Brent Butt
Encyclopedia
Brent Butt is a Canadian stand-up comedian actor and writer. He is best known for his role as Brent Leroy on the CTV
sitcom Corner Gas
, which he also created. The series was an instant hit when it made its debut in 2004
.
, Butt attended Tisdale Unit Composite School. After graduating, Butt briefly attended Ontario
's Sheridan College
. Butt returned to live at home. While working as a drywall
er he and a friend started a publishing company - Windwolf Graphics. His comic, Existing Earth was nominated for a Golden Eagle Award. They published two issues before running out of money. In February 1988 Butt first performed at an amateur night at a Saskatoon
comedy club
. Butt is married to his Corner Gas and Hiccups
co-star Nancy Robertson.
and The Comedy Network
in Canada (which airs reruns of Corner Gas), as well as A&E in the United States and SBS in Australia. His prairie-oriented comedy and occasional "folksy" song compositions (such as "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan" and "Hairy Legs") have entertained audiences across Canada.
Butt started out his career in the Yuk Yuk's
chain in Western Canada, before moving to Toronto
in 1989, where he set up shop in a Cabbagetown
apartment with two other comedians. In Toronto, Butt performed in the Yuk Yuk's chain before leaving and becoming one of the most successful comedians in Canada.
On May 19, 2005, Butt hosted a Command Performance gala for Queen Elizabeth II
and Prince Philip
held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to celebrate the Canadian province's centennial. Highlights of the program included Butt performing "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan" and trading jokes with Leslie Nielsen
.
On April 10, 2008, Butt announced that he and his production company, Prairie Pants, had informed CTV that the sixth season of Corner Gas, scheduled to air during the 2008-09 season, would be the show's last. Butt, in a press release, cited a desire for the series to end "on the top of our game" for the decision to end it now.
At the World Television Festival in Banff, Alberta, Butt was honoured with the Comedy Network Sir Peter Ustinov Award which is presented in recognition of a significant body of comedic work. Past recipients include John Cleese
, Bob Newhart
, John Candy
and Eugene Levy
.
At that same festival it was announced that Butt had signed a deal with Brightlight Pictures to write, produce and star in a comedic feature film, which will be co-produced by Butt's Sparrow Media Company. Details of that deal were not announced.
Butt also wrote and produced a comedy series for CTV from 2010 to 2011. Entitled Hiccups
, the series starred Nancy Robertson (Millie Upton) as a children's author who begins seeing a life coach to deal with her anger management
issues.
On July 25, 2010, Butt had a one hour Comedy Special simply titled: The Brent Butt Comedy Special. It was shown on The Comedy Network. Guest stars were: Seth Rogen
, Dave Foley
and Jully Black
.
, 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 Sir Peter Ustinov Award was awarded to Butt on June 9, 2008.
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
sitcom Corner Gas
Corner Gas
Corner Gas is a Canadian television sitcom created by Brent Butt. The series ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009. Re-runs still air on CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada; it formerly aired on WGN America in the United States....
, which he also created. The series was an instant hit when it made its debut in 2004
2004 in television
The year 2004 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2004.For the American TV schedule, see: 2004–05 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:...
.
Personal life
Born in Tisdale, SaskatchewanTisdale, Saskatchewan
-Geography:5 major parks are located within the town.Some regional and provincial parks near Tisdale are:*Kipabiskau Regional Park is located in the Barrier Valley nearby.*Greenwater Lake Provincial Park is the largest neighboring park....
, Butt attended Tisdale Unit Composite School. After graduating, Butt briefly attended Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
's Sheridan College
Sheridan College
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a diploma and degree granting Canadian polytechnic institute with approximately 15,000 full time students and 35,000 continuing education students...
. Butt returned to live at home. While working as a drywall
Drywall
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, wallboard or gypsum board is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper...
er he and a friend started a publishing company - Windwolf Graphics. His comic, Existing Earth was nominated for a Golden Eagle Award. They published two issues before running out of money. In February 1988 Butt first performed at an amateur night at a Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
comedy club
Comedy club
A comedy club is a venue, typically a nightclub, bar, or restaurant where people watch or listen to performances, including stand-up comedians, improvisational comedians, impersonators, magicians, ventriloquists and other comedy acts...
. Butt is married to his Corner Gas and Hiccups
Hiccups (TV series)
Hiccups is a Canadian television series created by Corner Gas star Brent Butt, who is also the writer, show runner and executive producer of the program. The series was produced by Laura Lightbown and David Storey and airs on CTV and The Comedy Network. The pilot was shot in late March 2009 with...
co-star Nancy Robertson.
Career
Butt has done several stand-up performances for CTV, CBC, CBC radio's Definitely Not the OperaDefinitely Not the Opera
Definitely Not the Opera is a magazine-style radio program focusing on aspects of pop culture. The program is broadcast on CBC Radio One on Saturday afternoons, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. . An abridged version of each weekly program is available for download as a weekly podcast...
and The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy programming.The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East and West ....
in Canada (which airs reruns of Corner Gas), as well as A&E in the United States and SBS in Australia. His prairie-oriented comedy and occasional "folksy" song compositions (such as "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan" and "Hairy Legs") have entertained audiences across Canada.
Butt started out his career in the Yuk Yuk's
Yuk Yuk's
Yuk Yuk's is a national comedy club chain in Canada, owned by former stand-up comedian Mark Breslin and established in 1977 by Breslin and Joel Axler...
chain in Western Canada, before moving to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1989, where he set up shop in a Cabbagetown
Cabbagetown, Toronto
Cabbagetown is a neighbourhood located on the east side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It comprises "the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in all of North America", according to the Cabbagetown Preservation Association....
apartment with two other comedians. In Toronto, Butt performed in the Yuk Yuk's chain before leaving and becoming one of the most successful comedians in Canada.
On May 19, 2005, Butt hosted a Command Performance gala for Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
and Prince Philip
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to celebrate the Canadian province's centennial. Highlights of the program included Butt performing "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan" and trading jokes with Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen
Leslie William Nielsen, OC was a Canadian and naturalized American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in more than one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying more than 220 characters...
.
On April 10, 2008, Butt announced that he and his production company, Prairie Pants, had informed CTV that the sixth season of Corner Gas, scheduled to air during the 2008-09 season, would be the show's last. Butt, in a press release, cited a desire for the series to end "on the top of our game" for the decision to end it now.
At the World Television Festival in Banff, Alberta, Butt was honoured with the Comedy Network Sir Peter Ustinov Award which is presented in recognition of a significant body of comedic work. Past recipients include John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
, Bob Newhart
Bob Newhart
George Robert Newhart , known professionally as Bob Newhart, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Noted for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery, Newhart came to prominence in the 1960s when his album of comedic monologues The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was a worldwide...
, John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
and Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, television director, producer, musician, and writer. He is known for his work in Canadian television series, American movies, and television movies. He is the only actor to have appeared in all eight of the American Pie films, as Noah Levenstein...
.
At that same festival it was announced that Butt had signed a deal with Brightlight Pictures to write, produce and star in a comedic feature film, which will be co-produced by Butt's Sparrow Media Company. Details of that deal were not announced.
Butt also wrote and produced a comedy series for CTV from 2010 to 2011. Entitled Hiccups
Hiccups (TV series)
Hiccups is a Canadian television series created by Corner Gas star Brent Butt, who is also the writer, show runner and executive producer of the program. The series was produced by Laura Lightbown and David Storey and airs on CTV and The Comedy Network. The pilot was shot in late March 2009 with...
, the series starred Nancy Robertson (Millie Upton) as a children's author who begins seeing a life coach to deal with her anger management
Anger management
The term anger management commonly refers to a system of psychological therapeutic techniques and exercises by which someone with excessive or uncontrollable anger & aggression can control or reduce the triggers, degrees, and effects of an angered emotional state...
issues.
On July 25, 2010, Butt had a one hour Comedy Special simply titled: The Brent Butt Comedy Special. It was shown on The Comedy Network. Guest stars were: Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist. Rogen began his career doing stand-up comedy during his teen years, winning the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest in 1998. While still living in his native Vancouver, he landed a small part in Freaks and...
, Dave Foley
Dave Foley
David Scott "Dave" Foley is a Canadian comedian, writer, director, and producer best known for his work in The Kids in the Hall, NewsRadio, A Bug's Life, and Celebrity Poker Showdown...
and Jully Black
Jully Black
Jully Black |Julie]]"; born Jullyann Inderia Gordon; November 8, 1977) is a Canadian R&B singer–songwriter. She has collaborated and written for many artists, including Nas, Missy Elliott, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul.-Life & career:Black was born Jullyann...
.
Awards and nominations
Butt has won four Canadian Comedy AwardsCanadian Comedy Awards
The Canadian Comedy Awards, founded by , are an annual awards ceremony celebrating notable English speaking Canadian comedians for achievements in Live, Radio, Film, Television and Internet media over the previous year...
, 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 Sir Peter Ustinov Award was awarded to Butt on June 9, 2008.