Born in
Providence, Rhode Island, Butterfield graduated with a
BA from
Brown University before serving in
World War I in
France and
Germany. After the war, he attended
University of London, the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and earned his
MA from the
University of Iowa. Perhaps his major roles on radio were those of crime-lab expert Lee Jones (as well as many supporting characters) in
Dragnet, and The Commissioner in
Dangerous Assignment. Butterfield acted in dozens of roles on
Broadway Is My Beat. His other roles in radio programs included: Rex Kramer on ''
Dan Harding's Wife, Ziehm in Girl Alone, Clarence Wellman in The Halls of Ivy, Weissoul in Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy, Preacher Jim in Kitty Keene, Inc., Judge Carter Colby in Lonely Women, Phineas Herringbone in Ma Perkins, Judge Glenn Hunter in One Man's Family, and Judge Colby in Today's Children. He also was the last actor to play Inspector Richard Queen in The Adventures of Ellery Queen'' on radio. Butterfield's limited activity on television included reprising his roles of Clarence Wellman in
The Halls of Ivy and The Commissioner in
Dangerous Assignment. He appeared in many episodes of the TV version of
Dragnet and in an episode of
Colgate Theatre. He also appeared as kindly old man on
Father Knows Best in season 3 episode 6. He also had roles in a few movies, including
The House on Telegraph Hill and
Shield for Murder. == Filmography ==