Gerard Butler

Actor

Scottish actor Gerard Butler is best known for playing the title character in the 2004 movie musical The Phantom of the Opera (co-starring Emmy Rossum). Butler gave up a legal career to pursue acting, and in 1997 made his movie debut in Mrs. Brown (1997). Since then he has risen to starring roles playing villains and exotic leading men. His films include Dracula 2000 (2000, with Shane West), Reign of Fire (2002, with Christian Bale) and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003, starring Angelina Jolie).

Extra credit: Gerard Butler was awarded a Certificate of Bravery by the Royal Humane Society of Scotland in 1997 for saving a boy from drowning in the River Tay... Butler was mentioned in the gossip columns in 2004 and 2005 as a leading contender to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.