---
name: "Bill Butler"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/wilmer-butler"
fi1m_id: "wilmer-butler"
imdb_id: "nm0124832"
tmdb_id: 2287
wikidata_id: "Q414574"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "7 April 1921"
died: "5 April 2023"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-04T23:23:10.676993+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Bill Butler

## Identity

Bill Butler

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/wilmer-butler
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** wilmer-butler
- **IMDb ID:** nm0124832
- **TMDB ID:** 2287
- **Wikidata ID:** Q414574
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Butler_(cinematographer), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q414574, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0124832/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2287

Cinematographer. Born 7 April 1921 in Cripple Creek, Colorado, USA. Died 5 April 2023.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 7 April 1921, Cripple Creek, Colorado, USA
- **Died:** 5 April 2023
- **Active:** 1972–1993
- **Also known as:** Wilmer Butler, Wilmer C. Butler, Wilmer Cable Butler
- **Frequently works with:** [Burt Young](https://film.one/person/burt-young.md), [Carl Weathers](https://film.one/person/carl-weathers.md), [Irwin Winkler](https://film.one/person/irwin-winkler.md), [Robert Chartoff](https://film.one/person/robert-chartoff.md), [Sylvester Stallone](https://film.one/person/sylvester-stallone.md), [Talia Shire](https://film.one/person/talia-shire.md), [Len Blum](https://film.one/person/len-blum.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 84 (6), 1980s 64 (3), 1990s 64 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 70 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Action 5, Comedy 4, Sport 3, Adventure 2, Crime 2
- **Screen time:** 20 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,173m across 11 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Butler_(cinematographer), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q414574, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0124832/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2287

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*Rocky III*](https://film.one/film/rocky-iii.md) (70), [*Rocky II*](https://film.one/film/rocky-ii.md) (66), [*Rocky IV*](https://film.one/film/rocky-iv.md) (52)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Conversation*](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md) (92), [*Stripes*](https://film.one/film/stripes.md) (70)
- **Netflix:** [*Jaws*](https://film.one/film/jaws.md) (93)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Wilmer C. Butler (7 April 1921 – 5 April 2023) was an American cinematographer. Born in Cripple Creek, Colorado, he earned a degree in engineering from the University of Iowa and began his career in local television before working on documentaries with William Friedkin.

Butler served as director of photography on *The Conversation* (1974), *Jaws* (1975) and *Grease* (1978). He replaced Haskell Wexler on *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975), sharing an Academy Award nomination for the film, and photographed three *Rocky* sequels. He also contributed second-unit photography to *The Godfather* (1972) and worked on films including *Child's Play* (1988) and *Anaconda* (1997).

Butler collaborated frequently with Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg. He won Primetime Emmy Awards for the television films *Raid on Entebbe* (1977) and *A Streetcar Named Desire* (1984).

*Sources: deadline.com, en.wikipedia.org, theasc.com, variety.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *Beethoven's 2nd* (1993), Fi1m 57, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/beethovens-2nd.md)
- *Hot Shots!* (1991), Fi1m 70, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/hot-shots.md)
- *Rocky IV* (1985), Fi1m 52, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/rocky-iv.md)
- *Rocky III* (1982), Fi1m 70, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/rocky-iii.md)
- *Stripes* (1981), Fi1m 70, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/stripes.md)
- *Rocky II* (1979), Fi1m 66, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/rocky-ii.md)
- *Grease* (1978), Fi1m 76, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/grease.md)
- *Jaws* (1975), Fi1m 93, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/jaws.md)
- *The Conversation* (1974), Fi1m 92, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *Deliverance* (1972), Fi1m 85, Second Unit Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/deliverance.md)
- *The Godfather* (1972), Fi1m 93, Second Unit Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md)

## Complete filmography (83)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR* (2023), Camera Technician
- *Evil Angel* (2009), Director of Photography
- *Limousine* (2008), Director of Photography
- *Redline* (2007), Director of Photography
- *The Plague* (2006), Director of Photography
- *Funny Money* (2006), Director of Photography
- *Frailty* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Joe and Max* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Hendrix* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Passing Glory* (1999), Director of Photography
- *Don King: Only in America* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Deceiver* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Anaconda* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Dark Skies* (1996), Cinematography
- *Flipper* (1996), Director of Photography
- *A Walton Wedding* (1995), Director of Photography
- *Beethoven's 2nd* (1993), Director of Photography — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/beethovens-2nd.md)
- *Cop & ½* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Sniper* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Hot Shots!* (1991), Director of Photography — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/hot-shots.md)
- *Graffiti Bridge* (1990), Director of Photography
- *When We Were Young* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Child's Play* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Wildfire* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Biloxi Blues* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Bates Motel* (1987), Director of Photography
- *Big Trouble* (1986), Director of Photography
- *Rocky IV* (1985), Director of Photography — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/rocky-iv.md)
- *Beer* (1985), Director of Photography
- *A Streetcar Named Desire* (1984), Director of Photography
- *The Thorn Birds* (1983), series, Director of Photography
- *The Sting II* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Rocky III* (1982), Director of Photography — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/rocky-iii.md)
- *Killing at Hell's Gate* (1981), Director of Photography
- *Stripes* (1981), Director of Photography — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/stripes.md)
- *The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia* (1981), Director of Photography
- *Death Ray 2000* (1981), Director of Photography
- *It's My Turn* (1980), Director of Photography
- *Can't Stop the Music* (1980), Director of Photography
- *Rocky II* (1979), Director of Photography — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/rocky-ii.md)
- *Ice Castles* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Grease* (1978), Director of Photography — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/grease.md)
- *Damien - Omen II* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Uncle Joe Shannon* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Capricorn One* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Mary White* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Demon Seed* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Raid on Entebbe* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Alex & the Gypsy* (1976), Director of Photography
- *The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Lipstick* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Fear on Trial* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Jaws* (1975), Director of Photography — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/jaws.md)
- *The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Hustling* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Target Risk* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Vampira* (1974), Editor
- *The Conversation* (1974), Director of Photography — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *The Execution of Private Slovik* (1974), Director of Photography
- *Indict and Convict* (1974), Director of Photography
- *I Heard the Owl Call My Name* (1973), Director of Photography
- *Sunshine* (1973), Director of Photography
- *Deliver Us from Evil* (1973), Director of Photography
- *Running Wild* (1973), Director of Photography
- *Savage!* (1973), Director of Photography
- *Hickey & Boggs* (1972), Director of Photography
- *Ghost Story* (1972), series, Director of Photography
- *Deliverance* (1972), Second Unit Director of Photography — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/deliverance.md)
- *Deathmaster* (1972), Director of Photography
- *Melinda* (1972), Director of Photography
- *The Godfather* (1972), Second Unit Director of Photography — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md)
- *Something Evil* (1972), Director of Photography
- *The Return of Count Yorga* (1971), Director of Photography
- *Drive, He Said* (1971), Director of Photography
- *A Clear and Present Danger* (1970), Director of Photography
- *Adam's Woman* (1970), Director of Photography
- *Fearless Frank* (1969), Director of Photography
- *The Rain People* (1969), Director of Photography
- *A Space to Grow* (1968), Cinematography
- *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* (1966), Sound Editor
- *The Bold Men* (1965), Cinematography
- *Star Trek: The Cage* (1965), Assistant Camera
- *The People vs. Paul Crump* (1962), Director of Photography

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1976: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/wilmer-butler