Charles Butterworth
Biography
Charles Butterworth was an American actor known for comic parts, often in musicals. Raised in South Bend, Indiana, he earned a law degree at Notre Dame in 1924 and wrote for newspapers in South Bend and Chicago before going into pictures. Though usually a supporting player, he led Baby Face Harrington (1935) and We Went to College (1936), and in The Sultan's Daughter (1944) he played the Sultan opposite Ann Corio, with equal billing. He appeared in Forsaking All Others (1934) and played Private Eddie Dibble, a bugler, in This Is the Army (1943), an Irving Berlin musical. An obituary described his specialty as men who could not make up their minds, and he was known for quips, including one in Every Day's a Holiday. His voice later inspired Cap'n Crunch advertising made by Jay Ward's studio, and in 1960 he received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
49years old at death
- Born South Bend
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Also credited as Charlie Butterworth and Charles Edward Butterworth
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 13 years1930 to 1943
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A first
Butterworth's distinctive voice inspired the Cap'n Crunch commercials made by the Jay Ward studio, with voice actor Daws Butler providing the voice.
A change of course
After he graduated, Butterworth worked as a reporter for the South Bend News-Times and later took a reporting job in Chicago.
Charles Butterworth movies on Netflix
This Is the Armyas Eddie Dibble
Second Chorusas Mr. Chisholm
Swing High, Swing Lowas Harry
Magnificent Obsessionas Tommy Masterson
Forsaking All Othersas Shemp
Penthouseas Layton
Love Me Tonightas Count de Savignac
Illicitas George 'Georgie' Evans
The Mad Geniusas Karimsky
Ladies of Leisureas Cocktail Shaking Party Guest
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
W.S. Van Dyke directed two of these films, Michael Curtiz two. Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.







Films together
Barbara Stanwyck2 films together, 1930 to 1931
Barbara Stanwyck's page Illicit1931IMDb rating 6.1Butterworth as George 'Georgie' EvansStanwyck as Anne Vincent
Ladies of Leisure1930IMDb rating 6.7Butterworth as Cocktail Shaking Party GuestStanwyck as Kay Arnold
Myrna Loy2 films together, 1932 to 1933
Myrna Loy's page Penthouse1933IMDb rating 6.8Butterworth as LaytonLoy as Gertie Waxted
Love Me Tonight1932IMDb rating 7.5Butterworth as Count de SavignacLoy as Countess Valentine
George Davis2 films together, 1932 to 1935
George Davis's page Magnificent Obsession1935IMDb rating 6.8Butterworth as Tommy MastersonDavis as Taxi Driver
Love Me Tonight1932IMDb rating 7.5Butterworth as Count de SavignacDavis as Pierre Dupont
Sidney Bracey2 films together, 1934 to 1935
Sidney Bracey's page Magnificent Obsession1935IMDb rating 6.8Butterworth as Tommy MastersonBracey as Butler
Forsaking All Others1934IMDb rating 6.4Butterworth as ShempBracey as Paula's Chauffeur
Cecil Cunningham2 films together, 1932 to 1937
Cecil Cunningham's page Swing High, Swing Low1937IMDb rating 6.1Butterworth as HarryCunningham as Murphy
Love Me Tonight1932IMDb rating 7.5Butterworth as Count de SavignacCunningham as Laundress
Arthur Treacher2 films together, 1934 to 1935
Arthur Treacher's page Magnificent Obsession1935IMDb rating 6.8Butterworth as Tommy MastersonTreacher as Horace
Forsaking All Others1934IMDb rating 6.4Butterworth as ShempTreacher as Johnson
W.S. Van DykeDirector, 2 films, 1933 to 1934
All films by W.S. Van Dyke Forsaking All Others1934IMDb rating 6.4Butterworth as Shemp
Penthouse1933IMDb rating 6.8Butterworth as Layton
Michael CurtizDirector, 2 films, 1931 to 1943
All films by Michael Curtiz This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Butterworth as Eddie Dibble
The Mad Genius1931IMDb rating 6.3Butterworth as Karimsky
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1960 | Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (posthumous) | Honored | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


