Editing River Butcher

{{Infobox person
| picture=Rhea_Butcher.jpg
| caption=
| date_birth=August 12, 1982
| place_birth=Akron, Ohio, USA
| nationality=American
| pronouns=[[they/them]] and [[he/him]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/RheaButcher|title=Twitter bio|access-date=27 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221103637/https://twitter.com/rheabutcher|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>
| occupation=comedian, actor, writer, producer, podcast host
| known_for=
}}
'''River Butcher''' is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and podcast host. Butcher is best known for personal, observational comedy focused on their vegetarianism, [[feminism]], love of baseball, and experiences as a [[butch]] [[lesbian]].<ref>Flaherty, Bridget (August 17, 2006). "[http://thelaughbutton.com/albums/rhea-butcher-lays-butcher/ Rhea Butcher lays down all that she is and more on "Butcher"]". ''The Laugh Button''. Retrieved November 3, 2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20220822020328/https://thelaughbutton.com/albums/rhea-butcher-lays-butcher/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Originally from Akron, Ohio, he now resides in Los Angeles, California.<ref name="Rabinowitz">{{cite news|last=Rabinowitz|first=Amanda|title=Comedian Rhea Butcher Keeps Akron at the Heart of Her Success|url=https://www.wksu.org/post/comedian-rhea-butcher-keeps-akron-heart-her-success#stream/0|date=August 26, 2016|website=WKSU|accessdate=October 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109140523/https://www.wksu.org/post/comedian-rhea-butcher-keeps-akron-heart-her-success|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Butcher was raised in the Kenmore neighborhood of Akron, Ohio,<ref name="Rabinowitz" /> an only child whose parents divorced when Butcher was one month old.<ref name=":0">Bigley II, James (November 16, 2016). "[https://clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/film-tv/articles/comedian-rhea-butcher-is-the-real-deal Comedian Rhea Butcher is the Real Deal]". ''Cleveland Magazine''. Retrieved May 31, 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230128074109/https://clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/film-tv/articles/comedian-rhea-butcher-is-the-real-deal Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> They attended Our Lady of the Elms High School<ref>O'Connor, Bill (May 3, 1995). "Youths Horrified by Nazi Camps: Study of Holocaust Fills Students with Wonder at Evil of WWII Slaughter". ''Akron Beacon Journal'' (Akron, Ohio). p. D1.</ref> and graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School in 2001.<ref name= perform>Heldenfels, Rich (October 12, 2014). "Akron Native to Perform at Musica: Rhea Butcher Returning Home with Stand-up Act". ''Akron Beacon Journal'' (Akron, Ohio). p. B1.</ref>

While attending the University of Akron, Butcher worked at a skateboard shop named Summer Squall<ref>Wallace, Julie (September 11, 2000). "Falls to Be Popular with Skateboarders". ''Akron Beacon Journal'' (Akron, Ohio). p. B1.</ref> and an indoor skating facility called Joe's Skate Park,<ref name= ready>Wallace, Julie (September 14, 2001). "Park for Skaters Ready to Roll Out Mayor, Councilman to Unveil Akron Site Tomorrow". ''Akron Beacon Journal'' (Akron, Ohio). p. D1.</ref> and helped design a skatepark that opened in Akron in 2001.<ref name= ready/> They graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in printmaking in 2005.<ref name= perform/><ref name=":0" /> Butcher attended graduate school at University of Notre Dame.<ref name= perform/>

In 2006, he had an art exhibit at a printmaker's show called "Prints at an Exposition".<ref name= art>Shinn, Dorothy (February 5, 2006). "Stellar Printmakers Put Stamp on Exhibit: Summit Artspace Has Local Artists Showcasing Fresh Approaches to Art". ''Akron Beacon Journal":(Akron, Ohio). p. E4.</ref> This exhibit, which was a series of prints on muslin showing the body's organs, was inspired by Butcher's own appendectomy.<ref name= art/>

== Career ==
=== Early years ===
Butcher began their comedy career performing improv in Chicago at The Second City and has since performed stand-up at clubs including Zanies, the Jukebox, and Flappers, as well as Chicago Underground Comedy, The Hideout, The Lincoln Lodge, UCB, Cole's, and Meltdown.<ref>"[http://www.kcrw.com/people/rhea-butcher Profile: Rhea Butcher]". ''KCRW''. Retrieved November 3, 2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230109140521/http://www.kcrw.com/people/rhea-butcher Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>Jung, E. Alex (August 16, 2016). "[https://www.vulture.com/2016/08/cameron-esposito-rhea-butcher-on-take-my-wife.html Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher on Take My Wife, 'The Show Where Lesbians Don’t Die']". ''Vulture''. Retrieved May 31, 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230204082640/https://www.vulture.com/2016/08/cameron-esposito-rhea-butcher-on-take-my-wife.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> They made a late night debut on ''Conan'' in June 2016.<ref name= conan2016>"[http://teamcoco.com/video/rhea-butcher-06-30-16 Rhea Butcher Stand-Up]". ''Conan''. June 30, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230109152038/https://teamcoco.com/video/rhea-butcher-06-30-16 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>"Late Night". ''The Times Herald-Record'' (Middletown, New York). June 30, 2016. p. 22.</ref>

=== 2014–present ===
In the fall of 2014, they appeared alongside Cameron Esposito in a series of videos for BuzzFeed Motion Pictures titled "Ask a Lesbian".<ref>Habersburger, Keith (October 31, 2014). "[https://www.buzzfeed.com/keithhabersberger/ask-a-lesbian-with-cameron-esposito#.va9VV4bKdZ Questions You Wish You Could Ask a Lesbian]". ''BuzzFeed''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230612203522/https://www.buzzfeed.com/keithhabersberger/ask-a-lesbian-with-cameron-esposito Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>Star, Erika (February 20, 2013). "[http://www.afterellen.com/general-news/105780-lez-stand-out-rhea-butcher-and-cameron-esposito Lez Stand Out: Rhea Butcher and Cameron Esposito]". ''AfterEllen''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230329010358/http://www.afterellen.com/general-news/105780-lez-stand-out-rhea-butcher-and-cameron-esposito Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Butcher and Esposito also co-hosted the web series "She Said" for Amy Poehler's Smart Girls Network.<ref>"[https://www.buzzfeed.com/keelyflaherty/a-new-web-series-for-ladies Amy Poehler's Made A New Web Series For Women]". ''BuzzFeed''. Retrieved November 3, 2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230326053239/http://www.buzzfeed.com/keelyflaherty/a-new-web-series-for-ladies Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> The two wrote and starred together again in ''Take My Wife,'' on the comedy streaming service Seeso.<ref>Poniewozik, James (May 24, 2017). "[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/arts/television/comedy-television-im-dying-up-here-louie-maron.html Have You Heard the One About the Angsty Comic? Yes, Too Often]". ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 31, 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230109140523/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/arts/television/comedy-television-im-dying-up-here-louie-maron.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>Yohannes, Alamin (August 29, 2016). "[https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/take-my-wife-honest-comedy-where-lesbians-live-n638056 Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher Talk Comedy, Diversity and 'Take My Wife']". ''NBC News''. Retrieved May 31, 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230109140523/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/take-my-wife-honest-comedy-where-lesbians-live-n638056 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Butcher also co-hosted the stand-up comedy podcast ''Put Your Hands Together'' with Cameron Esposito, which was recorded weekly in front of a live audience at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles until it ended in July 2019.<ref>"[https://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/show/3347 Put Your Hands Together with Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher]". ''UCB Theatre''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20220331032942/https://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/show/3347 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>Rapa, Patrick (December 6, 2016). "L.A. standup comic Cameron Esposito diversifies her portfolio". ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/cameronesposito/status/1143884470014992384?lang=en|title=After 6.5 great yrs, @pyhtshow will end July 30. It’s been my baseline in LA — thank u to everyone who ran it, performed on it & came to laugh.pic.twitter.com/15encdzcWe|last=Esposito|first=Cameron|date=2019-06-26|website=@cameronesposito|language=en|access-date=2019-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517103956/https://twitter.com/cameronesposito/status/1143884470014992384?lang=en|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

His first comedy album ''Butcher'' was released in August 2016 by the independent record label Kill Rock Stars.<ref>"[http://www.killrockstars.com/news/Rhea-Butcher Rhea Butcher 'Butcher' Out Now on CD & MP3]". ''Kill Rock Stars''. Retrieved November 3, 2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230329010355/http://www.killrockstars.com/news/Rhea-Butcher Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref name= signing>Heldenfels, Rich (August 21, 2016). "New Album, Show for Comedian Rhea Butcher: Akron Native Returns to Area for Local Appearance, CD Signing". ''Akron Beacon Journal'' (Akron, Ohio). p. E1.</ref> The set was performed at Mississippi Studios in Portland, Oregon.<ref>Watts, Rebecca (January 13, 2016). "[http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/rhea-butcher-is-killing-it/Content?oid=17366298 Rhea Butcher Is Killing It]". ''The Portland Mercury''. Retrieved November 3, 2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20221205113637/http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/rhea-butcher-is-killing-it/Content?oid=17366298 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> It debuted at number one on iTunes.<ref name=":0" />

In 2016, they appeared in 8 episodes of the first season of ''Adam Ruins Everything''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5034326/fullcredits|title=Adam Ruins Everything (TV Series 2015– ) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727142410/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5034326/fullcredits|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> They returned in 2017 for one additional appearance.

In 2018, they started hosting a baseball-focused podcast called ''Three Swings''.<ref>Lee, Rachel (April 25, 2018). "[http://www.gotagirlcrush.com/archive/2018/4/24/wr0bvyoe0g0tmbtgn77n5wd1run1pk Interview with comedian Rhea Butcher]{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}". ''Got a Girl Crush''.</ref>

As stated in an interview, Butcher said their strongest comedy influences are Rosie O'Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres, Brett Butler, Elayne Boosler, Maria Bamford, and Paul F. Tompkins.<ref name= pride>Shapiro, Gregg (2016). "[http://chicago.gopride.com/news/interview.cfm/articleid/967969 Rhea Butcher: Butcher than all of you: An interview with lesbian comedian Rhea Butcher]". ''Chicago Pride''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20220819120327/https://chicago.gopride.com/news/interview.cfm/articleid/967969 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

=== Voice Acting ===
River Butcher provided the voice for Asher, a [[Nonbinary gender in fiction|nonbinary character]] in ''Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts'' in three episodes of season two released in 2020<ref>{{Citation|title=Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (TV Series 2020– ) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt10482560/fullcredits|access-date=2020-06-23}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20220804054159/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10482560/fullcredits Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> as well as voice acting the nonbinary character Sweet in the animated show ''Danger & Eggs''.

==Quotes==
{{quote|Thank you for your support of my haircut. I know it’s a good haircut, not only because you appreciate it, but because when I went through the airport the other day, I got an equal number of ‘ma’ams’ and ‘sirs.’ Right down the middle. Perfect. It’s working.<ref name="Long2017">{{Cite web |title=Get to Know Nonbinary Comedian Rhea Butcher & Her Other Political Beliefs |last=Long |first=Sarah |work=SheKnows |date=February 24, 2017 |access-date=August 5, 2020 |url= https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1132248/rhea-butcher-things-to-know/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128005612/https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1132248/rhea-butcher-things-to-know/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>}}

==Links==
*[https://rheabutcher.com/ Website]
*[https://twitter.com/rivbutcher/ Twitter]
*[https://www.instagram.com/rivbutcher/ Instagram]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Nonbinary people]]
[[Category: Performers]]
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