Brent Leroy Butt[1] (born August 3, 1966) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for his role as Brent Leroy on the CTVsitcomCorner Gas, which he created.[2][3] He also created the television series Hiccups and wrote the 2013 film No Clue. In 2023, he released his debut novel, Huge, a psychological thriller about touring comedians.
Early life and education
Born on August 3, 1966, in Tisdale, Saskatchewan,[4] Butt attended Tisdale Unit Composite School. After graduating, Butt briefly attended Ontario's Sheridan College before returning to his home in Saskatchewan.
Career
While working as a drywaller, Butt and a friend started a publishing company, Windwolf Graphics. His comic, Existing Earth, was nominated for an Eagle Award. They published two issues before running out of money.
In February 1988, Butt performed stand-up comedy for the first time at an amateur night at a Saskatooncomedy club.[5] He then began performing in the Yuk Yuk's chain in Western Canada, before moving to Toronto in 1989, where he lived in a Cabbagetown apartment with two other comedians, and performing at Yuk Yuk's there.
In 2003, through his production company Prairie Pants, Butt co-created the CTV television series Corner Gas, set in his home province of Saskatchewan.[6][7] He starred in the show from 2004 to 2009[8]
Butt also wrote and produced a comedy series for CTV, from 2010 to 2011, entitled Hiccups. The series starred Nancy Robertson as Millie Upton, a children's author who begins seeing a life coach to deal with her anger management issues.[12]
On July 25, 2010, Butt had a one-hour comedy special titled The Brent Butt Comedy Special. It was shown on The Comedy Network. Guest stars were Seth Rogen, Dave Foley, and Jully Black.
In 2014, Butt co-wrote and co-executive produced the film, Corner Gas: The Movie, which was released in theatres and on CTV on December that year.[13] He also reprised the role of Brent LeRoy. The film included cameo appearances by several Canadian TV personalities as well as Academy Award nominee Graham Greene and Will Sasso.
In April 2018, Brent's follow-up series Corner Gas Animated premiered on The Comedy Network.[13]
In 2023 his debut novel was released, Huge, a psychological thriller set among stand-up comedians on tour.[14]
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 at the Banff World Television Festival in 2008.[15]
