Dan Butler

Acting

Dan Butler

Born December 2, 1954Huntington, Indiana, USA73 credits

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.

Known For

Filmography

All Boys
2024All Boys
as Father FrankMovie
Frasier
2023Frasier
as Bulldog BriscoeTV
Blonde
2022Blonde
as I.E. ShinnMovie
All My Life
2020All My Life
as Dr. Alan MendelsonMovie
Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie
2018Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie
as Mr. Simmons (voice)Movie
The Mist
2017The Mist
as Father RomanovTV
Blindspot
2015Blindspot
as Sheriff Paul BoltonTV
The Blacklist
2013The Blacklist
as StrombergTV
Banshee
2013Banshee
as Senator MitchumTV
Elementary
2012Elementary
as Denny MulgrewTV
Pearl
2012Pearl
WriterMovie
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
2011Crazy, Stupid, Love.
as Cal's BossMovie
Prayers for Bobby
2009Prayers for Bobby
as Reverend WhitsellMovie
Chronic Town
2008Chronic Town
as Blow JobMovie
Supernatural
2005Supernatural
as Reverend SorensonTV
House
2004House
as Dr. Philip WeberTV
Quintuplets
2004Quintuplets
as Francis HelbergTV
Sniper 2
2004Sniper 2
as EcklesMovie
Miss Match
2003Miss Match
as Chuck WebbTV
American Dreams
2002American Dreams
as Coach AmbrosTV
Without a Trace
2002Without a Trace
as David WilkinsTV
Fixing Frank
2002Fixing Frank
as Dr. Arthur ApseyMovie
Monk
2002Monk
as Dr. Davis ScottTV
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001Law & Order: Criminal Intent
as Congressman PriceTV
Crossing Jordan
2001Crossing Jordan
as Arnold HummerTV
The Sissy Duckling
1999The Sissy Duckling
as Drake (voice)Movie
Enemy of the State
1998Enemy of the State
as ShafferMovie
More Tales of the City
1998More Tales of the City
as Edward Bass MathesonTV
Ally McBeal
1997Ally McBeal
as Attorney BenderTV
Just Shoot Me!
1997Just Shoot Me!
as Bill SlattonTV
King of the Hill
1997King of the Hill
as Attorney (voice)TV
Hey Arnold!
1996Hey Arnold!
as Mr. Simmons (voice)TV
Suddenly Susan
1996Suddenly Susan
as Dr. RichardsTV
The Fan
1996The Fan
as GarrityMovie
The Assassination File
1996The Assassination File
as Harvey YoungMovie
Caroline in the City
1995Caroline in the City
as Kenneth ArabianTV
Touched by an Angel
1994Touched by an Angel
as Dr. Ivar KronebergerTV
I Love Trouble
1994I Love Trouble
as Wilson ChessMovie
Frasier
1993Frasier
as Bulldog BriscoeTV
The X-Files
1993The X-Files
as Jim AusburyTV
Rising Sun
1993Rising Sun
as Ken ShubikMovie
Dave
1993Dave
as ReporterMovie
Captain Ron
1992Captain Ron
as ZacheryMovie
Frannie's Turn
1992Frannie's Turn
as Father AnthonyTV
The Long Walk Home
1990The Long Walk Home
as CharlieMovie
Quantum Leap
1989Quantum Leap
as Jake DorleacTV
Leg Work
1987Leg Work
as Peter SolinskiTV
Manhunter
1986Manhunter
as Jimmy PriceMovie
Columbo
1971Columbo
as Sergeant GoodmanTV