Give a stream of consciousness and then the final answer. The film is set in 1863 and follows fictional gang leader William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis) in his roles as crime boss and political kingmaker under the helm of "Boss" Tweed (Jim Broadbent). The film culminates in a violent confrontation between Cutting and his mob with the protagonist Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his allies, which prefaces the real-life New York Draft Riots of 1863. It was released on December 20, 2002 and grossed $193 million worldwide.

Based on this passage, who played the butcher in gangs of new york?
The relevant information to answer the above question is: The film is set in 1863 and follows fictional gang leader William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis) in his roles as crime boss and political kingmaker under the helm of "Boss" Tweed (Jim Broadbent).
So, the final answer is Daniel Day - Lewis.