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">Norbert Leo Butz (born January 30, 1967) is an American actor best known for his work in Broadway theatre.
Biography
Personal life
Butz was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elaine and
Norbert Butz. He is often referred to as "Norbs" by his family.[1] He was raised in a
"very middle class Catholic family." Although he was the 7th son, he was named
after his father, Norbert. He was the seventh of 11 children in his family."[2] He graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School. Butz
earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Webster
University and a Master of Fine ArtsUniversity of
Alabama/Alabama Shakespeare Festival's
Professional Actor Training Program. from The
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]
[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 NotTony AwardWicked (the
original Fiyero, 2003); and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy, 2005–2006), for which he received the Tony Award for Best
Leading Actor in a Musical. 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. (Camille Raquin,
2001–2002), for which he received a nomination;
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 latest 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 Lucy Lortel
Theater . 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.[5]
Butz taught at Drew
University, Madison, New Jersey for the spring semester
in 2008 in the drama department.[6][7]
Butz starred as Carl Hanratty in the new musical Catch Me If You Can5th
Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington from July 28 through August 14,
2009.[4][8] He also stars as
Rowdy Kaiser in the ABC show The Deep End.
Butz performed in the last showing on Enron on May 9th. 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.
Awards and
nominations
- Awards
- 2005 Drama Desk
Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels - 2005 Drama
League Award for Distinguished Performance - Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels - 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for
Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - 2005 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical - Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels
- Nominations
- 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical - The Last Five
Years - 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Thou
Shalt Not - 2002 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Thou Shalt
Not - 2003 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play - Buicks