race – Part 2" |- | 2012 | ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' | Beth Hortense | 9 episodes |- | 2012–2014 | ''[[Anger Management (TV series)|Anger Management]]'' | Brett | 38 episodes |- | 2015–2017 | ''[[The Leftovers (TV series)|The Leftovers]]'' | Sandy | Episodes: "No Room at the Inn" + "Don't Be Ridiculous" |- | 2016 | ''[[How to Get Away with Murder]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/how-to-get-away-with-murder/cast/641176/|work=TV Guide|title=How To Get Away With Murder: Guest Stars}}</ref> | Trishelle Pratt | Episode 35: "It's About Frank"<br>Episode 36: "Is Someone Really Dead?"<br>Episode 39: "Who's Dead?"<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brett-butler/credits/208992/641176/?from=641176| work=TV Guide| title=Brett Butler Credits}}</ref> |- | 2018–2019 | ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]'' | [[Tammy Rose|Tammy Rose Sutton]] | 6 episodes |- | 2019 | ''[[The Morning Show (American TV series)|The Morning Show]]'' | Sandy Jackson | 3 episodes |- |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0124843|name=Brett Butler}} * {{iobdb name|9283}} * {{Amg name|301236|Brett Butler}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Brett}} [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:Actresses from Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:American film actresses]] [[Category:American memoirists]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from Montgomery, Alabama]] [[Category:People from Rome, Georgia]] [[Category:American women comedians]] [[Category:20th-century American actresses]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:20th-century American comedians]] [[Category:21st-century American comedians]] [[Category:Comedians from Alabama]] [[Category:Women memoirists]]'