Norbert Leo Butz
| Norbert Leo Butz | |
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| Born | January 30, 1967 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor/Singer |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | Michelle Federer (2007–present) |
Norbert Leo Butz (born January 30, 1967) is an American actor best known for his work in Broadway theatre.
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[edit] Personal life
Butz was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elaine and Norbert Butz.[1] He was raised in a "very middle class Catholic family." He is the seventh of 11 children in his family and is named after his father, Norbert."[2] Some of his first theatre roles included playing the male leads at local all-girl high schools, such as Cor Jesu Academy and Nerinx Hall. He graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School. Butz earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University and a Master of Fine Arts from The University of Alabama/Alabama Shakespeare Festival's Professional Actor Training Program.
Butz is married to former Wicked principal Michelle Federer (the original Nessarose).[3]
The murder of his sister, Teresa Butz, made national news when an assailant stabbed both her and her partner in her Seattle-area home on July 19, 2009.[4]
Butz and Federer's daughter, Georgia Teresa, was born on January 2, 2011. Butz also has two daughters, Clara and Maggie, from a previous marriage.[5]
[edit] Career
Butz made his Broadway debut as Adam Pascal's replacement as Roger Davis in Rent in 1996. Additional Broadway credits include Thou Shalt Not (Camille Raquin, 2001–2002), for which he received a Tony Award nomination; Wicked (the original Fiyero, 2003) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy) for which he received the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, a Drama League Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. He also appeared in Mark Twain's "Is He Dead?". His Off-Broadway credits include The Last Five Years (Jamie), Songs for a New World (Lead Male 2), Saved (Fred), and Juno and the Paycock (Jerry Devine), and he has toured as the Emcee in Cabaret and as Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Butz's film roles have included Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five (Pawnbroker), Noon Blue Apples (Howard Philips), and West of Here (Josiah Blackwell).
Butz's projects include the film Dan in Real Life (with Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, and Dane Cook), released in October 2007, the world premiere of Is He Dead?, a hitherto unproduced Mark Twain play that opened at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre on December 9, 2007, and Fifty Words Off-Broadway with Elizebeth Marvel at the Lucille Lortle Theatre (2008).[6] In January 2008, he appeared as Captain Richard King in the miniseries adaptation of the Lonesome Dove prequel, Comanche Moon.
Starting December 23, 2008, Butz stepped in to replace Jeremy Piven in David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow; Piven suddenly and unexpectedly dropped out of the play after he claimed to be experiencing health problems related to high mercury levels in his blood. Butz took over the part until January 13, 2009, when William H. Macy assumed the role for the remainder of the play's run.[7]
Butz taught at Drew University, Madison, New Jersey for the spring semester in 2008 in the drama department.[8][9]
He starred as Rowdy Kaiser in the ABC show The Deep End.
He returned to the Broadway stage in April 2010 through May 9, 2010 in ENRON as Jeffrey Skilling.[10] Despite Tony nominations, the play struggled with ticket sales.
Butz will star in Higher Ground, a drama indie film directed by Up In The Air star Vera Farmiga.[11]
Butz originated the role of Carl Hanratty in the new musical Catch Me If You Can which played pre-Broadway tryouts at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington from July 28 through August 14, 2009.[4][12] Butz played the role of Carl Hanratty in the Broadway production of Catch Me if You Can, which opened on April 10, 2011[13] and closed in September 2011. For this role he won his second Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical[14] and his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.[15]
[edit] Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama Desk Award | 2002 | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | The Last Five Years | Nominated |
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Thou Shalt Not | Nominated | ||
| 2003 | Outstanding Actor in a Play | Buicks | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Won | |
| 2011 | Catch Me if You Can | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | 2005 | Distinguished Performance | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Won |
| Fred & Adele Astaire Award | 2005 | Best Male Dancer on Broadway | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Won |
| 2011 | Catch Me if You Can | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | 2005 | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Won |
| 2011 | Catch Me if You Can | Nominated | ||
| Tony Award | 2002 | Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Thou Shalt Not | Nominated |
| 2005 | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Won | |
| 2011 | Catch Me if You Can | Won |
[edit] References
- ^ "Norbert Leo Butz Biography". filmreference. 2008. http://www.filmreference.com/film/44/Norbert-Leo-Butz.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ Nancy Rosati. "Spotlight On Norbert Leo Butz". Talkin' Broadway. http://www.talkinbroadway.com/spot/nlb1.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Michelle Federer Biography". The Internet Broadway Database. 2008. http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=112777. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ a b Hetrick, Adam."Catch Me If You Can Previews Cancelled Through July 26," playbill.com, July 22, 2009
- ^ Staff." 'Wicked' Sweethearts Norbert Leo Butz and Michelle Federer Welcome Baby Girl Georgia" broadway.com, January 3, 2011
- ^ "'Fifty Words' Listing" Internet Off-Broadway database, accessed November 20, 2011
- ^ "Jeremy Piven Abruptly Abandons Broadway Play" People Magazine, December 18, 2008
- ^ Robert Wnorowski (30 November 2007). "Broadway performer to teach at Drew". The Acorn (Drew University). http://media.www.drewacorn.com/media/storage/paper914/news/2007/11/30/ArtsAndLeisure/Broadway.Performer.To.Teach.At.Drew-3138918.shtml. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ Stacie MacLaughlin (22 February 2008). "Curtain rises for Broadway star's arrival". The Acorn (Drew University). http://media.www.drewacorn.com/media/storage/paper914/news/2008/02/22/ArtsAndLeisure/Curtain.Rises.For.Broadway.Stars.Arrival-3228777.shtml. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
- ^ Tony-Winner Norbert Leo Butz to Star in ENRON on Broadway broadwayworld.com, January 7, 2010
- ^ Listing Internet MovieDatabase
- ^ "Tveit and Butz Reveal 'CATCH ME' Casting, Musical Premieres at Seattle's 5th Ave 7/23-8/14"
- ^ "Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit, Kerry Butler and Tom Wopat Set for Broadway's 'Catch Me If You Can' " playbill.com
- ^ Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz
- ^ Jones, Kenneth"War Horse, Book of Mormon, Anything Goes, Normal Heart Win 2011 Tony Awards" playbill.com, June 12, 2011
[edit] External links
- Norbert Leo Butz at the Internet Broadway Database
- Norbert Leo Butz at the Internet Movie Database
- Norbert Leo Butz at AllRovi
- Working in the Theatre Seminar video at American Theatre Wing.org
- TonyAwards.com Interview with Norbert Leo Butz
- Norbert Leo Butz Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing, January 2008
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