Brent Leroy Butt[1](born August 3, 1966) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for his role as Brent Leroy on theCTVsitcomCorner Gas,which he created.[2][3]He also created the television seriesHiccupsand wrote the 2013 filmNo Clue.In 2023, he released his debut novel,Huge,a psychological thriller about touring comedians.
Brent Butt | |
|---|---|
 Butt performs atCasino Regina | |
| Born | Brent Leroy Butt August 3, 1966 Tisdale,Saskatchewan,Canada |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Notable credit | Corner Gas(2004–2009) |
| Spouse | |
| Website | brentbutt |
Early life and education
editBorn on August 3, 1966, inTisdale,Saskatchewan,[4]Butt attended Tisdale Unit Composite School. After graduating, Butt briefly attendedOntario'sSheridan Collegebefore returning to his home in Saskatchewan.
Career
editWhile working as adrywaller,Butt and a friend started a publishing company, Windwolf Graphics. His comic,Existing Earth,was nominated for anEagle Award.They published two issues before running out of money.
In February 1988, Butt performed stand-up comedy for the first time at an amateur night at aSaskatooncomedy club.[5]He then began performing in theYuk Yuk'schain inWestern Canada,before moving toTorontoin 1989, where he lived in aCabbagetownapartment with two other comedians, and performing at Yuk Yuk's there.
Butt presented stand-up performances forCTV,CBC Television,CBC Radio'sDefinitely Not the Opera,andThe Comedy Networkin Canada, as well asA&Ein the United States and theSpecial Broadcasting Servicein Australia. He composed a number of prairie-oriented funny and/or "folksy" songs, including "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan" and "Hairy Legs".
In 2003, through his production company Prairie Pants, Butt co-created the CTV television seriesCorner Gas,set in his home province of Saskatchewan.[6][7]He starred in the show from 2004 to 2009[8]
On May 19, 2005, Butt hosted aRoyal Command Performancegala forQueen Elizabeth IIandPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to celebrate the Canadian province's centennial. He performed his song "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan" and traded jokes withLeslie Nielsen.That year, he also hosted theJuno Awards.[9]
In 2008, Butt and Prairie Pants made the decision to endCorner Gasafter its sixth season, which aired during the 2008–2009 season.[10]
At theWorld Television FestivalinBanff,Alberta,Butt was given the Comedy Network SirPeter UstinovAward which is presented in recognition of a significant body of comedic work. Past recipients includeJohn Cleese,Bob Newhart,John Candy,andEugene Levy.[11]
Butt also wrote and produced a comedy series for CTV, from 2010 to 2011, entitledHiccups.The series starredNancy Robertsonas Millie Upton, a children's author who begins seeing alife coachto deal with heranger managementissues.[12]
On July 25, 2010, Butt had a one-hour comedy special titledThe Brent Butt Comedy Special.It was shown on The Comedy Network. Guest stars wereSeth Rogen,Dave Foley,andJully Black.
In 2014, Butt co-wrote and co-executive produced the film,Corner Gas: The Movie,which was released in theatres and on CTV on December that year.[13]He also reprised the role of Brent LeRoy. The film included cameo appearances by several Canadian TV personalities as well asAcademy AwardnomineeGraham GreeneandWill Sasso.
In April 2018, Brent's follow-up seriesCorner Gas Animatedpremiered on The Comedy Network.[13]
In 2023 his debut novel was released,Huge,a psychological thriller set among stand-up comedians on tour.[14]
Personal life
editButt is married to hisCorner GasandHiccupsco-starNancy Robertson.The two have been married since 2005.
Awards and nominations
editButt has won fourCanadian Comedy Awards,for Best Male Stand-up (2001), Best Male TV Performance (Corner Gas,2004–05), and Best Writing – TV Series (Corner Gas,2004). The Comedy Network SirPeter UstinovAward was awarded to Butt at theBanff World Television Festivalin 2008.[15]
Filmography
edit| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Dudley Do-Right | A Bad Guy in the back | |
| 2000 | Screwed | Buddy | |
| Duets | Hotel clerk | ||
| Comedy Club | Bob Pooley | ||
| 2001 | Rider Pride | Les P. | Short film |
| 2013 | No Clue | Leo Falloon | Writer Producer |
| 2014 | Corner Gas: The Movie | Brent Leroy | Co-writer Co-executive producer |
| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Maniac Mansion | Applicant #1 | Season 3 episode 6: "Science Is Only Skin Deep" |
| The Kids in the Hall | Barfly | Episode #3.11 | |
| 1993 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Baker | Uncredited Season 1 episode 10: "Rain's Only Friend" |
| Comics! | Himself | ||
| 1995-1996 | Get Serious: Seven Deadly Sins | 7 episodes Writer - 5 episodes | |
| 1997 | Millennium | Short order cook | Season 2, episode 2: "Beware of the Dog" |
| Howling at the Moon | TV movie | ||
| Comedy Now! | Himself | Title: "Funny Pants" | |
| 1998 | X-Files | Coroner | Season 5, episode 12: "Bad Blood" |
| The Improv Comedy Olympics | Host | ||
| 1999 | Cool Undercover | Security guard | TV movie |
| The Metrix | Jasper | TV movie | |
| Chill | TV movie | ||
| 2000 | Cream of Comedy | Host | |
| Becoming Dick | Businessman #2 | TV movie | |
| 2001 | Big Sound | Todd | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Cold Squad | Barry | Season 6, episode 12: "True Believers: Part 1" |
| Canadian Comedy Awards | Himself | Writer | |
| 2004–2009 | Corner Gas | Brent Leroy | Creator Director - 5 episodes Executive producer |
| 2005 | Robson Arms | Reeves | Season 1, episode 7: "Hairpiece of Mind" |
| Beyond Corner Gas: Tales from Dog River | Himself | Creator Writer Executive producer | |
| 2009 | It's Been a Gas | Himself/Brent Leroy | Executive producer |
| 2010–2011 | Hiccups | Stan Dirko | Creator Writer Executive producer Director - 4 episodes |
| 2011 | Winnipeg Comedy Festival | Episode: "Misfortune Tellers" Writer | |
| 2013 | Leo Awards | Himself | Writer |
| 2018 | The Social | Himself | Guest co-host on the March 28, 2018 episode |
| 2018–2021 | Corner Gas Animated | Brent Leroy | Creator Co-writer Co-executive producer |
References
edit- ^"Oscar & Emma's House".Corner Gas.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
- ^Pat Hancock (July 2009).Crazy Canadian Trivia 4.Scholastic Canada. p.37.ISBN978-0-545-98994-7.
- ^Butt, Brent."IMDb Profile".IMDB.
- ^McIntosh, Andrew (2015)."Brent Butt".The Canadian Encyclopedia.Toronto: Historica Canada.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
- ^"Butt, Brent (Profile)".Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2007.Retrieved2007-01-07.
- ^Zoë Druick; Aspa Kotsopoulos (August 1, 2008).Programming Reality: Perspectives on English-Canadian Television.Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. p. 230.ISBN978-1-55458-084-2.
- ^Charles Boberg (August 26, 2010).The English Language in Canada: Status, History and Comparative Analysis.Cambridge University Press. p. 45.ISBN978-1-139-49144-0.
- ^Ron Brown (June 30, 2012).Rails Across the Prairies: The Railway Heritage of Canada's Prairie Provinces.Dundurn. p. 42.ISBN978-1-4597-0216-5.
- ^Stephen Stohn (March 3, 2018).Whatever It Takes: Life Lessons from Degrassi and Elsewhere in the World of Music and Television.Dundurn. p. 188.ISBN978-1-4597-3999-4.
- ^CBC Arts(April 10, 2008)."Corner Gas to end in spring 2009".RetrievedApril 10,2008.
- ^Strauss, Marise (June 9, 2008)."Butt tickled to join his heroes".Playback Online.RetrievedOctober 1,2008.
- ^"CTV Orders New Comedy Pilot From Brent Butt".Channel Canada. October 2, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon October 16, 2008.RetrievedOctober 3,2008.
- ^ab"Brent Butt interview: ‘Corner Gas Animated’ star talks about his hit TV revival".Pop Journalism.Robert Ballantyne, April 8, 2018.
- ^"Brent Butt's debut novel HUGE is a psychological thriller inspired by his life as a touring stand-up comedian".CBC Books. October 6, 2023.RetrievedOctober 17,2023.
- ^Gopaul, Sarah (May 15, 2008)."'Corner Gas' star to be honoured with comedy award ".Archived fromthe originalon July 18, 2011.RetrievedOctober 1,2008.
