AUSTIN ROBERT BUTLER

Austin Robert Butler (born August 17, 1991) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Elvis Presley in the musical biopic Elvis (2022), for which he won a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA, in addition to a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.
Butler began his career on television, first in roles on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, most notably on Zoey 101 and later on teen dramas, including recurring parts on The CW’s Life Unexpected (2010–2011) and Switched at Birth (2011–2012). He gained recognition for starring in The Carrie Diaries (2013–2014) and The Shannara Chronicles (2016–2017). Butler made his Broadway debut in the 2018 revival of The Iceman Cometh and played Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
2005–2011: Early career in teen sitcoms
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In 2005, after working as an extra on several television series, including Unfabulous and Drake and Josh, Butler landed his first regular job as a background actor playing the role of Zippy Brewster for two seasons on Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.His friend on the show, Lindsey Shaw, introduced him to her manager, Pat Cutler, who signed him and launched his career. From that point on, Butler began taking acting seriously as a career.In May 2007, Butler landed a guest starring role on the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana playing the role of Derek Hanson opposite actress Miley Cyrus, and in September of that same year, he portrayed Jake Krandle in the episode “iLike Jake” on the Nickelodeon series iCarly.In February 2008, Butler landed a main role on another Nickelodeon series, Zoey 101, playing James Garrett, the love interest of Jamie Lynn Spears’s title character Zoey in the fourth season; previously, he guest starred on the same show playing the role of Danifer on the third-season episode “Quarantine”. In March of that year, he appeared in an episode on the short-lived Cartoon Network sitcom, Out of Jimmy’s Head, playing the role of Lance in the episode titled “Princess”.In July 2009, Butler starred in 20th Century Fox’s family adventure movie Aliens in the Attic portraying Jake Pearson, alongside Ashley Tisdale, Carter Jenkins, Robert Hoffman, Kevin Nealon and Doris Roberts.
In the movie, his character, along with his family, battles to save their vacation home and the world from an alien invasion.That same summer, Butler appeared in the starring role of Jordan Gallagher on the popular, but short-lived ABC Family series Ruby & the Rockits, alongside David Cassidy, Patrick Cassidy and his good friend, Alexa Vega.Later that year, he guest-starred in episodes of the Disney Channel sitcoms Wizards of Waverly Place and Jonas as well as on CSI: Miami and The Defenders.Also in 2010, Butler’s Aliens in the Attic co-star Ashley Tisdale invited him to audition for a lead role in the film Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, a spin-off of Disney’s High School Musical franchise that followed the adventures of Sharpay Evans after high school as she tries to get her big break on Broadway.Regarding his casting, Butler told Week In Rewind, “I had worked with Ashley once, and then I heard about the movie, because she called me and said, ‘Austin, I want you to come and read for the director for this—I think you’d be perfect.’ So, I went and met with the director, and it went really well, and I ended up doing the movie.” The film was released direct to DVD on April 19, 2011.In his early twenties, Butler continued to act in teen-oriented television series, but gained greater recognition his starring roles in The Carrie Diaries and later The Shannara Chronicles; he also branched out into new stage and film projects.

In March 2012, Butler was cast in The CW’s Sex and the City prequel series The Carrie Diaries to play Sebastian Kydd, a brooding heartthrob attending the same high school as Carrie Bradshaw, played by AnnaSophia Robb. The Carrie Diaries is based on Candace Bushnell’s novel by the same name and follows Bradshaw’s life in the 1980s as a teenager in New York City.In April 2014, it was announced that Butler had joined the cast of the play Death of the Author at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. He played the role of Bradley, a pre-law student with a double major in political science and math, and is set to graduate from a wealthy university. The play is directed by Bart DeLorenzo and written by Steven Drukman. Following previews on May 20, 2014, the play ran from May 28 to June 29.Butler made his Broadway debut playing Don Parritt, the “lost boy” in The Iceman Cometh, which starred Denzel Washington and David Morse. Previews for the limited run began in March 2018, and the play closed in July 2018. Per Hilton Als’ review of the play in The New Yorker: “Although there are many performers in George C. Wolfe’s staging of Eugene O’Neill’s phenomenal […] drama, The Iceman Cometh, […] there is only one actor, and his name is Austin Butler.”Austin Robert Butler was born in Anaheim, California, to Lori Anne (Howell), an aesthetician, and David Butler. He has always enjoyed movies of all types. When he was 13 he was walking around at the Orange County Fair and was approached by a representative from a background-acting management company, who helped him get started in the entertainment industry. He found that he really enjoyed it, and began taking a few acting classes. Soon, he landed a rather permanent (2005-2007) background-acting gig on Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide (2004), and a friend on the show, Lindsey Shaw, introduced him to her manager, who offered to represent him. From that point on, he considered himself to be a serious actor.

His first named (albeit uncredited) character was “Toby” in the Hannah Montana (2006) episode “Oops, I Meddled Again” in 2006 (girl broke up with him). First speaking role was in Zoey 101 (2005), as “Dannifer” or “Wrong Danny” (a few lines, and a girl poured soda down his shirt). He got a meatier role on Hannah Montana (2006) in 2007, still a small part, but very fun (a few more lines, and he got to fling popcorn on Miley Cyrus).

His big break (relatively speaking) was in 2007, as casting directors started to recognize him from his many, many auditions, and he was given an opportunity to play the part of “Jake Krandle” in the new Nickelodeon series iCarly (2007), which should start airing late in 2007. His first episode is called “iLike Jake.”His audition tape for the role of Elvis Presley in Elvis (2022), he sang an emotional performance of “Unchained Melody”. Director Baz Luhrmann was so moved and impressed with his audition that he gave the role to Austin.
Was in a relationship with High School Musical actress Vanessa Hudgens [2011-2019].
He plays guitar and piano.
He is good friends with Ashley Tisdale, Lindsey Shaw, Alexa PenaVega, Carter Jenkins and Lucy Hale.
His friend, Lindsey Shaw, introduced him to her manager, who offered to represent him, starting from that day till now he is being represented by the same manager.