Gerard Butler biography, wife, net worth, height, age, young, awards 2025

Gerard Butler Biography

Gerard Butler is a celebrated Scottish actor who's made it big in Hollywood. Butler's a versatile performer who works across genres—from gritty crime thrillers to tearjerker romances and musicals—but he's at his best playing tough warriors, bold criminals, and fearless athletes.

Childhood and Youth

Gerard James Butler was born on November 13, 1969, in the small town of Paisley in western Scotland. Gerard was the youngest of three children born to Margaret and Edward Butler, with a brother, Brian, and a sister, Lynn. His father worked for a bookmaking company.

When Gerard was six months old, his family moved to the Canadian metropolis of Montreal. A year later, the Butlers' marriage fell apart, and Gerard's mother returned to Scotland with the children. Margaret soon remarried. His stepfather, Alex Coll, proved himself to be a good man and tried to fill the father role for Gerard, but the pain of that loss still took its toll on the boy's psyche.

Gerard Butler's family: stepfather, brother, mother, Gerard himself, and his sister

The boy didn't see his father until he was 16, when his dad called and arranged to meet him at a restaurant in Glasgow. After that meeting, the younger Butler cried for hours. "Those emotions showed me how much pain can sit in your body. Pain and sadness you don't even know about until you get the chance," the actor later shared.

Butler started thinking about an acting career as a teenager when he showed promise at the Scottish Youth Theatre, but winning a scholarship to law school at the University of Glasgow temporarily shifted his life plans.

During his college years, Gerard was president of the university's law society – a position that, as Butler put it, "in some ways paved his way to the top." He also sang in a rock band called Speed at the time.

A major emotional blow for the 22-year-old Butler came with his father's death from cancer.

I went from being a 16-year-old who couldn't get enough of life to a 22-year-old who didn't care if he died in his sleep.

Before his final year of law school, Butler took a year's leave and spent it in California. In the States, Gerard worked various jobs, traveled extensively, and by his own admission, drank heavily – so much so that he was once arrested for disturbing the peace.

After graduating, Butler landed a trainee position at the Edinburgh law firm Morton Frazer. It seemed like great opportunities were opening up: a stable office job, a growing salary... But Gerard saw it differently and felt depressed at the prospect of spending his life sitting in an office from 9 to 5, five days a week. And after seeing "Trainspotting," the stage adaptation of Danny Boyle's cult film, he became completely convinced he'd made a mistake.

The pain of losing his father combined with the realization he'd chosen the wrong path, and the young man completely lost his taste for life. For a while, he tried to get it back by pouring alcohol down his throat. It took more and more booze to reach that desired oblivion. He started getting into fights, waking up in the morning to examine bruises and cuts in the mirror, unable to remember where they came from. Problems at work piled up, he called in sick constantly, so a week before his traineeship ended and he would've qualified as a solicitor, Morton Frazer's management decided to fire Gerard.

Acting Career

Gerard was 25 when he found himself out of work. He'd lost his shot at becoming a licensed lawyer, but he seemed almost relieved. Butler decided to move to London to chase a childhood dream and make it big.

Early in my career, I wasn't thinking about the right things. I was obsessed with fame.

In the capital, Gerard couldn't land a single role at first, so he picked up work wherever he could - waiting tables, selling at street markets. Then chance stepped in. He randomly ran into an old friend from the Scottish Youth Theatre who was working as a casting director at the Mermaid Theatre.

They started a romance, and she made Gerard her assistant. Even better, she scored him a meeting with her boss, the theatre's artistic director Steven Berkoff. He was just starting work on a production of Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Coriolanus." The director was blown away by Butler's energy and enthusiasm. Next to him, the other actors looked dull and lifeless. Steven didn't hesitate - he brought the rookie actor into the company.

His big stage breakthrough came with the lead role (heroin addict Mark Renton, played by Ewan McGregor in the film) in a theatrical adaptation of Irvine Welsh's famous novel "Trainspotting," which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival.

Young Gerard Butler in the production of "Trainspotting" (left)

Gerard Butler's film debut came in 1997. The 28-year-old actor landed a small role in the historical drama "Mrs. Brown" and ended up with hypothermia after swimming naked in freezing water.

During filming, the young actor received a commendation for bravery from Scottish authorities. On set, Gerard heard cries for help, ran toward them, and reached the banks of the River Tay, where a boy was struggling to stay afloat. Without thinking twice, Butler dove into the water and pulled the child out, worried only that he might not reach him in time. He doesn't see himself as a hero - in interviews, he's said he was running on pure adrenaline, and once he got the boy out, all his strength just drained away. He barely managed to carry the kid to shore.

Two years later, Gerard moved to Los Angeles, where he soon landed leading roles in "Dracula 2000" with Jonny Lee Miller, "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life" with Angelina Jolie, and "Timeline" with Paul Walker.

Gerard Butler in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life"

Gerard loved talking about his role in "Lara Croft": "This guy's a complete bastard, but he's got a good heart. I think we have a lot in common." His character Terry Sheridan turned out to be genuinely complex, and this role put Butler on Hollywood's map. The media went wild with rumors about a romance between Gerard and Angelina Jolie, though the actor denied it, insisting they were just friends.

In 2003, legendary blockbuster director Joel Schumacher offered Butler the role of the mysterious phantom in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous musical "The Phantom of the Opera". Gerard, whose only musical experience was playing in a rock band, started taking vocal lessons.

Gerard Butler in "The Phantom of the Opera"

The hard work paid off – Schumacher was impressed by the audition and cast Butler in the role. While "The Phantom of the Opera" wasn't the best musical adaptation, it gave Butler a chance to prove himself in completely new territory.

By 2005, Butler had already made his mark in Hollywood

In 2005, the now-established Scottish actor appeared in the forgettable "The Game of Their Lives" and "Beowulf & Grendel".

2007 became Butler's breakthrough year after playing Spartan King Leonidas in Zack Snyder's historical blockbuster "300" about the legendary stand of Spartan warriors in the Greco-Persian Wars.

That same year, Butler kept the momentum going with the thriller "Shattered" alongside Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello, and the romance "P.S. I Love You" with Hilary Swank, which won over romantic audiences everywhere.

Another winning ticket came with the lead role in Guy Ritchie's dark crime comedy "RocknRolla" – still one of the brightest spots in his career.

RockNRolla Dance Scene - Gerard Butler and Thandie Newton

Gerard never boxed himself into one type of role – he tried on different personas. In 2009, he was equally compelling in the sci-fi thriller "Gamer" and the goofy romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth".

Audiences particularly appreciated his role as an avenger seeking justice for his family's death in the action-drama "Law Abiding Citizen," released in 2009. Despite plot holes, the showdown between his ruthless character and the prosecutor (Jamie Foxx) kept viewers glued to their screens right until the final scene. In 2010, Butler starred in the action-comedy "The Bounty Hunter" alongside his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Aniston, who ironically played his ex-wife in the film.

Gerard Butler in the movie "Law Abiding Citizen"

In 2011, while filming Gabriele Muccino's "Playing for Keeps," Butler announced he was recording a music album, which never saw the light of day. Perhaps his music career was derailed by a series of injuries that followed.

Gerard Butler in the movie "Playing for Keeps"

That December, during the filming of "Chasing Mavericks," the actor was hospitalized after being overpowered by a massive wave. Some time later, on the set of the action thriller "Olympus Has Fallen" with Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman, Butler broke two vertebrae in his neck but didn't realize it until he got an MRI.

In February 2012, Butler checked into rehab to treat his addiction to painkillers. After the incident on the "Chasing Mavericks" set, the actor had been taking prescribed pain medication too frequently and couldn't handle the side effects on his own.

Gerard Butler in the movie "Chasing Mavericks"

Two years later, Butler returned for the "Olympus Has Fallen" sequel – the high-octane action thriller "London Has Fallen" – and portrayed Set, the god of the red desert, in the fantasy blockbuster "Gods of Egypt" with Geoffrey Rush. Also in 2016, the actor appeared in the drama "The Headhunter's Calling," and soon took the lead in Dean Devlin's disaster film "Geostorm," which topped the box office in Russia and CIS countries but got hammered by critics.

In January 2018, the action thriller "Den of Thieves" hit theaters, with Butler playing the head of an elite Los Angeles police unit.

Gerard Butler in the movie "Den of Thieves"

2018 also saw the release of "Hunter Killer," featuring Gary Oldman.

Butler still remains at the peak of his creative career

In 2019, filming wrapped on "Angel Has Fallen," continuing the story of former presidential security chief and tough-as-nails ranger Mike Banning. Butler also reprised his voice role as Stoick the Vast, the Viking tribe chief, in the animated film "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World."

Gerard Butler voiced the animated film "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World"

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Butler took the lead role in the disaster film "Greenland," also serving as executive producer. His character – construction engineer John Garrity – desperately tries to save his family from a comet hurtling toward Earth.

And though the film hit theaters mid-lockdown, it defied expectations and didn't bomb—pulling in over $52 million worldwide. Riding that success, work began on the sequel "Greenland: Migration," set to premiere in early 2026.

In 2021, the Scotsman appeared in the stylish action thriller "Copshop," taking on the role of hitman Bob Viddick, who finds himself locked in a cell with the very person he's been hired to kill. The Tarantino-esque film earned a warm reception from audiences.

Gerard Butler standing full height holding a weapon, scene from the film — Scene from "Copshop"

2022 brought the thriller "The Plane," the story of a man whose wife mysteriously vanishes. Critics found it forgettable, but Butler, as always, delivered a professional performance.

January 2023 saw the premiere of the aptly-named action film "Plane." Butler played a commercial airline pilot and former Royal Air Force aviator from Scotland. The plot centered on an emergency landing in a war zone, where the pilot had to team up with a murder suspect (Mike Colter). Shot for just $25 million, the film pulled in $74 million and earned an impressive 79% from critics and 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

Gerard Butler in pilot uniform against an airplane backdrop, scene from the film — Gerard Butler in "Plane"

In May 2023, Butler reunited with director Ric Roman Waugh for the spy thriller "Kandahar," playing CIA operative Tom Harris who had to run through Afghanistan with his translator. While critics were lukewarm (just 45% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences gave it a solid 82%, and two years later, the film unexpectedly became a Netflix hit.

Gerard Butler's Personal Life

Gerard Butler's known not just for his blockbuster roles, but for his romantic escapades – even the most dedicated tabloid followers can't keep count of his relationships. His companions have typically been fellow media personalities – models (including Russian supermodel Alesia Rjabenkova) and TV hosts.

And sometimes actresses – for instance, in 2008 Butler dated Jennifer Aniston, and in 2009 was spotted with bad girl Lindsay Lohan.

In 2014, Butler settled down somewhat in a serious relationship with interior designer Morgan Brown. The couple split up several times, but each fight ended in happy reconciliations. In 2016, news broke of their final breakup.

In 2019, Gerard and Morgan were spotted together at dinner, sparking speculation about the couple reuniting – especially since no other love interests had been seen around the actor after his split with Morgan.

The relationship of this couple is extremely complicated

Later, a source close to the actor told the press that Gerard still loved Morgan and had indeed tried to patch things up, taking a trip together to Mexico. But according to the insider, it didn't help. "I don't believe Jerry will ever settle down, he loves having fun too much," the source concluded.

In 2020, they split again. Butler admitted it hit harder than he expected:

I went through a breakup during the pandemic, so I lost someone I loved in a different way, and that was very hard.

Still, the former lovers kept popping up together: they were seen in Puerto Rico in October 2021, at the premiere of "Angel Has Fallen" in 2019, near NBC studios in New York in January 2023, and in April 2025 at dinner at the famous Nobu in Malibu.

The actor's friends told tabloids their romance was "on life support," since Butler "hasn't gotten any closer to proposing than he was five years ago." Just two days after that statement, the couple appeared together at the "How to Train Your Dragon" premiere in Los Angeles, looking perfectly happy.

However, in July 2024, the actor was spotted in London with 29-year-old model Penny Lane. Neither Butler nor Lane officially confirmed the relationship.

Since 2010, Butler has been a member of the charity organization Mary's Meals, which works to fight hunger in impoverished countries. In 2014, as part of the charity program, the actor traveled to Liberia.

Butler is a member of the charity Mary's Meals

Gerard Butler Now

In January 2025, Butler returned as "Big Nick" O'Brien in "Den of Thieves 2". This time, his character wasn't hunting criminals—he joined them for a major heist. The sequel opened with $15 million at the box office, landing the #1 spot. Shortly after the premiere, Lionsgate announced they're moving forward with a third installment.

The live-action remake of "How to Train Your Dragon" became a major milestone. Butler, who voiced Stoick in the animated version, now played him in the flesh. The film pulled in over $600 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing project of the actor's career. Butler's total box office haul has now crossed the $5 billion mark.

Gerard Butler in Viking attire on set, collage of two photos — Gerard Butler on the set of "How to Train Your Dragon"

As of 2025, Butler had several major projects in development: a sequel to "Greenland" and the crime drama "In the Hand of Dante", which also stars Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, John Malkovich, and Al Pacino.

Gerard Butler: latest news and articles

Jason Kelly

Butler always has a serious roles and almost every time main roles.

2021-05-03 16:21:07
Scott Stewart

Normally Butler is acting only in action movies, you will not see him in melodramas.

2021-04-16 15:07:25
Juan Jonathan Washington

Den of Thieves is not a bad movie. In general with Butler there are good action movies.

2021-04-01 20:35:02
Steve Bradley

In the movie `300` I hardly recognise Butler and I remember I was in shock when I saw on the credits his name in a main role.

2021-03-30 08:18:10
Thomas Richard Diaz

Butler has many cool roles for example RocknRolla.

2021-03-29 10:50:05

Gerard Butler

Photos: Gerard Butler

Gerard Butler Biography

Childhood and Youth

Acting Career

Gerard Butler's Personal Life

Gerard Butler Now

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