Dick Butkus

Birth Name: Richard Marvin Butkus

Date of Birth: December 9, 1942

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Death: October 5, 2023

Place of Death: Malibu, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Lithuanian

Dick Butkus was an American professional football player, sports commentator, and actor. A linebacker, he spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He was in the Hall of Fame. His acting roles included the films The Longest Yard (1974), Cry, Onion!; Mother, Jugs & Speed; Gus (1978), Superdome, Cracking Up, Johnny Dangerously, Hamburger: The Motion Picture, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Spontaneous Combustion (1990), Necessary Roughness, Any Given Sunday, and Teddy Bears’ Picnic; the made-for-tv movies Brian’s Song and The Stepford Children; and the series Blue Thunder, My Two Dads, MacGyver, and Hang Time. He was 6′3″.

Dick was the son of Emma Ramona/Romana, who worked at a laundry, and John/Jonas William Butkus, an electrician, who worked for the Pullman-Standard railroad car manufacturing company. His father was born in Plungė, Telšiai, Lithuania. His mother was born in Ladd, Illinois, to Lithuanian parents. He was raised in Roseland, on the South Side of Chicago.

Dick was married to Helen Essenberg, until his death, with whom he had three children, including Matt, who played college football. His nephew, Luke Butkus, is a professional football player and coach.

Dick’s paternal grandfather was named Vincent/Vincentas Butkus. Vincent was born in Telšiai.

Dick’s paternal grandmother was named Ursula/Uršulė Kubilius/Kubiliūtė.

Dick’s maternal grandfather was Joseph/Juozapas C. Gatauczis/Goodoff/Gatautis (the son of Simon/Simonas Juozapas Goodoff/Getautis/Gatautis and Barbara/Barbora Adamovičiūtė). Joseph was born in Upeliškis, Vabalninko parapija. Simon was born in Ilgalaukiai, Vabalninko, the son of Mykolas Gatautis and Anelė Mušinskaitė/Mumšaitė. Barbara was born in Berčiunėliai, Vabalninko, the daughter of Kazimieras Adomavičius and Konstancija Karoblytė.

Dick’s maternal grandmother was named Frances/Francis Dombrauskas.

Sources: Genealogies of Dick Butkus – https://www.findagrave.com
https://www.geni.com

Dick Butkus on the 1950 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org