Brett Butler (actress)
| Brett Butler | |
|---|---|
 Brett Butler at the 1994 Emmy Awards | |
| Born |
Brett Anderson January 30, 1958 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress/Comedian |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Charles Michael Wilson (1978–1981) Ken Zieger (1987–1999) |
| Website | RealBrettButler.com |
Brett Butler (born January 30, 1958) is an American actress, writer, and stand-up comedian, best known for playing the title role in the comedy series Grace Under Fire.[1][2]
Early life
Butler was born Brett Anderson in Montgomery, Alabama, the eldest of five sisters. Before experiencing success as a stand-up comic, she worked as a cocktail waitress.[2][3]
Career
One of the first notable appearances for Butler was on Dolly Parton's ill-fated 1987 variety series, Dolly. Parton subsequently 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. [4]
She was the star of the ABC television show Grace Under Fire from 1993 to 1998. During the show, she battled a recurring drug addiction and spent time in rehab.[5]
Butler published her memoirs, entitled Knee Deep in Paradise, in 1996. The book was started before attaining her celebrity status, and candidly addresses much of this time frame, ending the autobiography before Grace Under Fire's television debut.[6][7]
In February 1998, due to her erratic behavior stemming from substance abuse, she was dismissed from the show and ABC canceled the series.[8][9][10]
After Grace was cancelled in 1998, Butler moved out of Los Angeles and onto a farm in Georgia where she lived with 15 pets. 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.[11]
In October 2011, Butler appeared on The Rosie Show and reported being sober since 1998.[12] A 2011 Hollywood Reporter article said that when the money ran out, she turned to a homeless shelter for cover.[13] 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.[14]
Beginning in June 2012, Butler appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap The Young and the Restless playing ex-psychiatrist Tim Reid's girlfriend.
Butler also has a recurring role as the bartender at the restaurant that Charlie Goodson frequents in the FX show Anger Management starring Charlie Sheen.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Child Ain't Right | Herself | Showtime Stand-Up Comedy special |
| 2000 | Bruno | Sister Della Rosa | |
| 2000 | Militia | Bobbi | |
| 2005 | Mrs. Harris | Tarnowner Ex #1 | Television film |
| 2005 | Vampire Bats | Shelly Beaudraux | Television film |
| 2006 | Moochers | Host | Television film |
| 2014 | Beach Cougar Gigolo | Melinda Maxwell | Pre-production |
| 2014 | Anchor Baby | Ruth Chu | Pre-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Dolly | Rhonda | Episode: "1.15" |
| 1993–1998 | Grace Under Fire | Grace Kelly | 112 episodes 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 | 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 | Grace Kelly | Episode: "Secrets & Ellen" |
| 1997 | Coach | Grace Kelly | Episode: "Viva Las Ratings" |
| 2005 | My Name Is Earl | Connie Darville | Episode: "White Lie Christmas" |
| 2012 | Archer | Trish | Episode: "Space Race - Part 2" |
| 2012 | The Young and the Restless | Beth Hortense | 9 episodes |
| 2012–2014 | Anger Management | Brett | 38 episodes |
| 2015 | The Leftovers | Sandy | Episode: "No Room at the Inn" |
| 2016 | How To Get Away With Murder[15] | Michaela's adoptive Mom Trishelle [16] | Episode 35: "It's About Frank" Episode 36: "Is Someone Really Dead?" Episode 39: "Who's Dead?"[17] |
References
- ↑ Baldwin, Kristen (1996-11-22). "Butler Did It". Entertainment Weekly.
- 1 2 Schwarzbaum, Lisa (1994-10-07). "Brett Butler: More Power To Her". Entertainment Weekly.
- ↑ Schwarzbaum, Lisa (1994-12-30). "Entertainer 11: Brett Butler". Entertainment Weekly.
- ↑ "Turkeys! 50 Remarkable Pop-Culture Flops". EW.com.
- ↑ Flint, Joe (1997-09-12). "Sad Fall From 'Grace'". EW.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
- ↑ "Knee Deep in Paradise". www.publishersweekly.com. 2003. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
- ↑ Lisa Schwarzbaum (1996). "Knee Deep in Paradise". http://www.ew.com. Retrieved 2015-11-06. External link in
|work=(help) - ↑ Miller, D. Patrick (2003). "Fame, Fire and Surrender". www.fearlessbooks.com. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ↑ Lanzendorfer, Joy (2004-08-18). "Funny Lady". North Bay Bohemian. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ↑ "Brett Butler's Problems Halt `Grace Under Fire'". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
- ↑ "Spitfire: Comic Brett Butler set to take the stage in Santa Fe" Santafe.com October 23, 2008
- ↑ O'Donnell, Rosie (host) (2011-10-26). "Brett Butler and Frank DeCaro". The Rosie Show. Season 1. Episode 13. OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.
- ↑ "Former 'Grace Under Fire' Star Brett Butler Reveals: I'm Homeless (Video)". 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
- ↑ "9 Famous People Who Became Homeless".
- ↑ "How To Get Away With Murder: Guest Stars". TV Guide.
- ↑ "How to Get Away with Murder's Aja Naomi King on That "Fishy" House Fire Reveal". TV Guide.
- ↑ "Brett Butler Credits". TV Guide.