Brooke Butler
Brooke Butler (born January 27, 1989) is an American actress and singer best known for her supporting roles in television series such as Ozark, The Resident, and Animal Kingdom, as well as films including the 2013 horror comedy All Cheerleaders Die and the 2022 action thriller A Day to Die. She released her single "Baby Blue Sunrise" in November 2025.[1][2][3][4] Born and raised in Woodinville, Washington, near Seattle, Butler developed a passion for performing arts at a young age after attending a production of Phantom of the Opera during her childhood.[5][6] She grew up immersed in sports alongside her family but pursued acting early, debuting on stage at age 12 in a production of Les Misérables and later performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at age 16.[5][6] Butler earned a bachelor's degree in dramatic arts from the University of Southern California, where she was a presidential scholar and a nationally ranked cheerleader.[5] Transitioning to screen acting, Butler gained recognition for her role as Tracy Bingham in All Cheerleaders Die, directed by Lucky McKee and Adam Green, which marked her feature film debut.[2][3] Her television credits include appearances as young Darlene Snell in Ozark (2018), a patient in The Resident (2018), and Crystal in Animal Kingdom (2021).[2] More recent film roles feature her as Candace in A Day to Die (2022), opposite Bruce Willis and Frank Grillo, and as Caroline in the anthology Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025.[5][3] In addition to acting, Butler has performed in theater, notably as Heather Hayes in the award-winning play Famous, inspired by River Phoenix's life, which later adapted into a feature film.[5] At age 19, she underwent surgery to remove several breast tumors but continued her career in Los Angeles.[6]Biography
Early life
Brooke Butler was born in Woodinville, Washington, to parents Greg and Sunny Butler.[7] Her father ran an AIDS foundation in Seattle, instilling in her a commitment to charitable work.[5] She grew up in a close-knit family alongside her one older brother, Bret Butler, in a small-town environment surrounded by rural elements such as sheep, horses, and local wineries.[7][8] Her family had a strong athletic orientation, with her father and brother involved in baseball, yet they fostered an appreciation for the arts from an early age.[5] Butler's passion for performing arts ignited during her childhood after attending a production of Phantom of the Opera with her parents, which captivated her and inspired a deep interest in theater.[5][8] This experience prompted her to begin dance and singing lessons at the age of five, marking the start of her formal engagement with the performing arts.[7] She immersed herself in these activities, developing skills that aligned with her growing love for acting and singing.[6] At age 12, she independently auditioned for and secured a role in a local production of Les Misérables, marking her stage debut. At age 16, she performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.[6][5] Her family provided unwavering support for these pursuits, encouraging her exposure to theater and helping nurture her artistic inclinations despite the household's sports-focused dynamic.[6] This foundational encouragement from her parents played a key role in shaping her commitment to the performing arts.[5]Education
At age 12, Butler secured a role in a local production of Les Misérables, providing practical exposure to stage performance. She further developed her musical skills during her formative years through training in piano and guitar, alongside continued vocal and dance instruction.[5] Butler pursued higher education at the University of Southern California (USC), where she enrolled in the School of Dramatic Arts.[5] She earned a Bachelor's degree in Dramatic Arts from the program in 2010, focusing on acting and related disciplines to hone her craft.[9]Professional career
Early acting roles
Butler made her professional acting debut as Tracy Bingham, the zombie cheerleader captain, in the horror-comedy film All Cheerleaders Die (2013), directed by Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson.[10] The film premiered on September 5, 2013, at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Midnight Madness category, selected from over 3,500 submissions.[11] In portraying the initially unlikeable yet ultimately redeemable Tracy, Butler drew on her theater background to add depth to the character, facing challenges such as filming intense, blood-soaked scenes in a bear trap pit from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.[12] Following her USC School of Dramatic Arts graduation in 2010, Butler transitioned to full-time acting, balancing auditions with her move to the South Bay area.[9] She next starred as Kaylee in the horror film The Sand (2015), a role that showcased her ability to handle ensemble dynamics in a survival thriller involving a deadly beach entity.[13] That same year, Butler took the lead as Isabel Fletcher in the thriller Online Abduction (also known as Cyber Case), where her character uses geotagged photos to rescue her kidnapped brother, highlighting her growth in portraying resourceful protagonists.[14] Early in her career, Butler gained recognition beyond acting, appearing on the cover of Swoop magazine as a model.[5] In 2015, she was named one of Maxim's "Hot 10" Actresses to Watch, acknowledging her rising presence in independent horror and thriller genres.[15] These milestones marked her evolution from a student performer—having appeared in stage productions like Les Misérables at age 12—to a professional navigating the demands of on-set rigor and character complexity.[12]Notable television and film work
Butler gained prominence in 2018 with her breakthrough role as the young Darlene Snell in the Netflix crime drama series Ozark, portraying the formative years of a key character in a single episode that highlighted her ability to capture complex emotional depth at a young age. That same year, she appeared as Julie Guilford in an episode of the Fox medical drama The Resident, showcasing her versatility in a high-stakes hospital setting. In 2018, she also appeared in an uncredited role as the ADHD Spokesperson in the comedy Night School, starring Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, where she contributed to the film's humorous take on adult education. Building on these early successes, Butler transitioned into lead roles in genre films, starting with Lantern's Lane (2021), a horror thriller in which she starred as Layla, a college graduate confronting an urban legend from her past alongside estranged friends.[16] This project marked her entry into independent horror, emphasizing survival themes and interpersonal tension. In 2022, she took on the role of Candace in the action thriller A Day to Die, opposite Bruce Willis and Frank Grillo, playing a character central to a high-tension kidnapping plot driven by a former military officer's desperation.[17] She also guest-starred as Crystal in an episode of the TNT series Animal Kingdom (2021).[18] By 2025, Butler's career had evolved toward more diverse and introspective independent projects. She starred as Caroline in the anthology film Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), which premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival, earning praise for its blend of personal narratives set against natural backdrops.[19] Additionally, she portrayed the Mystic in the surreal horror short Sovereign, a story of psychological entrapment that world-premiered at the Morbido Film Festival in Mexico City, further demonstrating her affinity for atmospheric, genre-bending work.[20] This shift reflects a progression from ensemble television and commercial films to leading roles in thrillers and indie dramas, allowing her to explore nuanced characters in lower-budget, artist-driven productions.[8] In theatre, Butler portrayed Heather Hayes in Famous: An 11:11 Experience (2021), a live production inspired by the lives of young Hollywood stars like River Phoenix, which featured a sold-out run and delved into the perils of fame through immersive storytelling.[21] Complementing her acting, Butler has pursued extensions in singing, releasing original tracks such as "Thank You" and "In the Center," and performing in music videos that blend her vocal talents with narrative visuals.[22] She has also engaged in voiceover work and modeling, leveraging these skills in commercials and promotional campaigns as noted in her professional resume.[23]Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | All Cheerleaders Die | Tracy Bingham[24] |
| 2015 | The Sand | Kaylee |
| 2015 | Online Abduction | Isabel Fletcher |
| 2016 | The Remains | Izzy |
| 2017 | A Wedding Wonderland | Quinn Cotton[3] |
| 2018 | Night School | ADHD Spokesperson (uncredited)[25] |
| 2020 | Killer Dream Home | Katie[3] |
| 2021 | His Killer Fan | Emma[3] |
| 2021 | Lantern's Lane | Layla (lead) |
| 2021 | Famous | Heather Hayes[3] |
| 2022 | A Day to Die | Candace Connolly |
| 2025 | Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) | Caroline (starring) |
| 2025 | Sovereign | Mystic |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Being Mary Jane | Connie | Guest star in 1 episode ("Feeling Tested"), BET series, season 5.[23] |
| 2017 | Star | Lisa | Guest star in 1 episode ("Saving Face"), FOX series, season 1. |
| 2018 | Ozark | Young Darlene Snell | Guest star in 1 episode ("The Badger"), Netflix series, season 2.[26][5] |
| 2018 | The Resident | Julie Guilford | Guest star in 1 episode ("And the Nurses Get Screwed"), FOX series, season 1.[27] |
| 2021 | Animal Kingdom | Crystal | Guest star in 1 episode ("What Remains"), TNT series, season 5.[2] |
| 2021 | Creepshow | Mallory | Guest star in 1 episode ("Pipe Screams/Within the Walls of Madness"), Shudder/AMC anthology series, season 2.[23] |
| 2023 | Magnum P.I. | Amber | Guest star in 1 episode ("Dead Ringer"), NBC series, season 5.[2] |
| 2023 | Table Read Podcast | Guest | Guest appearance in 1 episode, audio podcast series.[2] |
Theatre
| Production | Role | Venue | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Misérables | Supporting | Studio East Training Academy, Seattle, WA | 2001 | Not specified |
| Crazy for You | Lead | Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland | 2005 | Not specified |
| Famous | Heather Hayes (Lead) | Not specified (Los Angeles area) | 2021 (stage run) | Michael Leoni |