The Butler

Lee Daniels' The Butler is a 2013 American historical drama movie directed by Lee Daniels. It is based on Eugene Allen, who was a White House butler during eight American presidencies from 1952 to 1986. It was the last movie produced by Laura Ziskin.

Synopsis
The fictional Cecil Gaines is based on Eugene Allen who worked at the White House during eight presidential terms from 1952 to 1986.  He started as a "pantry man," was promoted to butler, and then Maître d'hôtel.

Cast
 Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines. Aml Ameen portrays a young Cecil Gaines
 Oprah Winfrey as Gloria Gaines
 Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Carter Wilson
 Terrence Howard as Howard
 David Oyelowo as Louis Gaines
 Vanessa Redgrave as Annabeth Westfall
 Alex Pettyfer as Thomas Westfall
 Mariah Carey as Hattie Pearl
 Yaya DaCosta as Carol Hammie
 Colman Domingo as Freddie Fallows
 Clarence Williams III as Maynard

Historical figures
 Robin Williams as President Dwight D. Eisenhower
 Melissa Leo as First Lady Mamie Eisenhower (scenes deleted)
 James Marsden as President John F. Kennedy
 Minka Kelly as First Lady Jackie Kennedy
 Liev Schreiber as President Lyndon B. Johnson
 Wanda Leigh as First Lady Lady Bird Johnson (scenes deleted)
 John Cusack as President Richard Nixon
 Alan Rickman as President Ronald Reagan
 Jane Fonda as First Lady Nancy Reagan
 Nelsan Ellis as Martin Luther King, Jr.
 Alex Manette as White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman
 Lenny Kravitz as James Holloway
 Marco St. John as Chief Justice Warren E. Burger
 Jesse Williams as civil rights activist James Lawson
 Ray Gaspard as Pat Buchanan
 Orlando Eric Street as President Barack Obama (scenes deleted)

Awards
 Awards Award Category Recipients and nominees ResultHollywood Film AwardsBest DirectorLee DanielsSpotlightDavid OyelowoPeople's Choice AwardsFavorite Dramatic MovieFavorite Dramatic Movie ActressOprah WinfreyPhoenix Film Critics SocietyBest Actress in a Supporting RoleOprah WinfreyScreen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading RoleForest WhitakerOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleOprah WinfreySatellite AwardsBest Actor in a Motion PictureForest WhitakerBest Actress in Supporting RoleOprah WinfreyBest Art Direction & Production DesignDiane Lederman, Tim Galvin

References

Other websites


Category:2013 movies
Category:African-American movies
Category:American drama movies
Category:American historical movies
Category:2010s historical movies
Category:Movies set in Washington, D.C.
Category:Movies set in Louisiana
Category:Movies set in California
Category:Movies about John F. Kennedy
Category:Movies about Ronald Reagan