Dean Butler

Dean Butler is best known for his roles on such hit shows as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Little House on the Prairie." After graduating from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, Butler moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He made his television debut with a supporting role in the 1976 series "The Streets of San Francisco," and later scored a major role in the TV adaptation of the Judy Blume novel "Forever." In 1979 Butler was cast as hardworking family man Almanzo Wilder on the long-running show "Little House on the Prairie," and reprised the role in several TV movies, including 1983's "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday." After the show ended later that year, Butler guest-starred on numerous series such as "Who's the Boss" and "The Love Boat" and worked steadily through the early '90s. In 1997 Butler briefly joined the cast of the cult Joss Whedon series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as Hank Summers, Buffy's father. He has since appeared in supporting roles on the military procedural drama "JAG" and in the 2008 horror film "Chemical Wedding."