Butkēvičs was born in 1940. After graduating from Riga Secondary School No. 11 in 1959, he studied at the Riga Polytechnic Institute (now Riga Technical University) and worked at the "VEF" electrical factory. At the same time, he was actively involved in artistic life at the Dailes Theatre, where he mastered the basics of acting together with several later famous stage artists. He also studied at the Law, History and Philosophy Faculties of the University of Latvia.

Butkēvičs began...