Before devoting four years of his life to playing the lead role in Elvis, Austin Butler, spent the beginning of his career as a regular on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. The 31-year-old stopped by the WTF with Marc Maron Podcast to detail his childhood and what his career looked like before his big Elvis role.
LISTEN NOW: Austin Butler joins the WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
For Butler, it all started when he tagged along to an audition with his step-brother around the age of 11. When encouraged by some of the casting employees to audition, the normally shy and introverted kid had a moment of uncharacteristic confidence.
“I was so incredibly shy, incredibly introverted, but for whatever reason that day, I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it,’” Austin shared. “I ended up getting extra work… [on] Ned’s Declassified [Nickelodeon].”
The extra roles ultimately lead to bigger ones for Butler who appeared on several Nickelodeon and Disney Channel shows including Zoey 101, iCarly, Out of Jimmy’s Head, Ruby & The Rockits and Arrow.
“Zoey 101 was the first time I was a series regular on a show,” he said when asked like he really felt his career was taking shape. Also it helped that he got to play two roles.
"The funny thing was playing two different roles in the same show,” he shared. “[In] Zoey 101, I played this dorky kid and then I sort of started to go through puberty and I came back and I was Zoey’s boyfriend…. [they were like], ‘They won’t know, he’s a completely different person now!’”
Listen to Austin’s full conversation about his career, upbringing, playing Elvis and more in the full podcast episode above.
The WTF with Marc Maron Podcast features host, Marc Maron as he welcomes various comedians, actors, directors, writers, authors, musicians and folks from all walks of life to his home for amazingly revealing conversations. Marc's direct, comprehensive interview style allows guests to express themselves in ways listeners have never heard.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign up and follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram