Robert Butler (director)
Robert Butler | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California , U.S. | November 16, 1927
Died | November 3, 2023 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 95)
Occupation(s) | Film and television director |
Robert Stanton Butler (November 16, 1927 – November 3, 2023)
Career
Butler graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he majored in English. He was first in an army band, before his career as a stage manager and an assistant before launching his directing career with an episode of Hennesey (starring Jackie Cooper and including a young Ron Howard)[3] and then went on to direct such shows as The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Batman, The Fugitive and The Twilight Zone.
Butler shot
Butler also directed episodes for many other shows, including .
Butler directed actor Kurt Russell in four Walt Disney movies, including Guns in the Heather, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and The Barefoot Executive.
Butler won two
In 2014, Butler's work was the subject of a career retrospective at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.[3]
Butler was honored by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Television Direction in February 2015.[4]
Robert Butler died in Los Angeles on November 3, 2023, at the age of 95.[5]
Filmography
Film
- Guns in the Heather (1969)
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)
- The Barefoot Executive (1971)
- Scandalous John (1971)
- Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972)
- The Ultimate Thrill (1974)
- Black Bart (1975) (Also producer)
- Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978)
- Night of the Juggler (1980)
- Underground Aces (1981)
- Up The Creek (1984)
- Turbulence (1997)
- Where Do the Balloons Go? (2009) (Short film)
Television
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1959–1960 | Hennesey | Yes | No | 3 Episodes |
1960 | Happy | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
1960–1961 | The DuPont Show with June Allyson | Yes | No | 5 Episodes |
1961 | Bonanza | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
The Dick Van Dyke Show | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
The Dick Powell Theater | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
The Gertrude Berg Show | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
Have Gun – Will Travel | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
Michael Shayne | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
Peter loves Mary | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
1961–1962 | The Detectives | Yes | No | 5 Episodes |
1962 | Follow The Sun | Yes | No | 3 Episodes |
The Rifleman | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
1962–1963 | Dr. Kildare | Yes | No | 2 Episodes |
Stoney Burke | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
The Untouchables | Yes | No | 7 Episodes | |
1963 | Ben Casey | Yes | No | 3 Episodes |
The Greatest Show On Earth | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
The Richard Boone Show | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
1963–1964 | The Lieutenant | Yes | No | 2 Episodes |
1963–1965 | The Defenders | Yes | No | 2 Episodes |
1964 | Arrest and Trial | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
The Twilight Zone | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
1964–1966 | The Fugitive | Yes | No | 6 Episodes |
1965 | Mister Roberts | Yes | No | 5 Episodes |
Run For Your Life | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
The Virginian | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
1965–1966 | Hogan's Heroes | Yes | No | 5 Episodes |
1965–1975 | The Magical World Of Disney
|
Yes | No | 12 Episodes |
1966 | Blue Light | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
Shane | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
I Spy | Yes | No | 4 Episodes | |
Batman | Yes | No | 6 Episodes | |
Star Trek | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
1967 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
The Invaders | Yes | No | 3 Episodes | |
Judd, for the Defense | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
N.Y.P.D. | Yes | No | 2 Episodes | |
1967–1972 | Gunsmoke | Yes | No | 3 Episodes |
1967–1981 | Insight | Yes | Yes | 4 Episodes |
1968 | Cimarron Strip | Yes | No | 2 Episodes |
Ironside | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
1969 | Mission: Impossible | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
The Outcasts | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
CBS Playhouse | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
1969–1970 | Lancer | Yes | No | 4 Episodes |
1970 | Then Came Bronson | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
1972 | Nichols | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
1972–1973 | The Waltons | Yes | No | 3 Episodes |
1973 | Doc Elliot | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
Hawaii Five-O | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
Kung Fu
|
Yes | No | 4 Episodes | |
Roll Out | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
1973–1974 | Columbo | Yes | No | 2 Episodes |
1975 | The Blue Knight | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
1981 | Hill Street Blues | Yes | No | 6 Episodes |
1982–1987 | Remington Steele | Yes | Yes | Also creator and executive consultant |
1985 | Moonlighting | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
Our Family Honor | Yes | No | 1 Episode | |
1987 | Out on a Limb | Yes | No | 2 Episodes |
1988–1991 | Midnight Caller | Yes | Executive | Also executive consultant |
1991–1996 | Sisters | Yes | No | |
1993 | Sirens | Yes | No | 2 Episodes |
1993–1994 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Yes | Executive | Also executive consultant |
1999 | St. Michael's Crossing | Yes | Executive | |
2001 | The Division | Yes | No | 1 Episode |
TV movies
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | Death Takes a Holiday | Yes | No | No |
1973 | The Blue Knight | Yes | No | No |
1974 | McMasters of Sweetwater | Yes | No | No |
1975 | Strange New World | Yes | No | No |
1976 | Dark Victory | Yes | No | No |
James Dean | Yes | No | No | |
Mayday at 40,000 Feet! | Yes | No | No | |
1977 | In the Glitter Palace | Yes | No | No |
1978 | Lacy and the Mississippi Queen | Yes | No | No |
A Question of Guilt | Yes | No | No | |
1984 | Concrete Beat | Yes | No | No |
1986 | Long Time Gone | Yes | No | No |
1987 | On the Edge | Yes | Yes | Yes |
1988 | Out of Time | Yes | Executive | No |
1991 | The Brotherhood | Yes | No | No |
1994 | White Mile | Yes | No | No |
1998 | Glory, Glory | Yes | Executive | No |
Associate director
- Climax! (1956–1958) (4 Episodes)
- Playhouse 90 (1958–1959) (3 Episodes)
References
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (2023-11-11). "Robert Butler Dies: TV Director For 'Batman,' 'Star Trek,' 'Hill Street Blues' & 'Moonlighting' Pilots Was 95". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ "Robert Butler". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-07-28.
- ^ a b c Susan King, "Director Robert Butler put stamp on 'Batman,' other landmark series", Los Angeles Times, February 15, 2014.
- ^ Variety, February 5, 2015
- ^ "Robert Butler, Director on Pilots for 'Batman,' 'Star Trek' and 'Hill Street Blues,' Dies at 95". The Hollywood Reporter. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.