Norbert Leo Butz

Norbert Leo Butz has enjoyed a varied acting career, branching into theater, television, and film. Making his first big audition in 1993 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (as simply Norbert Butz), he opted to add his middle name as to avoid confusion with his father. After earning his MFA from the Festival, Butz cut his teeth on Broadway, landing a swing role (and, later, the more permanent part of HIV-positive songwriter Roger Davis) in the acclaimed show "Rent." Other theater roles followed, including a stint as Prince Fiyero in "Wicked" (from 2003 to 2004), during which he met his future wife, actress Michelle Federer. Butz gained film experience in low-profile projects like the 2002 thriller "New World Order" and the music-filled drama "West of Here." In 2007, he made his feature film breakthrough as Steve Carell's wisecracking brother Clay in the comedy "Dan in Real Life." In the late 2000s, he also plunged head-first into TV acting, securing one-off roles on the courtroom drama "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2001-11) and the investigative smash "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000-15). Back on the film front, Butz's success has continued with roles in the 2010 CIA thriller "Fair Game" (with star Naomi Watts) and the faith crisis drama "Higher Ground" (2011). Butz's greatest success has been on stage, however, earning three Best Lead Actor Tony Award nominations and winning twice.