Norbert Leo Butz was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the seventh of 11 kids, 3 girls and 8 boys. He is ½ German. Norbert’s mother wanted to name him Tim, but Norbert’s father wanted to name him Norbert after himself. His mother refused, but Norbert senior changed the birth certificate while his wife was in recovery. As a child, Norbert junior was very shy and quiet. He attended Bishop DuBourg High School, and sang in the chamber singers choir. He was planning on being a journalism major at the University of Missouri in Columbia. However, Norbert applied to Western University for their theatre department on a whim, and got in. He received a degree in theatre and went on to The University of Alabama/Alabama Shakespeare Festival's Professional Actor Training Program where he received an MFA. Norbert would often sing and play guitar in bars to support himself during this time period. He would also take up odd-acting jobs. While living in Alabama, he met and married his wife, Sidney. The two drove up from Alabama to New York in a Saab with a 5 by 8 U-Haul, with a “New York or Bust" sign in the window in 1996.

Norbert is best known for his work on Broadway. He made his Broadway and New York Theatre debut as the understudy for Mark and Roger, although he occasionally covered the roles of the squeegieman, Paul, and Angel as well, in the original Broadway Cast of RENT. Some days, he would cover the role of Roger for the matinee and Mark for the evening show. It was challenging, but Norbert loved it. He took over the role of Roger when the original, Adam Pascal left, and left the show himself on December 6th, 1998, he did not like sticking to one role. He is especially famous for originating the role of Fieryo in Wicked - the smash hit Broadway musical based on the Wizard of Oz. Norbert was also an Emcee for the First National Touring Company of Cabaret. He is currently starring in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for which he won the 2005 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award, and many other awards.

Norbert lives with his wife, a 3-year-old daughter, Clara Virginia, and a baby daughter, Maggie Lou. He currently has a dog which is temporarily living in upstate New York while he is touring.