Butler got his start in 1960 directing an episode of
Hennessey, starring Jackie Cooper. Over the next forty years, Butler went on to direct episodes of television series such as:
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961),
Bonanza (1961),
Columbo (1973-74),
Remington Steele (1982-83),
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) and
The Division (2001).
Butler won DGA Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Dramatic Series twice: In 1973 for The
Waltons, and in 1982 for
Hill Street Blues. He has also been recognized by the DGA with nominations for his work on
The Blue Knight in 1974 and
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman in 1994. In addition, Butler has received two Emmy Awards for directing the movie for television,
The Blue Knight (1973), as well as Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for
Hill Street Blues (1981). He has also received Emmy nominations for directing the pilots for
Moonlighting (1985) and
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993), as well as episodes of
Sirens (1993) and
Hill Street Blues (1981).
Robert Butler began his service to the Guild as Alternate on the DGA National Board in 1985 before being elected to the Board in 1987 and serving until 1995. He served as a National Board Alternate again from 1999-2007. Butler was the 5th Vice President of the Guild from 1995 to 1999, and served as 2nd Vice Chairman of the DGA Foundation. He was also a member of the Western Directors Council from 1990 to 2005, as well as a member of the Residuals Study Committee and the Reality TV Committee. In 2001 Robert Butler was honored with the Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award for Extraordinary Service to the Guild.