Biography - Gerard Butler

Who is Gerard Butler?

Gerard Butler is a Scottish actor.

Gerard Butler – Age, Parents, Siblings

Gerard Butler was born on 13 November 1969 as Gerard James Butler. His birthplace is Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland and his parents are Edward Butler, a bookmaker, and Margaret Butler. He has two siblings- an older brother named Brian Butler and an older sister named Lynn Butler. When he was 6 months, the Butler family moved to Montreal, Quebec.

But when his parents divorced, Margaret Butler took all her children including 18-month-old Gerard Butler back to Scotland. His mother later remarried.

Growing up, he was not close to his father. He had not met his father until he was 16 years old. His father had called him to meet him at a Glasgow restaurant and after the meeting young Butler cried for hours. Following the reunion, the father-son became close. Unfortunately, when Butler was only 22 years old his father was diagnosed with cancer and soon died. 

Education, Ethnicity

Gerard Butler was educated at St Mirin's & St Margaret's High School. After graduation, he joined the University of Glasgow School of Law, where he was the President of the university law society while also singing in a rock band Speed.

Before his final year of law school, Butler temporarily moved to California. There he worked odd jobs, traveled, and drank heavily. He then returned to Scotland to finish his law school. 

His ethnicity is Irish.

Gerard Butler – Girlfriend, Wife, Children

Butler has never been married to take a wife. But he does have a series of scandalous relationships. He was also rumored to be dating Naomi Campbell (2007), Cameron Diaz (2008), Rosario Dawson in April 2007, Shanna Moakler in October 2008, Jennifer Aniston in 2010, and Jessica Biel (2011).

Butler had a fling with Jasmine Burgess (2007-2008), Lindsay Lohan (2009), Laurie Cholewa in April 2010, and Serbian model Martina Rajic as the two were pictured kissing in May 2010.  He hooked up with Brandi Glanville in 2012 and dancer Beatriz Coelho in February 2010. He was in a relationship with his girlfriend Madalina Ghenea, an Italian model, in 2013. They met during promoting the movie 'Olympus Has Fallen.' 

He is currently in an on/off relationship with Morgan Brown since 2015. The couple has not released any statements on engagement, marriage, or children.

Also read: Paul McGillion - Actor of Stargate Atlantis 

Gerard Butler – Career

Before Fame

Upon graduation, Gerard Butler was positioned as a trainee lawyer at an Edinburgh law firm. However, his drinking habits did not disappear. With his late-night drinking, he frequently missed work. As a result, one week before he would have been qualified as a lawyer, he was fired. Thus, pursuing his dreams of becoming famous, Butler moved to London. 

There too he struggled to find acting jobs. While in London, he met a friend from his teenage days, while working in the Scottish Youth Theatre. The two got into a relationship and he was also her assistant. His then-girlfriend took him to audition for Steven Berkoff's play of Coriolanus in which he was selected.

 A series of roles in Trainspotting, Mrs Brown (1997), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Tale of the Mummy (1998) followed him for the next couple of years.

The young aspiring actor decided to move to Los Angeles. There he was able to land roles in Attila (2001) as Attila the Hun.  He also portrayed characters in Dracula 2000 (2000), Reign of Fire (2002), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003), Timeline (2003), Dear Frankie, Phantom of the Opera (2004), The Game of Their Lives (2005) and Beowulf & Grendel (2005).

Also read: Daniel Portman - Actor of Game of Thrones 

Films, Series

In 2005, Gerard Butler’s big break came when he was cast as King Leonidas in 300. 

Since then, Butler has acted in Butterfly on a Wheel, P.S. I Love You (2007), Nim's Island (2008), RocknRolla (2008), Gamer (2009), The Ugly Truth (2009), Law Abiding Citizen (2009).

Since 2010, he has had numerous big movie projects under his belt. He starred in The Bounty Hunter alongside Jennifer Aniston, as Stoick the Vast in How to Train Your Dragon, Playing for Keeps, Chasing Mavericks, Olympus Has Fallen, How to Train Your Dragon 2, London Has Fallen, Gods of Egypt, The Vanishing (2018), etc.

Co-stars

On the set of 300, Butler worked alongside Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro, David Wenham, Michael Fassbender, and Kelly Craig.

Gerard Butler – Awards, Nominations

He has been nominated for two Satellite Awards, a People's Choice Award, a Teen Choice Award, to name a few. He has won MTV Movie + TV Award, World Stunt Award.

Also read: Rory McCann - Actor of Game of Thrones 

Gerard Butler – Health, Alcohol issues

After the 2011 surfing accident which required treatment at the Stanford University Medical Center, he became too dependent on prescribed pain medication. So, he joined a rehabilitation facility. In February 2012, it was announced that he had completed the treatment course for substance abuse of painkillers.

Although he drank heavily in his young adulthood, Butler has stated that he does not drink alcohol.

Gerard Butler – Net Worth, Salary

The net worth of Butler is around $40 million while the figure on his annual salary is unknown.

Gerard Butler – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, Gerard Butler is followed by over a million followers and counting.

Also read: Jack Lowden - Scottish Actor of War & Peace fame