Gerard Butler

Gerard Butler (also credited as Gerard James Butler) is a Scottish screen actor and producer, born on November 13, 1969, in Paisley, Scotland. Before stepping in front of the camera, he trained in law—an early path he ultimately left behind as acting took hold in the mid-1990s.

Butler built momentum with small parts in late-’90s features, then broke through playing the title villain in Dracula 2000. He followed with high-profile genre work and studio productions, including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life as Terry Sheridan, and later showcased a different side as Erik in Joel Schumacher’s lavish musical The Phantom of the Opera.

Global recognition arrived with his commanding turn as King Leonidas in 300, cementing his reputation as a modern action lead. He continued balancing intensity with mainstream appeal in films like The Ugly Truth and the vigilante thriller Law Abiding Citizen as Clyde Alexander Shelton.

Expanding into family entertainment, Butler became a fan favorite as the voice of Stoick in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. In recent years, he has remained a reliable box-office presence, returning often to high-stakes thrillers and survival-driven action roles.