William J. Butler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William J. Butler
Born	1860 Ireland  Ireland
Died	27 January 1927 New York, New York  United States
Other name(s)	W. J. Butler W.J. Butler William Butler W.J.Butler
Years active	1908-1917

William J. Butler (1860 – 27 January 1927), was an Irish silent film actor. He appeared in 262 films between 1908 and 1917.

Butler, an Irish immigrant, moved his family from Ohio to Hollywood, California, in 1908. At the age of 48, he wanted to get involved in a new industry called motion pictures. He appeared in more than 200 silent films. He made frequent appearances in films made by famed silent film producer/director D. W. Griffith, who made more than 500 films beginning in 1908. In addition to acting, Butler was a crew member and screenwriter of early films.

William's son, Larry Butler, born in Akron, Ohio, just prior to the family's move to Hollywood. Larry grew up in the film business, dropped out of Burbank High School to work with his father on special effects projects. In 1940, Larry won his first of two Oscars. He was nominated five times for Oscars. His first Oscar was for special effects work done on "The Thief of Baghdad." Larry is credited with inventing the blue screen and the traveling matte, both processes were necessary for all special effects and are used today.

Butler's grandsons, Michael C. Butler and David Butler, became highly respected cinematographers. William's grandson, Christopher Butler, is also a cinematographer.

The Butler family which began with William Butler in 1908 have made movies for 100 years, and the generations span the silent era, the studio era, the independent director era and the current era

Butler was born in Ireland, and died in New York, New York.

[edit] Selected filmography

• Lord Chumley (1914)
• Brute Force (1914)
• Judith of Bethulia (1914)
• The Law and His Son (1913)
• The Stolen Treaty (1913)
• The Strong Man's Burden (1913)
• The Crook and the Girl (1913)
• The Enemy's Baby (1913)
• In Diplomatic Circles (1913)
• The Mothering Heart (1913)
• Red Hicks Defies the World (1913)
• A Timely Interception (1913)
• The House of Darkness (1913)
• The Tenderfoot's Money (1913)
• The Left-Handed Man (1913)
• The Hero of Little Italy (1913)
• Oil and Water (1913)
• The God Within (1912)
• Brutality (1912)
• Gold and Glitter (1912)
• The Painted Lady (1912)
• In the Aisles of the Wild (1912)
• A Feud in the Kentucky Hills (1912)
• A Voice from the Deep (1912)
• The Battle (1911)
• What Shall We Do with Our Old? (1911)
• The House with Closed Shutters (1910)
• In the Border States (1910)
• A Trap for Santa (1909)
• The Hessian Renegades (1909)
• The Taming of the Shrew (1908)

[edit] External links

• William J. Butler at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
NAME	Butler, William J.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Actor
DATE OF BIRTH	1860
PLACE OF BIRTH	Ireland  Ireland
DATE OF DEATH	27 January 1927
PLACE OF DEATH	New York, New York  United States