Robert Butler

Biography

Robert Butler (November 17, 1927 - November 3, 2023), the revered director known for steering the debut episodes of iconic series like Batman, Star Trek, Hill Street Blues, and Moonlighting, passed away on November 3 in Los Angeles at the age of 95. Butler also played a role in co-creating Remington Steele, featuring Pierce Brosnan, and directed its inaugural episode. His legacy extends to directing the premiere of Hogan’s Heroes in 1965, setting the stage and directing pivotal episodes for Glenn Gordon Caron’s Moonlighting, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Sisters, and The Division.

Career Overview

Robert Butler has 59 screen credits in a career dating back to 1955. Their work spans 3 cinematic universes — most prominently Dexter Riley Collection with 2 titles. Signature works include Turbulence, Up the Creek, Now You See Him, Now You Don't. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For

Directing

Gender

male

Known Credits

59

Birth Date

1927-11-16 00:00:00

Birth Place

Los Angeles, California, USA

Known For

• 

  Turbulence
• 

  Up the Creek
• 

  Now You See Him, Now You Don't
• 

  The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
• 

  Out of Time
• 

  White Mile

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 3 universes

• Dexter Riley Collection (2 titles)
• Turbulence Collection (1 titles)
• Star Trek (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

• Frank Welker (3 collaborations)
• Paxton Culpepper (2 collaborations)
• Kurt Russell (2 collaborations)
• Cesar Romero (2 collaborations)
• Joe Flynn (2 collaborations)
• Michael McGreevey (2 collaborations)
• Richard Bakalyan (2 collaborations)
• Alan Hewitt (2 collaborations)
• Bing Russell (2 collaborations)
• Ed Begley Jr. (2 collaborations)

Credits

• directing (55 credits)

  • The Division

    - Pilot (2001) ... director directing
    2001
  • Turbulence

    director

    directing
    1997
  • White Mile

    director

    directing
    1994
  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

    - Pilot (1993) ... director directing
    1993
  • Out of Time

    director

    directing
    1988
  • Long Time Gone

    director

    directing
    1986
  • Moonlighting

    - Pilot (1985) ... director directing
    1985
  • Concrete Beat

    director

    directing
    1984
  • Up the Creek

    director

    directing
    1984
  • Remington Steele

    - Hearts of Steele (1983) ... director directing

    - Steele Belted (1982) ... director directing

    - Signed, Steeled, & Delivered (1982) ... director directing

    - Tempered Steele (1982) ... director directing

    - License to Steele (1982) ... director directing
    1982
  • Underground Aces

    director

    directing
    1981
  • Hill Street Blues

    - The Second Oldest Profession (1981) ... director directing

    - Double Jeopardy (1981) ... director directing

    - Can World War III Be An Attitude? (1981) ... director directing

    - Politics as Usual (1981) ... director directing

    - Presidential Fever (1981) ... director directing
    1981
  • Night of the Juggler

    director

    directing
    1980
  • Hot Lead & Cold Feet

    director

    directing
    1978
  • Lacy and the Mississippi Queen

    director

    directing
    1978
  • A Question of Guilt

    director

    directing
    1978
  • Mayday at 40,000 Feet

    director

    directing
    1977
  • In the Glitter Palace

    director

    directing
    1977
  • James Dean

    director

    directing
    1976
  • Dark Victory

    director

    directing
    1976
  • Strange New World

    director

    directing
    1975
  • Black Bart

    director

    directing
    1975
  • The Ultimate Thrill

    director

    directing
    1974
  • The Blue Knight

    director

    directing
    1973
  • Now You See Him, Now You Don't

    director

    directing
    1972
  • The Waltons

    - The Air Mail Man (1973) ... director directing

    - The Dust Bowl Cousins (1972) ... director directing

    - The Hunt (1972) ... director directing
    1972
  • Kung Fu

    - The Ancient Warrior (1973) ... director directing

    - The Stone (1973) ... director directing

    - Chains (1973) ... director directing

    - Sun And Cloud Shadow (1973) ... director directing
    1972
  • Death Takes a Holiday

    director

    directing
    1971
  • Scandalous John

    director

    directing
    1971
  • The Barefoot Executive

    director

    directing
    1971
  • Columbo

    - Publish or Perish (1974) ... director directing

    - Double Shock (1973) ... director directing
    1971
  • The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

    director

    directing
    1969
  • Guns in the Heather

    director

    directing
    1969
  • Hawaii Five-O

    - Percentage (1973) ... director directing
    1968
  • The Invaders

    - The Trial (1967) ... director directing

    - The Enemy (1967) ... director directing

    - Panic (1967) ... director directing
    1967
  • Ironside

    - Something for Nothing (1968) ... director directing
    1967
  • Star Trek: The Menagerie

    director

    directing
    1966
  • Mission: Impossible

    - The Mind of Stefan Miklos (1969) ... director directing
    1966
  • Star Trek

    - The Menagerie (2) (1966) ... director directing

    - The Menagerie (1) (1966) ... director directing
    1966
  • Batman

    - Rats Like Cheese (1966) ... director directing

    - Instant Freeze (1966) ... director directing

    - The Penguin's a Jinx (1966) ... director directing

    - Fine Feathered Finks (1966) ... director directing

    - Smack in the Middle (1966) ... director directing
    1966
  • Shane

    - The Distant Bell (1966) ... director directing
    1966
  • Kilroy

    director

    directing
    1965
  • Star Trek: The Cage

    director

    directing
    1965
  • Hogan's Heroes

    - Happy Birthday, Adolf (1966) ... director directing

    - The Late Inspector General (1965) ... director directing

    - Kommandant of the Year (1965) ... director directing

    - Hold that Tiger (1965) ... director directing

    - The Informer (1965) ... director directing
    1965
  • The Fugitive

    - Stroke of Genius (1966) ... director directing

    - All the Scared Rabbits (1965) ... director directing

    - Last Second of a Big Dream (1965) ... director directing

    - Corner of Hell (1965) ... director directing

    - World's End (1964) ... director directing
    1963
  • The Virginian

    - Day of the Scorpion (1965) ... director directing
    1962
  • Ben Casey

    - The Last Splintered Spoke on the Old Burlesque Wheel (1963) ... director directing

    - Fire in a Sacred Fruit Tree (1963) ... director directing

    - My Enemy is a Bright Green Sparrow (1963) ... director directing
    1961
  • Dr. Kildare

    - A Very Present Help (1962) ... director directing
    1961
  • The Dick Van Dyke Show

    - Washington vs. the Bunny (1961) ... director directing
    1961
  • The Twilight Zone

    - The Encounter (1964) ... director directing

    - Caesar and Me (1964) ... director directing
    1959
  • Heart of Darkness

    assistant director

    directing
    1958
  • The Rifleman

    - The Princess (1962) ... director directing
    1958
  • Have Gun, Will Travel

    - El Paso Stage (1961) ... director directing
    1957
  • No Right to Kill

    assistant director

    directing
    1956
  • Gunsmoke

    - The Sodbusters (1972) ... director directing

    - Prairie Wolfer (1967) ... director directing
    1955

• production (3 credits)

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

    producer

    production

    - The Family Hour (1997) ... producer production

    - Toy Story (1997) ... producer production

    - I've Got You Under My Skin (1997) ... producer production

    - Voice from the Past (3) (1997) ... producer production

    - Shadow of a Doubt (2) (1997) ... producer production
    1993
  • Out of Time

    executive producer

    production
    1988
  • Black Bart

    producer

    production
    1975

• creators (1 credits)

  • Remington Steele

    creator

    creators
    1982