Lawrence W. Butler (Lawrence) a.k.a. Larry Butler, Laurence Butler, Lawrence Butler was an American special effects artist, born on July 30, 1908 in Akron, Ohio, United States. His father, William Butler was an optical effects director. He has two children, Michael C. Butler and David L. Butler, who are cinematographers. Lawrence started his career working with his father in United Stated. He made his debut with the film, Things to Come (1936), as an assistant special effect artist. He won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects for the film, The Thief of Bagdad in 1940 and for The Jungle Book in 1942 and was nominated for more films. He developed "blue-screen travelling matte process" in special effects, which made him famous. After all this success, he worked for Warner Brothers and for Columbia Pictures. He retired with his last film called Charley Varrick in 1973. He died on October 19, 1988 in Fallbrook, California, United States.