Butler/Catalogs

This is an annotated list of butlers, valets and major domos. For full articles, please see butler and valet. See also related articles: great house,domestic service, housekeeper.

Non-fictional butlers

• Paul Burrell, butler to the late Diana, Princess of Wales
• Hugh Edgar, butler, The Edwardian Country House, 2002 British historical recreation TV series – Edgar is an architect by profession, but was noted for immersing himself completely in his role.
• Paul Hogan, former Australian diplomat who portrays "the butler" in the US TV series Joe Millionaire – There has been some argument over whether the character in this series is actually a butler, but Hogan himself is now a professional butler.
• Arthur Richard Inch, longtime real-life butler, Butler Technical Consultant for the film Gosford Park
• Ivor Spencer, Toastmaster and etiquette specialist, head of the Ivor Spencer International School for Butler Administrators/Personal Assistants and Estate Managers

Fictional butlers

Alfred Pennyworth, from Batman, unusually known as “Alfred” rather than “Pennyworth”, “Hudson” of Upstairs, Downstairs fame and Crichton, from J.M. Barrie's The Admirable Crichton are probably the best-known butlers in English-language literature. Other notables include:

• Lynn Belvedere, from the novel Belvedere, the adapted feature film and its sequels, and the TV series Mr. Belvedere. Belvedere was originally a housekeeper; the gag was that because his first name was “Lynn”, the family was expecting a female. Belvedere is usually taken to be a butler in the television series.
• Benson, from the TV series Soap and Benson. Actor Robert Guillaume played Benson against type; his "running gag" was to pause when the doorbell rang, look at his employers quizzically and say, "You want me to get that?".
• Bunter, from the Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers. Mervyn Bunter was originally batman, then valet to Lord Peter, but following Wimsey’s marriage appears to have transitioned seamlessly to de facto family butler.
• Cadbury, from Richie Rich
• Godfrey, from My Man Godfrey
• Geoffrey, from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
• Lurch, from The Addams Family
• Niles, from The Nanny
• Stevens, from The Remains of the Day