Avery Davis
Yes, The Butler is based on the true story of Eugene Allen, an African American butler who worked at the White House for eight different Presidents, from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan. However, the film takes some creative liberties with the story and also includes fictional characters and events.
What is the true story behind the movie The Butler (2013)?
The Butler (2013) is loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen, who worked as a butler at the White House for 34 years. However, the storyline of the movie is fictionalized and dramatized for cinematic purposes.
In reality, Eugene Allen was born in 1919 in rural Virginia and worked as a waiter and bartender before he began his career at the White House in 1952 under President Harry S. Truman. Allen worked his way up to become a maître d’hôtel, the highest rank in the White House service staff.
During his tenure at the White House, Allen served eight presidents, starting with Truman and ending with Ronald Reagan. He was known for his discretion and professionalism, and was highly respected by the first families he served.
The movie portrays the butler, Cecil Gaines, as having a strained relationship with his son, who becomes a civil rights activist. However, in real life, Eugene Allen and his son had a close relationship and both supported the civil rights movement.
Allen retired from the White House in 1986 and passed away in 2010 at the age of 90. The movie was dedicated to his memory.
Are there any books about the true story behind the movie The Butler (2013)?
Yes, there is a book titled “The Butler: A Witness to History” written by Lee Daniels, the director of the movie, and Wil Haygood, the journalist who wrote the original article that inspired the movie. The book gives a more detailed account of the life of Eugene Allen, the butler who served eight U.S. presidents, and the historical events he witnessed during his tenure at the White House.
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