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William J. Butler is a Actor Irlandais born on 30 december 1859

William J. Butler

William J. Butler
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Nationality Irlande
Birth 30 december 1859
Death 27 january 1927 (at 67 years) at New York City (USA)

William J. Butler (1860 – 27 January 1927) was an Irish silent film actor. He appeared in 262 films between 1908 and 1917.

Butler, an Irish immigrant to the United States, moved his family from Ohio to Hollywood, California, in 1908. At the age of 48, he wanted to get involved in a new industry called motion pictures. He appeared in more than 200 silent films. He made frequent appearances in films made by famed silent film producer/director D. W. Griffith, who made more than 500 films beginning in 1908. In addition to acting, Butler was a crew member and screenwriter of early films.

William's son, Larry Butler, born in Akron, Ohio, just prior to the family's move to Hollywood. Larry grew up in the film business, dropped out of Burbank High School to work with his father on special effects projects. In 1940, Larry won his first of two Oscars. He was nominated five times for Oscars. His first Oscar was for special effects work done on "The Thief of Baghdad." Larry is credited with inventing the blue screen and the traveling matte, both processes were necessary for all special effects and are used today.

Butler's grandsons, Michael C. Butler and David Butler, became highly respected cinematographers. William's grandson, Christopher Butler, is also a cinematographer.

The Butler family which began with William Butler in 1908 have made movies for 100 years, and the generations span the silent era, the studio era, the independent director era and the current era

Butler was born in Ireland, and died in New York, New York.

Usually with

D. W. Griffith
D. W. Griffith
(54 films)
Alfred Paget
Alfred Paget
(36 films)
Blanche Sweet
Blanche Sweet
(32 films)
Kate Bruce
Kate Bruce
(32 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of William J. Butler (72 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

A Girl Like That, 50minutes
Directed by Dell Henderson
Origin USA
Actors Irene Fenwick, Owen Moore, Eddie Sturgis, Olive Thomas, John T. Dillon, William J. Butler
Roles Clergyman

Nell Gordon (Fenwick) is unfortunate in her ancestry; her father is a crook, but she possesses qualities of resourcefulness and loyalty. Though she love her father, she detests his associates, particularly one, Bill Whipple (O'Keefe), who is her constant suitor, Joe Dunham (Sturgis), who does the scouting for the trio, finds a likely bank in the town of Wheaton, the fact that a new bookkeeper is needed there opening a way for the gang to get into the bank, as Nell is an expert. Working on her love for her father, who is a very sick man, Whipple and Dunham persuade Nell to go to Wheaton and take the position. Boarding with Rev. Dr. Singleton, Nell wins the confidence of Jim Brooks (Moore), the cashier of the bank, and of Tom Hoadley (Dillon), his best friend and sheriff of the country. What the girl is working for, of course, is the combination of the safe, but before she has a chance to get it, she begins to realize that she is in love with cashier. On the very day that she learns the combination and copies it. Jim proposes to her, and, after a mental struggle, she decides that her love for him is greater than her loyalty to the gang, and she surrenders, concealing her identity, she had come to the town under an assumed name. Becoming suspicious of Nell's Delay inforwarding word to them, Whipple and Dunham attempt to force her father to write a note ordering her to act quickly, but the old man refuses and is shot. The crook go to Wheaton and try to force Nell to rob the bank. She has undergone complete reformation and has even confessed her identity to Jim's friend and is planning to leave Wheaton rather than bring disgrace upon the man she love. She discovers that her father has been murdered by the crooks and decides to be revenged. Apparently consenting to their demands, she gets them into the bank, but not until she has warned the sheriff. Nell is wounded in the fight which follows, and when she awakens finds herself in the arms of the man from whom she attempt to escape because she loved him.
Judith of Bethulia, 1h1
Directed by D. W. Griffith, Christy Cabanne
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Historical
Themes Films about religion, Films based on the Bible, Films about Jews and Judaism
Actors Blanche Sweet, Henry B. Walthall, Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, Lillian Gish, Mary Gish
Roles Bethulian
Rating62% 3.1000353.1000353.1000353.1000353.100035
The film is based on the biblical Book of Judith. During the siege of the Jewish city of Bethulia by the Assyrians, a widow named Judith (Blanche Sweet) has a plan to stop the war as her people suffer starvation and are ready to surrender.
The Mothering Heart, 29minutes
Directed by D. W. Griffith
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Walter Miller, Lillian Gish, Kate Bruce, Viola Barry, Charles West, Jennie Lee
Roles Club Patron
Rating63% 3.1901853.1901853.1901853.1901853.190185
The film opens by showing a young woman (Lillian Gish) in a garden. She is tender hearted, demonstrated by her appreciation of the flowers and the rescuing of a puppy. A melancholic young man (Walter Miller) woos her and she is foolishly swayed more by his pain of rejection than her love for him and eventually agrees to marry.
The Enemy's Baby
Directed by D. W. Griffith
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Lionel Barrymore, William J. Butler, Kate Bruce, Harry Carey, Claire McDowell, William Courtright
Roles Sam Miller - the Grandfather
Rating49% 2.478852.478852.478852.478852.47885
The House of Darkness, 17minutes
Directed by D. W. Griffith
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Lionel Barrymore, Claire McDowell, Charles Hill Mailes, Lillian Gish, Dorothy Bernard, William Elmer
Roles Extra
Rating60% 3.038773.038773.038773.038773.03877
In the introduction a woman is shown descending into insanity after having lost her baby. As she mourns, she takes a blanket from the baby's cradle and starts rocking it as if it were her deceased child. This serves as an introduction to what kind of individuals that reside at the mental institution. The doctor at the hospital is also introduced as he proposes to a nurse.