Norbert Leo Butz was born on January 30, 1967, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Elaine and Norbert A. Butz, as the seventh child of their family. His ancestry is a blend of German, French, and Irish heritage.
Norbert's early life was marked by a desire to pursue a career in the performing arts. In 1993, he auditioned for the Alabama Shakespeare festival, initially omitting his middle name due to the frequent confusion with his father. This decision led him to adopt the stage name Norbert Leo Butz.
In 1997, Norbert's Broadway career took off when he joined the cast of the musical "Rent" as a swing. He eventually landed the lead role of Roger, and his performance earned him recognition in the industry.
Norbert continued to excel in his career, taking on various roles in numerous productions. One of his notable performances was as the emcee in the musical "Cabaret," during which his daughter Maggie was born. He also starred in "The Last 5 Years" as the confused heartthrob Jamie and in "Thou Shalt Not" as the vengeful Camille.
Norbert's breakthrough role came in 2003 when he played the charming and carefree Prince Fiyero in the hit musical "Wicked." This role marked a significant milestone in his career, but it also led to the end of his marriage to Sydney. During his time in "Wicked," Norbert met his future fiancée and wife, Michelle Federer.
In 2004, Norbert left "Wicked" to star in the hit musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," where he played the lovable but foolish Freddy Benson. He continued to perform in the national tour of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" until 2006, when he took on the role of Dan in the film "Dan in Real Life" (2007).
