Comprehensive information and links about Gerard Butler

Gerard Butler (born November 13, 1969Gerard Butler is a Scottish actor.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland to Margaret and Edward Butler (both having mainly Irish ancestry), Gerard is the youngest of three children. He spent the first few years of his life in Montreal before returning to Paisley, Scotland after his parents' (Margaret and Edward Butler) separation. He grew up with his mother, who remarried again a few years later. He had no contact with his father until he was age 16. He studied law at Glasgow University, where he served as President of the school's Law Society, and worked as a solicitor after graduation. He spent the majority of his time as a lawyer feeling depressed and drinking. After being fired from his job he began acting. He has since sobered up and has not touched a drop of alcohol for over 8 years.

His early film roles included (2000). His breakthrough came when he played the title role in the U.S. mini-series Attila the Hun. He also appeared in the U.K. miniseries .

Luckily, he already knew a bit about singing before signing on for the title role in Joel Schumacher's film rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's . While working as a lawyer, he sang with a rock band called Speed. But he began taking formal singing lessons before he was even cast as the Phantom, training for hours a day from January of 2003 to June of 2004.

While filming the movie in Scotland with Dame Judi Dench and Billy Connolly, he was enjoying a picnic with his mother near the River Tay when they heard the shouts of a young boy who had been swimming with a friend who was in trouble. Butler jumped into the river and consequently saved the young boy from drowning. He received a "Certificate of Bravery" from the Royal Humane Society. He felt he only did what anyone in the situation would have done.

He prefers to be called "Gerry" rather than "Gerard," (pronounced as GER-ard (rhymes with "Jerad"); not Ger-ARD) Gerry's home base is in London, although he does spend time in Los Angeles and New York City.

Among Butler's film credits are will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Fesitval on September 14, 2005.

In August 2005 it was announced that Butler has signed on to star in "300," an adaptation of the Frank Miller graphic novel based on the heroism of 300 elite Spartan warriors at the ancient battle of Thermopylae in Greece. Filming began in October in Montreal.