Austin Butler

Early Life

Austin Robert Butler was born on August 17, 1991, in Anaheim, California. He is the son of Lori Anne, an aesthetician, and David Butler, who has Irish ancestry. His parents divorced when he was just seven years old. Butler has an older sister, Ashley, who also worked as a background actress alongside him on the Nickelodeon show "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide." His family background includes Finnish immigrants from his maternal side, who settled in Wisconsin. At the age of thirteen, Butler was discovered at the Orange County Fair by a representative from a background acting management company, which sparked his interest in the entertainment industry. He began taking acting classes and was homeschooled to accommodate his burgeoning career.

Career

Butler's career began in earnest in 2005 when he landed a role as Zippy Brewster on Nickelodeon's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide." His breakthrough came with guest roles on popular shows like "Hannah Montana" and "iCarly." In 2008, he became a main cast member on "Zoey 101," playing James Garrett. His film career took off with a starring role in the family adventure film "Aliens in the Attic" in 2009. Butler's artistic talents extend beyond acting; he enjoys creating and recording music, having taught himself to play guitar at thirteen and piano at sixteen. He has released singles such as "Tupelo Shuffle" and "Trouble" from the soundtrack of the film "ELVIS."

Personal Life

Butler's personal life has seen its share of challenges, including the loss of his mother to cancer in 2014, which led him to briefly consider retirement from acting. He was in a long-term relationship with actress Vanessa Hudgens from 2011 to 2019 and later began dating model Kaia Gerber in December 2021. Butler's dedication to his craft has earned him significant recognition, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and a spot on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.