Director · Producer

Robert Butler

49 credited titles on WatchWise

Robert Butler (November 17, 1927 - November 3, 2023), the revered director known for steering the debut episodes of iconic series like Batman, Star Trek, Hill Street Blues, and Moonlighting, passed away on November 3 in Los Angeles at the age of 95. Butler also played a role in co-creating Remington Steele, featuring Pierce Brosnan, and directed its inaugural episode. His legacy extends to directing the premiere of Hogan’s Heroes in 1965, setting the stage and directing pivotal episodes for Glenn Gordon Caron’s Moonlighting, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Sisters, and The Division.

Robert Butler in one minute

Strongest genre

Biggest hit

Standout efficiency

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World · gross ÷ budget

Commercial performance

Associated lifetime gross

$292M

Combined reported budget

$269M

Gross / budget

1.1x

Bankability Index

27 / 100

All figures are associated, not attributed — box-office numbers are sourced from TMDB and Wikipedia (reused under CC BY-SA), shown in US$, and weighted by billing prominence. Coverage varies by title; figures are estimates, not audited trade data.