Jimmy Butler (actor)

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{{short description|American actor (1921–1945)}}

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{{infobox person

| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|2|20}}

| birth_place = Akron, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1945|2|18|1921|2|20}}

| death_place = Theding, France

| death_cause = Killed in action

| resting_place = Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Dinozé, France

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 1933–1943

| spouse = {{Marriage|Jean Fahrney|1941}}

}}

Jimmy Butler (February 20, 1921{{snd}}February 18, 1945) was an American, juvenile, motion-pictures actor, active in the 1930s and early 1940s.

Butler was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Merrill W. Butler. He gained early acting experience at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.{{cite news |title=Akron Product |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21202222/jimmy_butler/ |work=The Akron Beacon Journal |date=November 21, 1933 |location=Ohio, Akron |page=21|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 22, 2018}} {{Open access}}

Butler earned acclaim for his role in the 1933 film Only Yesterday, his screen debut,{{cite news |last1=McCormick |first1=Ella H. |title=Fox |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21201994/jimmy_butler/ |work=Detroit Free Press |date=November 11, 1933 |location=Michigan, Detroit |page=14|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 22, 2018}} {{Open access}} and in 1934 his career got another significant boost when the actor earned lavish critical plaudits for his portrayal of Jim Wade in Manhattan Melodrama. Later he played one of the young protagonists, Boka, in No Greater Glory.

On February 15, 1941, Butler married singer Jean Fahrney. They initially kept the marriage secret, but it became known in March 1941.{{cite news |title=Iowa Singer, Actor Wed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21201491/jimmy_butler/ |work=Des Moines Tribune |agency=United Press |date=March 22, 1941 |location=Iowa, Des Moines |page=5|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 22, 2018}} {{Open access}} They remained wed until his death.

In 1945, Butler died in World War II combat in the town of Theding, France.{{cite news |title='Dead End Kid' Dies in Action |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21202603/jimmy_butler/ |work=Des Moines Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=February 28, 1945 |location=Iowa, Des Moines |page=7|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 22, 2018}} {{Open access}}