Norbert Leo Butz (born January 30, 1967) is an American actor and singer known for his work in Broadway theatre. He is a two-time recipient of the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performances as Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can. He is one of only nine actors ever to have won the award twice.
Norbert Leo Butz | |
|---|---|
 Butz in 2012 | |
| Born | January 30, 1967 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Teresa Butz (sister) |
Butz originated the roles of Fiyero Tigelaar in Wicked and Edward Bloom in Big Fish in their original Broadway casts. His additional Broadway credits include the roles of Roger Davis in Rent and Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Butz also starred as Jamie Wellerstein in the original cast of The Last Five Years and as the Emcee in the United States tour of Cabaret.
Early life and education
editNorbert Leo Butz was born on January 30, 1967, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elaine (née Bourisaw) and Norbert Butz.[1] He was raised in a middle-class family; his parents are devout Catholics.[2][3] He is the seventh of 11 children and is named after his father.[4] 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.[5] He would later receive an honorary degree from Webster University in 2013.[6]
Career
editButz made his Broadway debut as a replacement swing – a type of understudy – in Rent in 1996. Butz ultimately replaced Adam Pascal as Roger Davis in 1997. Additional Broadway credits include Thou Shalt Not (Camille Raquin, 2001–2002), for which he received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical at the 56th Tony Awards; Wicked (the original Fiyero, 2003); and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy Benson) for which he received the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical at the 59th Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. His Off-Broadway credits include The Last Five Years (Jamie Wellerstein), 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 Lortel Theatre (2008).[7] 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 experienced health problems. Butz took over the part until January 13, 2009, when William H. Macy assumed the role for the remainder of the play's run.[8]
Butz taught at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, for the spring semester in 2008 in the drama department.[9][10]
He starred as Rowdy Kaiser in the ABC show The Deep End.
From April to May 9, 2010, he returned to the Broadway stage in ENRON as Jeffrey Skilling.[11] Despite Tony nominations at the 64th Tony Awards, the play struggled with ticket sales.
Butz starred in the 2011 drama indie film Higher Ground with Vera Farmiga, who also directed it.[12]
Butz originated the role of Carl Hanratty in the 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.[13] Butz played the role of Carl Hanratty in the Broadway production of Catch Me if You Can, which opened on April 10, 2011,[14] and closed in September 2011. For this role he won his second Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical[15] and his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical at the 65th Tony Awards.[16]
In April 2012, Butz appeared as himself in one episode of the NBC musical drama Smash. Butz played Hal Wilner in Greetings from Tim Buckley, a film about Tim Buckley and Jeff Buckley, which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.[17][18]
From November 29, 2012 to January 6, 2013, Butz appeared on Broadway in Theresa Rebeck's Dead Accounts, opposite Katie Holmes, Jayne Houdyshell, Josh Hamilton, and Judy Greer.
In 2013 he starred in the new Andrew Lippa musical Big Fish, which premiered in Chicago in the spring and opened on Broadway in the Neil Simon Theatre in October, directed by Susan Stroman.[19]
In 2012, he played Uncle Peck in a limited engagement revival of Paula Vogel's play How I Learned to Drive. He also starred in the 2013 film Better Living Through Chemistry. He played Kevin Rayburn in the 2015 Netflix television show Bloodline.
He also starred in the 2018 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady as Alfred Doolittle, the father of the leading role, Eliza Doolittle. He earned a nomination for Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for the production at the 72nd Tony Awards.
From July 9–28, 2019, he appeared in an original musical collaboration titled TWOHANDER at Feinstein's/54 Below alongside Sherie Rene Scott, with musical director Todd Almond.[20][21] Butz previously shared the stage with Scott in the original productions of the musicals Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Last Five Years.
In 2021, Butz played the role of Craig Maddox in the NBC drama series Debris which is written by J. H. Wyman.[22]
In 2024, Butz played Kosta in the play, Vladimir, by Erika Sheffer at the New York City Center Stage I which covers the story of a journalist and an accountant who bravely investigate and publicize issues in Russia.
Personal life
editButz married his former Wicked co-star Michelle Federer in 2007. Their daughter was born on January 2, 2011.[23] He has two older daughters from his marriage to Sydney Davis.[24][25]
The murder of his sister, Teresa Butz, made national news when an assailant stabbed both her and her girlfriend in her Seattle home on July 19, 2009.[26][27]
Acting credits
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five | Pawnbroker | |
| 2000 | Looking for an Echo | Anthony Pirelli (vocals) | |
| 2002 | Noon Blue Apples | Howard Phillips | |
| West of Here | Josiah Blackwell | ||
| 2007 | Dan in Real Life | Clay Burns | |
| 2010 | Fair Game | Steve | |
| 2011 | Higher Ground | Pastor Bill | |
| 2012 | Greetings from Tim Buckley | Hal Willner | |
| Disconnect | Peter | ||
| 2013 | The English Teacher | Vice Principal Phil Pelaski | |
| 2014 | Better Living Through Chemistry | Agent Andrew Carp | |
| 2019 | Luce | Dan Towson | |
| Wonder Park | Peanut (voice) | ||
| Good Posture | Neil | ||
| 2020 | Give or Take | Ted | |
| 2021 | Flag Day | Doc | |
| 2022 | Better Nate Than Ever | Rex Foster | |
| 2023 | The Exorcist: Believer | Tony West | |
| 2024 | A Complete Unknown | Alan Lomax | |
| 2025 | Coyotes | Trip | [28] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | John Fenwick | Episode: "Misleader" |
| 2007 | Playing Chicken | Jake | Unsold pilot |
| 2008 | Comanche Moon | Richard King | Episode: "#1.2" |
| 2009 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Archie Beuliss | Episode: "In Treatment" |
| 2010 | The Deep End | Rowdy Kaise | 7 episodes |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Larry Lamotte | Episode: "Bump and Grind" | |
| 2011 | The Good Wife | Mr. Medina | Episode: "Two Courts" |
| Late Show with David Letterman | Carl Hanratty | Episode: "Dr. Phil/Chris Hemsworth/Catch Me If You Can" | |
| Blue Bloods | Detective Kramer | Episode: "Moonlighting" | |
| The Miraculous Year | Terry Segal | Television film | |
| 2012 | Smash | Himself | Episode: "Hell on Earth" |
| County | Billy Krakowski | Unsold pilot | |
| 2015–2017 | Bloodline | Kevin Rayburn | Main cast; 33 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Mercy Street | Dr. Byron Hale | Main cast; 12 episodes |
| 2018 | Trust | Gordon Getty | 3 episodes |
| The First | Matthew Dawes | 2 episodes | |
| 2019 | Fosse/Verdon | Paddy Chayefsky | Miniseries |
| Madam Secretary | Lochlainn Heeney, Jr. | 2 episodes | |
| 2021 | Debris | Craig Maddox | Main cast |
| 2022 | The Girl from Plainville | Conrad "Co" Roy II | 8 episodes |
| 2023 | Justified: City Primeval | Norbert Bryl | Main cast |
| 2024 | American Sports Story | Bill Belichick | Miniseries |
| 2025 | "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" | Mark Olson | Episode: "A Vicious Circle" |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Rent | u/s Roger Davis & Mark Cohen | Nederlander Theatre, Broadway |
| 1997 | Roger Davis | ||
| 1999–2000 | Cabaret | The Emcee | US Tour |
| 2000 | Rent | Roger Davis | Nederlander Theatre, Broadway |
| 2000 | Juno and the Paycock | Jerry Levine | Gramercy Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 2001–2002 | Thou Shalt Not | Camille Raquin | Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway |
| 2002 | The Last Five Years | Jamie Wellerstein | Minetta Lane Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| Carousel | Jigger Craigin | Carnegie Hall | |
| 2003 | Buicks | Bill Abeline | Underwood Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 2003–2004 | Wicked | Fiyero | Curran Theatre, San Francisco (pre-Broadway)
Gershwin Theatre, Broadway |
| 2005–2006 | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Freddy Benson | Imperial Theatre, Broadway
US Tour |
| 2007–2008 | Is He Dead? | Jean-François Millet | Lyceum Theatre, Broadway |
| 2008–2009 | Speed-the-Plow | Bobby Gould | Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway |
| 2008 | Fifty Words | Adam | Lucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 2010 | Enron | Jeffrey Skilling | Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway |
| 2011 | Catch Me If You Can | Agent Carl Hanratty | 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle (pre-Broadway)
Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway |
| 2012 | How I Learned to Drive | Uncle Peck | Second Stage Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 2012–2013 | Dead Accounts | Jack | Music Box Theatre, Broadway |
| 2013 | Big Fish | Edward Bloom | Nederlander Theatre, Chicago (pre-Broadway)
Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway |
| 2017 | The Whirligig | Michael | Pershing Square Signature Center, Off-Broadway |
| 2018–2019 | My Fair Lady | Alfred P. Doolittle | Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway |
| 2023 | Cornelia Street | Jacob | Atlantic Theater Company, Off-Broadway |
| Gutenberg! The Musical! | The Producer | James Earl Jones Theatre, Broadway (one night cameo) | |
| 2024 | Edge of the World | Henry | Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway[29] |
| Vladimir | Kostya | Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway | |
| 2026 | The Recipe | Paul Child | La Jolla Playhouse |
Awards and nominations
editDiscography
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Norbert Leo Butz Biography". filmreference. 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
- ↑ Watkins, Barbara (May 3, 2012). "Eagle Hurst Ranch provides a real family vacation". stlouisreview.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
- ↑ "Norbert Leo Butz and the Root of Evil - Interview Magazine". Interview Magazine. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
- ↑ Nancy Rosati. "Spotlight On Norbert Leo Butz". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
- ↑ Laura Graesser (March 28, 2013). "Norbert Leo Butz Q&A". Ladue News. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Honorary Degrees at Webster University". Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ↑ "'Fifty Words' Listing" Archived 2012-10-23 at the Wayback Machine Internet Off-Broadway database, accessed November 20, 2011
- ↑ Silverman, Stephen M. (December 18, 2008). "Jeremy Piven Abruptly Abandons Broadway Play". People. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ↑ Robert Wnorowski (30 November 2007). "Broadway performer to teach at Drew". The Acorn. Drew University. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
- ↑ Stacie MacLaughlin (22 February 2008). "Curtain rises for Broadway star's arrival". The Acorn. Drew University. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
- ↑ Diamond, Robert (January 7, 2010). "Tony-Winner Norbert Leo Butz to Star in ENRON on Broadway". BroadwayWorld.
- ↑ Listing Internet MovieDatabase
- ↑ Varley, Eddie (March 10, 2009). "Tveit and Butz Reveal 'CATCH ME' Casting, Musical Premieres at Seattle's 5th Ave 7/23-8/14". BroadwayWorld.
- ↑ Hetrick, Adam (November 10, 2010). "Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit, Kerry Butler and Tom Wopat Set for Broadway's Catch Me If You Can". Playbill. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ↑ Jones, Kenneth (May 24, 2011). "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz". Playbill. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ↑ Jones, Kenneth (June 12, 2011). "War Horse, Book of Mormon, Anything Goes, Normal Heart Win 2011 Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ↑ "Tony Winners Norbert Leo Butz and Frank Wood Join Penn Badgley in Greetings from Tim Buckley". Broadway.com. August 22, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
- ↑ Kurchak, Sarah (August 15, 2012). "TIFF 2012 Adds Greetings From Tim Buckley, Spike Lee's Bad 25 Michael Jackson Doc, Skrillex Soundtrack". Spinner. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
- ↑ Simonson, Robert (September 7, 2012). "PLAYBILL THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, Sept. 1-7: Hal David, Willy Wonka, Flashdance on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ↑ "Sherie Rene Scott & Norbert Leo Butz: TWOHANDER". Feinstein's/54 Below. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
- ↑ Soloski, Alexis (2019-07-08). "They Didn't Speak for Nearly a Decade. Then They Made a Show About It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 18, 2020). "'Debris': Norbert Leo Butz To Co-Star In NBC Sci-Fi Drama Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- ↑ " Wicked' Sweethearts Norbert Leo Butz and Michelle Federer Welcome Baby Girl Georgia" broadway.com, January 3, 2011
- ↑ "Wicked Sweethearts Norbert Leo Butz and Michelle Federer Welcome Baby Girl Georgia". Broadway.com. January 3, 2011.
- ↑ "Butz-Davis". The Atlantic Journal. 28 August 1994. p. 141. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ↑ Hetrick, Adam (July 22, 2009). "Catch Me If You Can Previews Cancelled Through July 26". Playbill. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ↑ Green, Jesse (September 22, 2013). "Big Fish Star Norbert Leo Butz on How Tragedy Changed His Life and Career". Vulture. New York Magazine. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (2025-08-19). "Justin Long, Kate Bosworth's Horror-Comedy 'Coyotes' Sets Fall Release (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ↑ Nick Blaemire and Ethan Slater’s Edge of the World to Have One-Night-Only Concert
- ↑ Milligan, Kaitlin (December 7, 2018). "THE BAND'S VISIT, CAROUSEL & More Nominated for 2019 GRAMMY AWARDS". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (2025-01-08). "Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande & Jonathan Bailey Among Nominees for 2025 SAG Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ↑ "Norbert Leo Butz Shares Memory & Mayhem at CD Signing". Broadway.com. January 16, 2013. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
- ↑ Tamanini, Matt (April 8, 2015). "BWW Interview: Norbert Leo Butz Discusses Working with his Idol on Netflix's BLOODLINE, His New Album, More". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ↑ Prahl, Amanda (September 23, 2019). "BWW Album Review: Norbert Leo Butz Is In It For THE LONG HAUL". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
External links
edit- Norbert Leo Butz at the Internet Broadway Database
- Norbert Leo Butz at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
- Norbert Leo Butz at IMDb
- TonyAwards.com Interview with Norbert Leo Butz
- Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing, January 2008
