Dean Butler

Dean Butler was born on May 20, 1956, in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. He was raised in Piedmont, California, and pursued his education in communication arts at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. His acting career began with a minor role in “The Streets of San Francisco” in 1976. He gained broader recognition with his role in the 1978 TV movie “Forever,” based on Judy Blume’s novel. Butler is most widely known for his portrayal of Almanzo Wilder on the NBC series “Little House on the Prairie” from 1979 to 1983, a role he reprised in three post-series TV movies.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Butler appeared in various television series, including “The Love Boat,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Who’s the Boss?,” “Diagnosis Murder,” and “JAG.” He also played Jeff “Moondoggie” Griffin in “The New Gidget” and Hank Summers, Buffy’s father, on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” His film credits include “Desert Hearts” (1985) and “The Final Goal” (1995). On stage, he performed as Rapunzel’s Prince in the original Broadway production of “Into the Woods” and toured internationally as Tony in “West Side Story,” in addition to a regional production of “Company.”

Transitioning to work behind the camera, Butler has become a producer and writer of entertainment, sports, and documentary programming. Since 2011, he has served as the Senior Producer for the Emmy-nominated “Feherty” series on Golf Channel. He has also produced, written, and narrated bonus features for “Little House on the Prairie” DVD collections, including documentaries such as “Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder” and “Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura.” In 2012, he co-executive produced “Pa’s Fiddle: The Music of America” for PBS.