David Butler was a multifaceted American entertainment professional, exceling in various roles such as actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and television director. Born on December 17, 1894, in San Francisco, California, Butler's early life was deeply rooted in the performing arts, with his mother being an actress and his father a theater stage manager.
Butler's initial foray into acting was playing extras in stage plays, before transitioning to film roles. He appeared in notable films like D. W. Griffith's The Girl Who Stayed Home and The Greatest Thing in Life, as well as the 1927 Academy-Award winning film 7th Heaven.
In 1927, Butler made his directorial debut with the comedy High School Hero, a Fox production. During his nine-year tenure at Fox, he directed an impressive thirty-plus films, including four films starring the iconic child star Shirley Temple. His final film for Fox, Kentucky, earned Walter Brennan an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Butler collaborated with renowned actors Bing Crosby on Road to Morocco and If I Had My Way, as well as with Doris Day on numerous films, including It's a Great Feeling, Tea for Two, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, Lullaby of Broadway, April in Paris, and Calamity Jane.
As the 1950s and 1960s progressed, Butler's focus shifted primarily to television direction, working on episodes of Leave It to Beaver and Wagon Train.
In recognition of his significant contributions to the film industry, Butler was honored with a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, located at 6561 Hollywood Boulevard.
