Brent Butt

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Brent Butt : biography

August 3, 1966 –

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.

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 SBS 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., April 10, 2008. Accessed April 10, 2008

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.

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.

Butt also wrote and produced a comedy series for CTV, from 2010 to 2011, entitled Hiccups. The series starred Nancy Robertson (Millie Upton) as a children’s author who begins seeing a life coach to deal with her anger management issues. On July 25, 2010, Butt had a one hour Comedy Special simply titled: The Brent Butt Comedy Special. It was shown on The Comedy Network. Guest stars were: Seth Rogen, Dave Foley and Jully Black.

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.

Personal life

Born in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Butt attended Tisdale Unit Composite School. After graduating, Butt briefly attended Ontario’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.http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012724 Butt is married to his Corner Gas and Hiccups co-star Nancy Robertson.