Gerard Butler

**Gerard James Butler**, born 13 November 1969, is a distinguished Scottish actor and film producer. After briefly studying law, he transitioned to acting in the mid-1990s, capturing small roles in productions such as Mrs Brown, the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, and Tale of the Mummy. His breakout role came in 2000 when he starred as Count Dracula in the gothic horror film Dracula 2000. Known for his diverse roles, he's starred in miniseries like Attila and popular films like Reign of Fire, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, and the science fiction film Timeline. His portrayal of Erik, The Phantom in Joel Schumacher's 2004 musical The Phantom of the Opera remains notable. Butler's career took a significant leap following his critically acclaimed role as King Leonidas in Zack Snyder's fantasy war film 300. His versatile performances extend to his voice role in the successful How to Train Your Dragon franchise and portrayals in the Has Fallen film series, Coriolanus, and Machine Gun Preacher. Butler's most recent action film roles include Geostorm, Greenland, and the upcoming film Plane. Despite his successful acting career, Butler has faced personal challenges, including the divorce of his parents and the death of his father. He's also battled issues with alcohol, resulting in a disorderly conduct arrest during his year off in California before returning to Scotland to complete his final year of law school.