Brett Butler (born January 30, 1958) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and
stand-upStand-up comedy is a style of comedy where a comedian performs for a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. It is usually performed by a single comedian with the aid of a microphone, either hand-held or mounted on a stand...
comedienne, best known for playing the title role in comedy series
Grace Under FireGrace Under Fire is a television series which ran on ABC from 1993 to 1998. The show starred Brett Butler. It began on September 29, 1993. It was the highest rated new comedy of the 1993–1994 season.- Premise of show :...
.
Early life and career
Butler was born
Brett Anderson in
Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery is the capital, second most populous city, and the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. The city population was 201,568...
. She was the oldest of five sisters. Before experiencing success as a stand-up comic, she worked as a
cocktail waitressA cocktail waitress is a type of server who specializes in bringing drinks to patrons of bars, casinos, comedy clubs, live music venues and other drinking establishments. Casinos traditionally dress their cocktail waitresses in fancy outfits with very short skirts, while less flashy establishments...
.
One of the first notable appearances for Butler was on
Dolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best-known for her work in country music....
's ill-fated 1987 variety series,
DollyDolly is a television variety show that ran on ABC during the 1987-1988 season featuring Dolly Parton.-Overview:The show was, to date, network TV's last attempt at a "traditional" variety series, featuring music, comedy skits and various guest stars...
. Parton subsequently hired Butler as a writer for the remainder of the show's season, before it was canceled.
During the run of
Grace Under FireGrace Under Fire is a television series which ran on ABC from 1993 to 1998. The show starred Brett Butler. It began on September 29, 1993. It was the highest rated new comedy of the 1993–1994 season.- Premise of show :...
Butler developed a reputation for allegedly difficult, unprofessional behavior on the set, and constantly clashed with producers and writers. The situation deteriorated so substantially that co-star
Julie WhiteJulie White is an American Tony Award-winning actress known to television audiences for her supporting role on the ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire.-Personal life:...
did not appear in the last season of the show.
Recent News
In 2008, Butler headlined at an arts fundraiser and spoke freely with a reporter about her depression, past drug addiction, television work and current life on a farm
http://www.santafe.com/articles/spitfire/. She also expressed interest in writing another book.
Book
Butler published her memoirs, entitled
Knee Deep in ParadiseKnee Deep in Paradise is the title of an autobiography authored by actor/comedian Brett Butler, released in 1996.The memoir is very direct, and deals with her pre-stardom life, prior to the success of her popular ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire....
, in 1996. The book was started before attaining her celebrity status, and candidly addresses much of this time frame, ending the autobiography before
Grace Under FireGrace Under Fire is a television series which ran on ABC from 1993 to 1998. The show starred Brett Butler. It began on September 29, 1993. It was the highest rated new comedy of the 1993–1994 season.- Premise of show :...
s television debut.
Statements
- At one point, the Grace Under Fire star said of Walt Disney:
His last words were, 'Whatever you do, don't let the Jews get the place.' And then they went and bought it.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,295141,00.html.
- "I would like it if men had to partake in the same hormonal cycles to which we're subjected monthly. Maybe that's why men declare war - because they have a need to bleed on a regular basis." http://www.quotegarden.com/woman2woman.html