Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Burt Lancaster (November 2, 1913 - October 20,
1994) was an United States|American film actor.
Born Burton Stephen Lancaster in New York City to
a Protestant family of English and Irish
Protestant extraction, he was one of five children
of a postal worker. He grew up in East Harlem,
Manhattan|Harlem and spent much of his time on the
streets, where he developed great interest and
skill in gymnastics. Later, he worked as a circus
acrobatics|acrobat until an injury forced him to
give up the profession.

During WWII, Lancaster joined the United States
Army and performed with the USO. Though initially
unenthusiastic about acting, he returned from
service, auditioned for a Broadway
theatre|Broadway play and was offered a role.
Though the play was not successful, Lancaster's
performance drew the attention of a Hollywood
agent who had him cast in the 1946 in film|1946
motion picture The Killers (1946 film)|The
Killers. The actor won significant acclaim and
appeared in two more films the following year.
Subsequently, he played in a variety of movies,
but especially in dramas, thrillers, military and
adventure films. In two of the adventures, The
Flame and the Arrow and The Crimson Pirate, his
mate and friend from the circus years, Nick
Cravet, played a leading role, and both actors
impressed audiences with their acrobatic prowess.

In the mid 1950s|'50s, Lancaster went on
challenging himself with varied cinematic roles,
and satisfied longtime aspirations by moving into
film producing as well. In most of his roles,
whether in drama, circus, western movie|western or
other genres, the self-taught actor was
successful; he evolved into a solid and versatile
performer and eventually a superstar. His work was
recognized in 1960 in film|1960 when he won the
Academy Award for Best Actor, a Golden Globe
Award, and the New York Film Critics Award for his
performance in Elmer Gantry.

During the latter part of his career, Lancaster
left adventure and acrobatic movies behind and
portrayed distinguished characters, earning
himself ever greater prestige among directors and
audiences alike. This period brought him work on
several Europe|European productions with film
director|directors including Luchino Visconti and
Bernardo Bertolucci.  Lancaster sought demanding
roles and, if he liked a part or a director, was
prepared to work for much lower pay than he might
have earned elsewhere; he even helped to finance
movies in whose artistic value he believed. He
produced a number of films himself and also
mentored such new directors as Sydney Pollack and
John Frankenheimer, thus adding to his numerous
acting achievements a pioneering role the
development of independent cinema. He also
appeared in several TV films.

For his contribution to the motion picture
industry, Burt Lancaster has a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Blvd.

Lancaster vigorously guarded his private life. He
was married three times and had five children. His
first spouse, from 1935 to 1946, was June Ernst,
from whom he divorced. His second marriage was
with Norma Anderson from 1946 to 1969 and also
ended in divorce. His third wife was Susan Martin,
whom he married in 1991.  As Mr. Lancaster aged,
heart trouble increasingly hindered him from
working as intensely as his passion and
determination demanded.  He eventually had to
undergo open-heart surgery, and a cerebral stroke
in 1990 left him in a wheel-chair, partly
paralyzed.  At home in Los Angeles, California|Los
Angeles on October 20, 1994, Burt Lancaster died
of a heart attack at the age of 80.

Lancaster was cremated; his ashes were interred at
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

===Academy Awards for Best Actor===
*1953:  From Here to Eternity - Nomination
*1960:  Elmer Gantry - Winner
*1962:  Birdman of Alcatraz - Nomination
*1981:  Atlantic City - Nomination

===Filmography===
*The Killers (1946 film)|The Killers (1946)
*Brute Force (1947 movie)|Brute Force (1947)
*Desert Fury (1947)
*Variety Girl (1947) (Cameo)
*I Walk Alone (1948) 
*All My Sons (1948)
*Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)
*Kiss the Blood Off My Hands (1948)
*Criss Cross (1949 movie) (1949)
*Rope of Sand (1949)
*The Flame and the Arrow (1950)
*Mister 880 (1950)
*Vengeance Valley (1951)
*The Screen Director (1951) (short subject)
*Jim Thorpe - All American (1951)
*Ten Tall Men (1951)
*The Crimson Pirate (1952) (also producer)
*Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)
*South Sea Woman (1953)
*From Here to Eternity (1953)
*Three Sailors and a Girl (1953) (Cameo)
*His Majesty O'Keefe (1954)
*Apache (1954) (also producer)
*Vera Cruz (movie)|Vera Cruz (1954) (also
co-producer)
*The Kentuckian (1955) (also director)
*The Rose Tattoo (1955)
*Screen Snapshots: Playtime in Hollywood (1956)
(short subject)
*Trapeze (1956) (also producer)
*The Rainmaker (1956)
*The Heart of Show Business (1957) (short subject)
(narrator)
*Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) 
*Sweet Smell of Success (1957) 
*Run Silent Run Deep (1958)
*Separate Tables (1958)
*The Devil's Disciple (1959)
*The Unforgiven (1960) (also co-producer)
*Elmer Gantry (1960)
*The Young Savages (1961)
*Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
*Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
*A Child Is Waiting (1963)
*The Leopard (1963)
*The List of Adrian Messenger (1963) (Cameo)
*Seven Days in May (1964)
*The Train (1964)
*Handle with Care (1965) (short subject)
(narrator)
*The Hallelujah Trail (1965)
*The Professionals (1966)
*All About People (1967) (short subject)
(narrator)
*The Scalphunters (1968) (also producer)
*The Swimmer (1968)
*Jenny Is a Good Thing (1969) (short subject)
(narrator)
*Castle Keep (1969)
*The Gypsy Moths (1969)
*Airport (movie)|Airport (1970)
*King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
(1970) (documentary)
*Ali: The Fighter (1971) (documentary)
*Lawman (1971)
*Valdez Is Coming (1971)
*Ulzana's Raid (1972) (also producer)
*Scorpio (movie)|Scorpio (1973)
*Executive Action (movie)|Executive Action (1973)
*The Midnight Man (1974) (also director, producer,
and writer)
*Conversation Piece (1974)
*The Cinema According to Bertolucci (1975)
(documentary)
*Victory At Entebbe (1976)
*Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's
History Lesson (1976)
*1900 (movie)|1900 (1976)
*The Cassandra Crossing (1976)
*Exploring the Unknown (1977) (documentary)
(narrator)
*Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977) 
*The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977)
*Go Tell the Spartans (1978)
*Zulu Dawn (1979)
*Atlantic City (1980)
*Cattle Annie and the Little Britches (1981)
*The Skin (1981)
*Local Hero (1983)
*The Osterman Weekend (1983)
*Little Treasure (1985)
*Tough Guys (1986)
*Mind Control (movie)|Mind Control (1987)
*The Jeweller's Shop (1988)
*Rocket Gibraltar (1988)
*Field of Dreams (1989)

==External link==
*imdb name|id=0000044|name=Burt Lancaster
* http://www.thegoldenyears.org/lancast.html
Classic Movies (1939 - 1969): Burt Lancaster