Actor profile

Dan Butler

2nd December 1954 Huntington, Indiana, USA Acting

Daniel Eugene Butler (born December 2, 1954) is an American playwright and actor known for his role as Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe on the TV series Frasier. Butler was born in Huntington, Indiana and raised in Fort Wayne; the son of Shirley, a homemaker, and Andrew Butler, a pharmacist. Openly gay, he starred in Terrence McNally's 1989 play The Lisbon Traviata and wrote an Off Broadway play about his life, The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me..., which derives its title from a comment Butler's father allegedly made when Dan came out to him. Though Butler never hid his homosexuality, he disclosed it publicly on Entertainment Tonight in 1994 during his run as a swaggering heterosexual on Frasier. His partner is acting teacher and director, Richard Waterhouse.

28 Movies 51 TV Shows 80 Credits

Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

All Boys poster

All Boys 6th December 2024 as Father Frank

Blonde poster

Blonde 16th September 2022 as I.E. Shinn

All My Life poster

All My Life 23rd October 2020 as Dr. Alan Mendelson

Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie poster

Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie 26th April 2018 as Mr. Simmons (voice)

Crazy, Stupid, Love. poster

Crazy, Stupid, Love. 29th July 2011 as Cal's Boss

Prayers for Bobby poster

Prayers for Bobby 24th January 2009 as Reverend Whitsell

Chronic Town poster

Chronic Town 3rd April 2008 as Blow Job

Karl Rove, I Love You poster

Karl Rove, I Love You 15th November 2007

Sniper 2 poster

Sniper 2 28th December 2002 as Eckles

Fixing Frank poster

Fixing Frank 3rd August 2002 as Dr. Arthur Apsey

The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest poster

The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest 28th June 2002 as Lloyd Acheson

The Sissy Duckling poster

The Sissy Duckling 14th September 1999 as Drake (voice)

Enemy of the State poster

Enemy of the State 20th November 1998 as Shaffer

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender poster

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender 1st November 1997 as Host / Narrator

The Fan poster

The Fan 15th August 1996 as Garrity

The Assassination File poster

The Assassination File 22nd June 1996 as Harvey Young

Live to Tell: The First Gay and Lesbian Prom in America poster

Live to Tell: The First Gay and Lesbian Prom in America 1st January 1995 as Self - Actor, "Frasier"

I Love Trouble poster

I Love Trouble 29th June 1994 as Wilson Chess

Rising Sun poster

Rising Sun 30th July 1993 as Ken Shubik

Dave poster

Dave 7th May 1993 as Reporter

From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One poster

From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One 29th November 1992 as Asst. DA Mendelson

Captain Ron poster

Captain Ron 18th September 1992 as Zachery

The Rape of Doctor Willis poster

The Rape of Doctor Willis 3rd November 1991 as Styvesant

The Silence of the Lambs poster

The Silence of the Lambs 14th February 1991 as Roden

The Long Walk Home poster

The Long Walk Home 21st December 1990 as Charlie

Longtime Companion poster

Longtime Companion 11th October 1989 as Walter

Manhunter poster

Manhunter 15th August 1986 as Jimmy Price

The Manhattan Project poster

The Manhattan Project 13th June 1986 as SWAT

Frasier poster

Frasier 12th October 2023 as Bulldog Briscoe

Stars in the House poster

Stars in the House 16th March 2020 as Self

Tales of the City poster

Tales of the City 7th June 2019 as Dan

The Mist poster

The Mist 22nd June 2017 as Father Romanov

Blindspot poster

Blindspot 21st September 2015 as Sheriff Paul Bolton

The Mysteries of Laura poster

The Mysteries of Laura 17th September 2014 as Calvin Gold

The Blacklist poster

The Blacklist 23rd September 2013 as Stromberg

Banshee poster

Banshee 11th January 2013 as Senator Mitchum

Elementary poster

Elementary 27th September 2012 as Denny Mulgrew

Cashmere Mafia poster

Cashmere Mafia 6th January 2008

'Til Death poster

'Til Death 7th September 2006 as Paul

Supernatural poster

Supernatural 13th September 2005 as Reverend Sorenson

House poster

House 16th November 2004 as Dr. Philip Weber

Quintuplets poster

Quintuplets 16th June 2004 as Francis Helberg

Miss Match poster

Miss Match 26th September 2003 as Chuck Webb

American Dreams poster

American Dreams 29th September 2002 as Coach Ambros

Without a Trace poster

Without a Trace 26th September 2002 as David Wilkins

Monk poster

Monk 12th July 2002 as Dr. Davis Scott

Law & Order: Criminal Intent poster

Law & Order: Criminal Intent 30th September 2001 as Congressman Price

Crossing Jordan poster

Crossing Jordan 24th September 2001 as Arnold Hummer

Malcolm in the Middle poster

Malcolm in the Middle 9th January 2000 as Norm

Rocket Power poster

Rocket Power 16th August 1999

More Tales of the City poster

More Tales of the City 7th June 1998 as Edward Bass Matheson

From the Earth to the Moon poster

From the Earth to the Moon 5th April 1998 as Gene Kranz

Ally McBeal poster

Ally McBeal 8th September 1997 as Attorney Bender

Just Shoot Me! poster

Just Shoot Me! 4th March 1997 as Bill Slatton

King of the Hill poster

King of the Hill 12th January 1997 as Attorney (voice)

King of the Hill poster

King of the Hill 12th January 1997 as Daniel (voice)

Hey Arnold! poster

Hey Arnold! 7th October 1996 as Mr. Simmons (voice)

Hey Arnold! poster

Hey Arnold! 7th October 1996 as Mr. Simmons / Scientist (voice)

Hey Arnold! poster

Hey Arnold! 7th October 1996 as Mr. Simmons / Lila's Father (voice)

Hey Arnold! poster

Hey Arnold! 7th October 1996 as Mr. Simmons (voice; uncredited)

Hey Arnold! poster

Hey Arnold! 7th October 1996 as Mr. Simmons / Dispatcher (voice)

Hey Arnold! poster

Hey Arnold! 7th October 1996 as Mr. Simmons / Publisher (voice)

Hey Arnold! poster

Hey Arnold! 7th October 1996 as Mr. Simmons / Houseboy (voice)

Suddenly Susan poster

Suddenly Susan 19th September 1996 as Dr. Richards

Caroline in the City poster

Caroline in the City 21st September 1995 as Kenneth Arabian

The Single Guy poster

The Single Guy 21st September 1995

Star Trek: Voyager poster

Star Trek: Voyager 16th January 1995 as Steth

Touched by an Angel poster

Touched by an Angel 21st September 1994 as Dr. Ivar Kroneberger

Frasier poster

Frasier 16th September 1993 as Bulldog Briscoe

The X-Files poster

The X-Files 10th September 1993 as Jim Ausbury

Frannie's Turn poster

Frannie's Turn 13th September 1992 as Father Anthony

Life Goes On poster

Life Goes On 12th September 1989

Quantum Leap poster

Quantum Leap 26th March 1989 as Jake Dorleac

Quantum Leap poster

Quantum Leap 26th March 1989 as Mutta

Monsters poster

Monsters 22nd October 1988 as David

Roseanne poster

Roseanne 18th October 1988

Leg Work poster

Leg Work 3rd October 1987 as Peter Solinski

The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd poster

The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd 21st May 1987 as Blaise

Columbo poster

Columbo 15th September 1971 as Sergeant Goodman