Brent Butt
(born August 3, 1966) is a Canadian stand-up comedian actor and writer. He is best known for his role as Brent Leroy on the CTV sitcom Corner Gas
, which he also created. The series was an instant hit when it made its debut in 2004.
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BRENT BUTT TICKETS
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Personal life
Born in
Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Butt attended Tisdale Unit Composite School, performing stand-up in variety shows. After graduating, Butt briefly attended
Toronto's
Sheridan College. Butt returned to live at home. While working as a
drywaller he and a friend started a publishing company - Windwolf Graphics. His comic,
Existing Earth
was nominated for a
Golden Eagle Award. They published two issues before running out of money. In February 1988 Butt first performed at an amateur night at a
Saskatoon comedy club.
[1] Butt is married to his former
Corner Gas
co-star
Nancy Robertson.
Career
Butt has done several stand-up performances for CTV, CBC, CBC radio's
Definitely Not the Opera
and
The Comedy Network in Canada (which airs reruns of
Corner Gas
), as well as A&E in the United States and ABC in Australia. His prairie-oriented comedy and occasional "folksy" song compositions (such as "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan" and "Hairy Legs") have entertained audiences across Canada.
Butt started out his career in the
Yuk Yuk's chain in Western Canada, before moving to
Toronto in 1989, where he set up shop in a
Cabbagetown apartment with two other comedians. In Toronto, Butt performed in the Yuk Yuk's chain before leaving and becoming one of the most successful comedians in Canada.
On May 19, 2005, Butt hosted a Command Performance gala for
Queen Elizabeth II and
Prince Philip held in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to celebrate the Canadian province's centennial. Highlights of the program included Butt performing "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan" and trading jokes with
Leslie Nielsen.
On April 10, 2008, Butt announced that he and his production company, Prairie Pants, had informed CTV that the sixth season of
Corner Gas
, scheduled to air during the 2008-09 season, would be the show's last. Butt, in a press release, cited a desire for the series to end "on the top of our game" for the decision to end it now.
[2]
At the World Television Festival in Banff, Alberta, Butt was honoured with the Comedy Network Sir Peter Ustinov Award which is presented in recognition of a significant body of comedic work. Past recipients include John Cleese, Bob Newhart, John Candy and Eugene Levy.
[3]
At that same festival it was announced that Butt had signed a deal with Brightlight Pictures to write, produce and star in a comedic feature film, which will be co-produced by Butt's Sparrow Media Company. Details of that deal were not announced.
[4]
Butt is also writing and producing a new comedy series for CTV. Entitled
Hiccups
, the series would star Nancy Robertson as a children's author who begins seeing a
life coach to deal with her
anger management issues.
[5]
Awards and nominations
Butt has won four
Canadian Comedy Awards, for Best Male Stand-up (2001), Best Male TV Performance (
Corner Gas
, 2004–05) and Best Writing - TV Series (
Corner Gas
, 2004). The Comedy Network Sir Peter Ustinov Award was awarded to Butt on June 9, 2008.
[6]
References
- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012724
- CBC News: Corner Gas to end in spring 2009, April 10, 2008. Accessed April 10, 2008
- Butt tickled to join his heroes
- Brent butts into the movies
- CTV Orders New Comedy Pilot From Brent Butt
- ‘Corner Gas’ star to be honoured with comedy award