Portrait · Eva Rinaldi / CC BY-SA 2.0

Austin Butler

Actor

Born 1991

Austin Butler is an American actor from Anaheim, California. He entered acting through a commercial audition as a child and built his early career on Disney, Nickelodeon and CW television. Roles in Zoey 101, Ruby & the Rockits, Switched at Birth and The Carrie Diaries preceded his lead in The Shannara Chronicles. His stage work includes Death of the Author at the Geffen Playhouse and a 2018 Broadway debut as Don Parritt in The Iceman Cometh opposite Denzel Washington. The latter became a turning point in his move toward demanding theatre and film roles. He played Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood before portraying Elvis Presley for Baz Luhrmann, winning a BAFTA and Golden Globe and receiving an Academy Award nomination. His subsequent range includes Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two, Major Gale “Buck” Cleven in Masters of the Air and Benny in The Bikeriders. He plays a cult leader in Eddington and bartender Hank Thompson in Caught Stealing. Announced work includes Enemies, Edward Berger’s Lance Armstrong biopic and The Barrier, plus Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice ’85, scheduled for 2028.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionDenzel WashingtonCo-star in The Iceman Cometh.

ConnectionJeremy Allen WhiteGave Butler the Frankies cookbook.

ConnectionRoy ChanTrainer interviewed about preparation for Enemies.

Official records · wins and honours

Awards & Honours

Selected recognition linked to the awarding organisation or primary record.

2023
Golden GlobesCompetitive win
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Elvis
Official record
2023
BAFTACompetitive win
Leading Actor
Elvis
Official record
2023
TIMEIndustry honor
TIME100 — Artists
Austin Butler
Official record
2022
AACTACompetitive win
Best Lead Actor in Film
Elvis
Official record

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama

Leading Actor

TIME100 — Artists

Best Lead Actor in Film